Baixada Fluminense

The Baixada Fluminense (standard Portuguese pronunciation: [ˌbajˈʃadɐ flumiˈnẽjsi]; local pronounce: [ˌbɐ(j)ˈʃadɐ flumɪˈnẽ(j)si]) (literally "Fluminense Lowland") is a region in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil.

It is located on Guanabara Bay, between Rio de Janeiro to the south and the Serra dos Órgãos range of hills to the north.

It experienced some development during the 18th century, when it was an important corridor for transporting gold mined in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais.

[1] In the early 20th century the area experienced a large influx of people arriving from other parts of the country, mainly from Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Northeastern Brazil, in search of a better quality of life near Rio de Janeiro, which at the time was the capital of Brazil.

In the second half of the 20th century, the region acquired a reputation for poverty, crime and inadequate social services, which continues to this day.