| Ipiranga Brook | |
|---|---|
 Ipiranga Brook withMonument to the Independence of Brazil | |
 | |
| Native name | Riacho do Ipiranga (Portuguese) |
| Location | |
| Country | Brazil |
| Region | São Paulo city,São Paulo state |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | São Paulo Botanical Garden,São Paulo city |
| Mouth | Tamanduateí River |
• location | São Paulo city |
• coordinates | 23°34′S46°37′W / 23.567°S 46.617°W /-23.567; -46.617 |
| Length | 9 km (5.6 mi) |
TheIpiranga Brook (inPortuguese:Riacho do Ipiranga,Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈʁi.aʃuduipiˈɾɐ̃ga]), is a river ofSão Paulo state in southeasternBrazil, historically known as the place whereDom Pedro I declared theindependence of Brazil from theUnited Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.
Its name derives from theTupi words: "Y", which means water or river, and "Piranga", which means red. It is also mentioned in the country'snational anthem.
On September 2, 1822, a decree with Lisbon's demands arrived in Rio de Janeiro, whilePrince Pedro was inSão Paulo. PrincessMaria Leopoldina, acting as Princess Regent, met with the Council of Ministers and decided to send her husband a letter advising him to proclaim Brazil's independence. The letter reached Prince Pedro on September 7, 1822. That same day, in a famous scene at the shore of the Ipiranga Brook, he declared the country's independence, ending 322 years of colonial dominance of Portugal over Brazil.[1] According to journalistLaurentino Gomes, who wrote a book about the event,1822, Prince Pedro "could not wait for his arrival toSão Paulo to announce the decision";[2] Pedro "was a reckless man in his decisions but he had the profile of leader that Brazil needed at the time, because there was no time to think".[2]
