Passos, Minas Gerais, Passos

Passos is a Brazilian municipality located in the southwest of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2010 was 104,015 people living in a total area of 1,339 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Sul e Sudoeste de Minas and to the micro-region of Passos. It became a municipality in 1858.The name is derived from the patron saint Bom Jesus dos Passos.LocationThe city center of Passos is located at an elevation of 745 meters in a fertile region between the state boundary of São Paulo and the great reservoir of Furnas. Neighboring municipalities are: Delfinópolis (N), São João Batista do Glória and São José da Barra (E), Alpinópolis (SE), Jacuí (S), Fortaleza de Minas (SW), and Itaú de Minas and Cássia (W).Statistical Micro-regionPassos is a statistical micro-region consisting of 14 municipalities: Alpinópolis, Bom Jesus da Penha, Capetinga, Capitólio, Cássia, Claraval, Delfinópolis, Fortaleza de Minas, Ibiraci, Itaú de Minas, Passos, Pratápolis, São João Batista do Glória, and São José da Barra. In 2000 the population was 207,525 inhabitants living in a total area of 7,127.40 km².