Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul

Cruz Alta
Municipality
Vista da Rua Coronel Pillar (Monumento de Fátima).
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Terra de Érico Veríssimo" (Land of Érico Veríssimo) "A terra dos (The land of tropeiros) " (Land of Júlio de Castilhos) "Ninho dos Pica-Paus"terra de Daniel Koehler" terra da família Koehler" "terra da família graminho" (Nest of woodpeckers) "Terra do Guarani" (Land of Guaraní)
Motto:  Mui Leal Cidade do Divino Espírito Santo da Cruz Alta (Very Loyal City of the Divine Holy Spirit of Cruz Alta)
Cruz Alta Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 28°38′19″S 53°36′23″W / 28.63861°S 53.60639°W / -28.63861; -53.60639
Country	Brazil
State	Rio Grande do Sul
Mesoregion	Mesorregião do Noroeste Rio-Grandense
Microregion	Microrregião de Cruz Alta
Founded	August 18, 1821
Government
• Mayor	Paula Rubin Facco Librelotto (PMDB)
Area
• Total	1,360.37 km2 (525.24 sq mi)
Elevation	452 m (1,483 ft)
Population  (2020 [1])
• Total	59,922
• Density	44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Demonym	cruz-altense or cruz-altino
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
Postal Code	98005-970
Area code	+55 55
Website	http://www.cruzalta.rs.gov.br/

Cruz Alta is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cruz Alta. Was founded on August 18, 1821.

It is the birthplace writer Érico Veríssimo, of journalist and politician Júlio Prates de Castilhos, and of model and television presenter Luize Altenhofen.

The municipality is known to have given rise to many other municipalities as Ijuí, Santa Maria, Passo Fundo, Santo Angelo and their initial territory led to more other, became known by the northwestern mother.^[2] The municipality belongs to the Northwest Mesoregion Riograndense and Microregion Cruz Alta. It is located at latitude 28 º 38 '19 "south and longitude 53 º 36' 23" west, with an average elevation of 452 meters above sea level. Access to the city is by BR-158, in the north-south axis, the BR-377 to the east, and also by the RS-342 on the west.

The location of the city is logistically important, being considered as a major trunk road and rail in the north central part of the state, with the presence of a dry port in the northeast of the city.