Maringá is a city in southern Brazil that was founded on May 10, 1947. Maringá is the third largest city in the state of Paraná. The city has a population of 298,828 (estimation IBGE, 2002), 490,030 (metropolitan area, estimation IBGE, 2002). It is a regional centre and is made up of commerce, services, agro-industries, and universities, including the State University of Maringá.
