Geography
Rio Grande da Serra is one of the 39 municipalities (Prefeituras) in the state of São Paulo under the federal government of Brazil. The municipality is located approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi) by road to the southeast of the centre of the city of São Paulo according to Google Maps, 55 kilometres (34 mi) according to the municipal authorities. Under the Greater ABC region, its neighboring municipalities are Santo André, Ribeirão Pires and Suzano. It covers an area of 36.7 square kilometres (14.2 sq mi). With the city of São Paulo and the municipalities of Diadema, Mauá, Ribeirão Pires, Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano do Sul, it forms part of the Microregion of São Paulo. The principal road is SP-122 (Rodovia Deputado Antônio Adib Chammas), which links to Ribeirão Pires and Paranapiacaba. Paranapiacaba is a historical site approached by road (15 minutes drive) from Rio Grande da Serra, which has train link with Luz Station (Estaco da Luz) in São Paulo. The nearest international airport is the Cumbica at Guarulhos which is quite far from the city of São Paulo.
The Rio Grande River Basin, with its tributaries, form part of the municipality, with the "Rio Grande arm" of the Billings Reservoir and Dam which is its most significant geographical feature, covering a total of 127 square kilometres (49 sq mi). It is named after Asa White Kenney Billings, the United States hydroelectric engineer who was instrumental in building it. The reservoir supplies about 1.8 million people, and also is used for fishing and swimming. In addition to Rio Grande da Serra and São Paulo, the Billings sub-basin includes Diadema, Ribeirao Pires, Santo Andre, and Sao Bernardo do Campo. Besides the Rio Grande and Billings Reservoir and dam, the municipality has a lot of streams and creeks, such as the streams of Figueira, Cloro, and Piolzinho.
Within the city limits, the forests areas and wetlands are stated to be well conserved, including wild animals and birds. Its rainforests are also protected under suitable environmental laws.
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