Map description and background

São Paulo is located in the south-east of Brazil at the level of the Tropic of Capricorn and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Serra do Mar. By 1930, the city centre had reached an extension of around 15 by 15 km. There were several small towns such as Santo André on the arterial roads in the surrounding area. By 1965, the city had expanded to an area of around 30 by 30 km, with construction on the land between the centre and the outlying towns. By 2011, the city expanded further to around 50 by 40 km. Brazil's largest metropolis has a diversified industrial structure. Machine construction, and industries such as plastics/pharmaceuticals/cosmetics/fertiliser are particularly well represented. German companies are represented in many sectors but are particularly dominant in the automotive industry. In the centre of São Paulo, services such as finance are concentrated in the central business district, and there are also several service sub-centres. Because of globalisation, logistics companies are gaining in importance, as they are located on the arterial roads and near the port of Santos. Several roads and railways lead from the city centre to the port, which is about 60 km away. The causes of city growth are push and pull factors such as better employment opportunities, educational opportunities, and health care, as well as family reunification. As a global city, São Paulo is very attractive to immigrants. However, the consequences of growth include uncontrolled growth, including the emergence and expansion of marginal settlements with poor infrastructure.