Situated at the confluence of five rivers, Porto Alegre is the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul and the biggest urban agglomeration of southern Brazil. The perfect blend of Brazilian-Portuguese and Platinian-Spanish cultures, added to a strong European heritage gives the city a unique background within Brazil. The city is one of the richest metropolises in the country, with the highest life quality and literacy rate, and is widely known in Brazil as the city with the most beautiful women in the country. Porto Alegre has a long coastline along Guaíba Lake, and is punctuated by forty hills. In the lake, a vast body of water, a network of islands create an archipelago where a unique ecosystem is home to vibrant wildlife. The city was officially established in 1742, although its origins date from the mid-18th century, when immigrants from the Azores settled in the area. It has become an important alluvial port as well as one of the chief industrial and commercial centres in Brazil.