city, eastern Rio Grande do Sul estado (state), southern Brazil. Situated just north of Porto Alegre, the state capital, in the grassy lowlands south of the Serra Geral, Canoas enjoys a subtropical climate (60 to 78 °F 【16 to 26 °C】) with abundant rainfall. A part of the greater Porto Alegre metropolitan area, the city was created by decree from several municipalities of Porto Alegre region in 1839. Although the majority of its labour force is employed in Porto Alegre, Canoas has become an important industrial centre in its own right, manufacturing glass, chemicals, and pharmaceutical products. It has several meat-packing plants and a petroleum refinery connected by pipeline to a large petrochemical complex in nearby Trifuno. Canoas is also the location of Brazil's fifth zone Air Force base; an all-weather highway links Canoas and Porto Alegre. Pop. (2005 est.) 329,200.