city, southern Minas Gerais estado (state), southeastern Brazil. It lies along a stream called Poços de Caldas, near the Pardo River. Known principally for its thermal baths, the city has resort hotels and casinos. The local soils are rich in minerals and yield thorium, zirconium, and bauxite, which is converted into aluminum there. Brazil's first uranium-ore concentration plant, for use in the Angra I nuclear-power facility in Angra dos Reis, is located there. Poços de Caldas is served by an airport. Pop. (2005 est.) 146,200.