city, east-central Minas Gerais estado (state), southeastern Brazil. It lies along the Cristais River at 2,444 feet (745 metres) above sea level, just southeast of Belo Horizonte, the state capital. Nova Lima was made the seat of a municipality in 1891 and became a city in 1936. It is known for its Morro Velho (“Old Mountain”) Mine, which was in operation from 1834 to 2003. The mine's air-cooled shaft, which penetrated to a depth of about 8,500 feet (2,590 metres), was one of the deepest in the Americas. The mine accounted for as much as half of Brazil's annual gold production. Gold is still mined at other sites in the vicinity. Pop. (2005 est.) 70,400.