Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte (mesoregion)

The Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte is a mesoregion of Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil. It is composed of 63 municipalities grouped into six microregions: Belo Horizonte, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Itabira, Ouro Preto, Sete Lagoas, and Vespasiano.

As a statistical division used by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the mesoregion primarily serves to group smaller areas (microregions) that share socio-economic characteristics and territorial contiguity. This facilitates the organization, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data at the state and national levels.

The Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte mesoregion encompasses a diverse geography, economy, and population. It includes the state capital, Belo Horizonte, a major economic and industrial center, as well as significant historical cities like Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region's economy is driven by industry, mining (particularly iron ore), agriculture, and services.

The mesoregion faces significant socio-economic challenges, including income inequality, access to resources, and environmental sustainability concerns arising from mining activities and rapid urbanization. Its close proximity to the state capital has resulted in complex urban-rural dynamics within the area. The mesoregion classification provides a framework for studying and addressing these interconnected issues.