Bahia (
locally ) is one of the 26
states of Brazil and is located in the eastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the 4th-largest Brazilian state by population (after
São Paulo,
Minas Gerais, and
Rio de Janeiro) and the 5th-largest by area. Bahia's capital is the city of
Salvador (formerly also known as Bahia), located on a spit of land separating the
Bay of All Saints from the Atlantic. Once a monarchial stronghold dominated by
agricultural,
slaving, and ranching interests, Bahia is now a major manufacturing center whose last three elections have been dominated by the
Workers' Party.
