Catão

Catão is a province in the northwest region of Maracatibe. Its capital and largest city is Graunatá, with 368,911 inhabitants in 2020. The population of Catão in 2020 was 2,170,066, making it the 14th most populous province. Before the colonization by Jungastia, the territory corresponding to Catão was occupied by states of the Guaray people, and also by some Kiepki and Lachipi tribes. Its name derives from Catão Medina, who served as governor-general of the Viceroyalty of Maracatibe during the colonial period and stimulated the development and settlement of the place through the extraction of and, and the cultivation of ,  and. Before that, the province was somewhat neglected by the colonial power. Catão has the shortest coastline among the provinces of Maracatibe.

Despite its three official languages ​​(, and ), more than 95% of the population uses Jungastian as their first language. The Jungastians are the dominant ethnic group, followed by Guaray, Kwaba and other natives. In addition to agricultural and extractive activities, there are textile, food and naval industries in the province.