Formosa

A City in Brazil

Formosa is a city located in Brazil within the administrative region of Goiás, operating in the America/Sao_Paulo timezone. The city has a population of 115,901 residents and is situated at coordinates -15.53722, -47.33444.

Historical Significance of the Name

The name Formosa historically referred to the main island of Taiwan, known to the West until after World War II as Ilha Formosa, meaning beautiful island in Portuguese. This island, with an area of 35,808 km2, was formed approximately 4 to 5 million years ago at a complex convergent boundary where the Eurasian Plate slides under the Philippine Sea Plate, generating rugged mountain ranges and distinct physical boundaries. For more information on the geography of Taiwan, see Geography of Taiwan or GeoNames record for Formosa.

Formosa is a city in the state of Goiás, Brazil.

It sits at latitude -15.53722 and longitude -47.33444, home to roughly 115,901 residents.

Crossroads of the Central Plateau

Located in the heart of Brazil’s interior, Formosa serves as a regional hub for trade and transport within the Goiás hinterland, linking surrounding municipalities to larger urban centers.

Names that Echo Across Oceans

The name “Formosa” once described the island now known as Taiwan, a shift recorded in the Geography of Taiwan entry, illustrating how colonial naming conventions have evolved over time.

Languages of the Street

While Portuguese (pt‑BR) is the official language, the city’s population also communicates in Spanish, English, and French, reflecting Brazil’s diverse linguistic landscape.

Currency and Time

All transactions use the Brazilian real (BRL), and the city observes the America/Sao_Paulo time zone.

For precise geographic data, see the GeoNames record for Formosa.

Echoes of a Name

Formosa is a city in the state of Goiás, Brazil. It sits at latitude ‑15.53722 and longitude ‑47.33444 with a population of 115 901.

The name “Formosa” once marked a turning point in maritime history when Portuguese explorers christened the island now known as Taiwan “Ilha Formosa,” meaning “beautiful island.” That historic naming linked the word to distant seas and later returned to Brazil, where the city carries the same evocative label.

In everyday terms, Formosa observes the America/Sao_Paulo time zone and uses the Brazilian real (BRL) as its currency. Residents commonly speak Portuguese (pt‑BR) alongside Spanish, English, and French, reflecting the city’s multilingual character. Although it is not a state capital, the city functions as a regional hub within Goiás.

For geographic verification, consult the GeoNames record for Formosa and the discussion of the name’s origin in the Geography of Taiwan article.

Formosa is a city in the state of Goiás, Brazil. It lies at latitude -15.53722 and longitude -47.33444 and has a population of 115,901.

Cartographic Echoes

The name “Formosa” was once applied by Portuguese explorers to the island now called Taiwan, derived from “Ilha Formosa” meaning “beautiful island” Geography of Taiwan. That early labeling marked a turning point in the way distant lands were recorded on maps, linking the Brazilian settlement to a broader history of naming.

Formosa’s artistic life mirrors its multilingual fabric: Portuguese, Spanish, English and French are spoken among its residents. Local creators draw on the city’s landscape and linguistic variety, presenting paintings, sculptures and performances that speak to both regional identity and the legacy of a name shared across continents.

Small galleries and public squares serve as informal stages, where exhibitions and music gatherings invite residents and visitors to experience the convergence of place, language and history.

Formosa is a city located in Brazil within the administrative division of Goiás. Situated at latitude -15.53722 and longitude -47.33444, the municipality supports a population of 115,901 residents and operates within the America/Sao_Paulo timezone.

Historically, the geographic name carried a distinct global resonance. Long before modern geopolitical boundaries solidified, the primary island of Taiwan was known in the West until after World War II as Formosa, deriving from the Portuguese term Ilha Formosa, which translates to beautiful island. That massive landmass—comprising an area of 35,808 square kilometers (13,826 square miles)—witnessed monumental shifts in human geography over centuries, transitioning from early indigenous habitation and seventeenth-century agricultural expansion by Han Chinese immigrants to the massive influx of 1.2 million people at the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. That pivotal historical turning point permanently reshaped the demographic fabric of the territory once bearing the name.

Today, the name persists across distinct geographies, linking the Brazilian municipality in Goiás with historical references found in documentation such as the Geography of Taiwan and records maintained in the GeoNames record for Formosa.