One substantial local industry is based on chemical products from brine
pumped from deep wells on the outskirts of Maceió. Another substantial industry
is the fabrication of ethanol and sugar from sugarcane grown in the region. In
the last thirty years the tourist industry has transformed the coastal areas of
the city into vibrant centers of entertainment for Brazilian and foreign
tourists (Americans, Italians, French, Germans, Argentinians, etc.).
These coastal neighborhoods include coconut
palm trees, playgrounds, squares, open-to-the-public football, volleyball, and
