Greater Natal
{{Short description|Area of Rio grande do Norte, Brazil}}
Image:RioGrandedoNorte RM Natal.svg
The Greater Natal (lit. Grande Natal, officially Natal Metropolitan Region, lit. Região Metropolitana de Natal) is a metropolitan area located in Rio Grande do Norte state in Brazil. It consists of nine municipalities, including the capital, Natal.
The metropolitan area of Natal is known as a historical, cultural and economic center of state, with a total population of 1,263 million inhabitants.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/estimativa2009/POP2009_DOU.pdf|title = IBGE | Portal do IBGE | IBGE}} The region was first officially defined on January 16, 1997. Only a few municipalities show a high level of agglomeration — namely, Natal-Parnamirim and Natal-São Gonçalo do Amarante.
The state government's greatest challenge is connecting all the cities in the metropolitan area by bus. There is a plan called "Via Metropolitana" (Metropolitan Highway) to connect all cities.
Municipalities in Greater Natal
Image:Imagem noturna de Natal - RN.JPG]]
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Category:Populated places in Rio Grande do Norte
Category:Metropolitan areas of Brazil
Category:Geography of Rio Grande do Norte
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