an inland state of E Brazil: situated on the high plateau of the Brazilian Highlands; large reserves of iron ore and manganese. Capital: Belo Horizonte. Pop: 18 343 517 (2002). Area: 587 172 sq km (226 707 sqmiles)
Minas Gerais in American English
(ˈminəs ʒɪˈraɪs)
state of EC Brazil: 227,176 sq mi (588,384 sq km); pop. 15,743,000; cap. Belo Horizonte