Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered and claimed Bahia's southern coast for Portugal in 1500. By 1549, Salvador was built and the area was colonized.
Of the 26 Brazilian states, Bahia is the fifth-largest and ranks fourth for population, with more than 14 million residents.
Carnival Bahia is a weeklong festival held in February that rivals Rio de Janeiro's Carnival. The festival marks the beginning of Lent and is Salvador's largest celebration.
Bahia means "bay" in Portuguese and was named by sailors in the early 16th century.
Charles Darwin visited Bahia in 1832 while writing "The Voyage of the Beagle."
Bahia's coasts contain the highest concentration of saltwater fish in the world.
