Andradas Fort
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The Andradas Fort (Portuguese: Forte dos Andradas, originally Portuguese: Forte do Monduba) is a fortification on the Morro do Monduba, in the state of São Paulo in Brazil.
Purpose
The fort was constructed, along with the Itaipu Fortress (Portuguese: Fortaleza de Itaipu), in order to defend Santos bay and its port.[1] It was home to the 5th Independent Battery of Artillery of Coast (Portuguese: 5ª Bateria Independente de Artilharia de Costa).
Design and construction
The fort hosts four Krupp guns, each with 280 millimetres (11 in) ammunition with a range of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi). An observatory post, with a telescope and a pair of telemeters, calculated distances and positions of the ships approaching the bay. Three underground arched tunnels, one 200 metres (660 ft) and two 50 metres (160 ft) long, connect the facilities together, as well as housing six ammunition depots and a power room (housing a 3-phase 139V generator), plus a kitchen, canteen and toilet facilities. It was designed so that most of the structure was underground and hidden behind an "invisible curtain" of trees.[1]
Operation
The fort was inaugurated on 10 November 1942 as Forte do Monduba - the last fort in Brazil to be inaugurated. It was later renamed as the Andradas Fort.[1]
It was decommissioned in 1972.[1]
Preservation
The fort is now preserved. It is located in the Morro do Monduba, a 2,100,000 square metres (23,000,000 sq ft) preserve that is part of the Atlantic Forest.[1]
Tours of the fort are free, and take place on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 09.00 and 14.00. They have to be scheduled in advance by phone or email.[1]