Salgueiro, Brazil

With a population of just 47,211, Salgueiro is a sleepy provincial backwater, far from the glitz of Brazil's major cities. The economy is centered around basic agriculture and livestock, a far cry from the diverse opportunities found elsewhere. And as a semi-desert region, the climate is unforgivingly hot and dry, a persistent headache for residents. While the city serves as the seat of a Catholic diocese, there's little else to recommend it beyond that. Salgueiro is a place for the hardiest of souls, those willing to embrace a slower, more provincial way of life far from the trappings of modern Brazil.