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In a Small Brazilian Town in the Interior of Rio Grande do Sul, the Rural Community of Linha São Pedro Concentrates One of the Highest Twin Birth Rates on the Planet, a Phenomenon That Intrigues Scientists for Decades and Mixes Genetics, History and Local Culture
In the far south of the country, a brazilian town of just over six thousand inhabitants has become one of the most curious mysteries of modern genetics. It is Cândido Godói, a rural municipality in Rio Grande do Sul where the number of twins is up to 10 times higher than the global average. Families with identical children live side by side, in a setting so peculiar that it has transformed the community into a permanent object of study and tourist attraction.
For decades, the most popular explanation surrounded a historical myth: that the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, a fugitive from war, had passed through the region and conducted genetic experiments. But after more than 20 years of research conducted by Brazilian and foreign universities, science has debunked the myth theory and revealed much more plausible causes, rooted in biology, history, and the isolation of the local population.
The Brazilian Town Where Being a Twin Is Almost Routine
In Cândido Godói, especially in the rural community of Linha São Pedro, the presence of identical pairs is part of everyday life.
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For every 10 births, one is usually a twin, a proportion that far exceeds the rates observed in any other Brazilian locality and surpasses the global average rate by up to ten times.
The region’s population, mostly made up of descendants of German immigrants, preserves rural habits and close family ties, factors that scientists consider crucial for the genetic concentration observed.
More than 100 documented pairs of twins live there, some in up to three consecutive generations of the same family.
What Science Has Discovered About the Phenomenon
Research from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and other national and international institutions indicate that the phenomenon is the result of a combination of founder effect and reproductive isolation.
This means that the town was colonized by a small group of families with genetic predisposition to double ovulation, and as the crossing occurred within a limited group, the genes responsible for this characteristic became more frequent.
There is no evidence of genetic manipulation, chemical substances, or external factors.
The soil, water, and climate have been tested several times, without conclusive results.
The current consensus is that heredity, combined with population isolation, explains the phenomenon without resorting to conspiracy theories.
How the Town Transformed the Mystery Into Identity
Instead of denying global curiosity, Cândido Godói transformed its fame into cultural heritage.
The Twin Museum houses photos, records, and testimonials from families who were part of the research and everyday life of the community.
The place also organizes twin gatherings, which bring together residents and visitors in annual celebrations.
The phenomenon attracts scientists, journalists, and tourists interested in the town’s uniqueness.
The constant presence of scholars and international visibility has boosted rural tourism and strengthened residents’ sense of belonging, who approach the subject with pride and naturalness.
Mystery, Genetics and Local Pride
The story of the so-called “City of Twins” transcends the exoticism of statistics.
It speaks about how genetic legacies are perpetuated, how myths gain strength in the face of the unknown, and how a community can transform an enigma into a symbol of identity.
Today, the population of Cândido Godói lives between global curiosity and rural routine.
The phenomenon continues to inspire new research, which seeks to understand not only why there are so many twins there, but what this case can reveal about human genetic diversity.
Do you believe that phenomena like Cândido Godói show more about the power of genetics or about the role of the environment? Do you know other stories where science has debunked local myths? Tell us in the comments how you interpret the balance between biological inheritance and culture in cases like this small brazilian town that became one of the greatest scientific enigmas in the country.
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