Important route of old colonial pathways, the place came to be named “Catas Altas” due to the primitive process to extract gold, which was explored in catastrophic system, where extensive excavations were made in the sands of the rivers to find the stone from the bottom the riverbed. The origin of the name “Noruega” (Norway) is old and fruitful and the generally accepted version, is that the name was given by the first explorers to find those hills cold and wet which  ”hides the face of the sun.”

After the decline of mining, the miners were encouraged by Conde Bobadella (Count Bobadella) to reactivate the mines. It was then that the Catas Altas and Noruega mines were united and reactivated, giving rise to the current name of Catas Altas da Noruega.

The destination offers several natural attractions. The “Altos da Lagarta, Barreiro, and  Cruziero” Heights, the Limpa and Jequitibá Waterfalls, Morro Redondo and the Rio Piranga and Pirapetinga Rivers are some of these attractions.

The historical and cultural heritage of the city is composed of the Padre Luiz Gonzaga Pinheiro Memorial Historical Archive and Museum, the Stations of the Cross and the Mother Church’s of São Gonçalo do Amarante, Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary) and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Our Lady of Remedies).