Everything about Santa Catarina Brazil totally explained
is a
state in southern
Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in the country. Its capital is
Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the
Santa Catarina Island. Neighboring states are
Rio Grande do Sul to the south and
Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by the
Atlantic Ocean, and to the west it borders the province of
Misiones,
Argentina. Most of its inhabitants are descendants of
Portuguese,
German and
Italian immigrants.
The
beaches along the coast of 561 kilometers (348 miles) are a great attraction for
tourists visiting the smallest State of the South Region.
Florianópolis, the capital, is on an island and is one of the Brazilian cities that receives the most foreign
tourists. To the south, Garopaba is the preferred destination of surfers looking for good waves. In the mountain region, São Joaquin is the attraction during
winter because of its low temperatures.
Blumenau, in the interior of Santa Catarina, is the stage for one of the biggest events of the country: the
Oktoberfest, a traditional beer party originated from
Germany, that happens in
October. The heritage of the
Italian,
German and
Portuguese immigrants can be seen in the
architecture and the
customs of the state.
Geography
Santa Catarina is in a very strategic position in
Mercosur, the South American Common Market. Its position in the map is situated between the parallel 25º57'41" and 29º23'55" of the Southern latitude and between the meridians 48º19'37" and 53º50'00" of Western longitude.
Florianópolis, its capital, is 1,673 km (1,039 miles) from
Brasilia, 705 km (438 miles) from
São Paulo, 1,144 km (710 miles) from
Rio de Janeiro and 1,850 km (1,149 miles) from
Buenos Aires.
The
Serra Geral, a southern extension of the
Serra do Mar, runs north and south through the state parallel to the Atlantic coast, dividing the state between a narrow coastal plain and a larger plateau region to the west.
The Atlantic coast of Santa Catarina has many beaches, islands, bays, inlets, and lagoons. The humid tropical
Serra do Mar coastal forests cover the narrow coastal zone, which is crossed by numerous short streams from the wooded slopes of the serras.
The central part of the state is home to the
Araucaria moist forests, dominated by emergent
Brazilian pines
(Araucaria angustifolia). The drainage of the plateau is westward to the
Paraná River, the rivers being tributaries of the
Iguaçu, which forms its northern boundary, and of the
Uruguay, which forms its southern boundary. The semi-deciduous
Paraná-Paraíba interior forests occupy the westernmost valleys of the Iguaçu and Uruguay rivers.
History
European settlement began with the Spanish settlement of
Santa Catarina island in 1542. The Portuguese took control in 1675. The captaincy of Santa Catarina was established in 1738. Large numbers of European immigrants, especially from
Germany, began arriving in the early 19th century. Immigrants from
Italy,
Poland,
Russia,
Ukraine,
Japan and other parts of
Europe later arrived, with one result being an abundance of small, family-held farms in the state's interior.
In late March 2004, the state was hit by the first ever
hurricane recorded in the
South Atlantic. Because there's no naming system for such an event in Brazil, Brazilian
meteorologists called it
Catarina, after the state.
Demographics
According to the
IBGE of
2007, there were 5,974,000 people residing in the state. The population density was 62.5 inh./km².
Urbanization: 82.5% (
2006);
Population growth: 1.9% (
1991-
2000);
Houses: 1,836,000 (
2006).
According to the
IBGE of
2007, there were 5,974,000 people residing in the state. The population density was 62.5 inh./km². The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 5,215,000
White people (87.1%), 585,000
Brown people (9.8%), 161,000
Black people (2.7%), 11,000
Asian and
Amerindian people (0.4%).
People of
Portuguese ancestry, mostly
Azoreans, predominate in the coast. People of
German descent predominate in the northeast region (Itajaí Valley) and in the north (
Joinville region). There are many German communities in the west. People of
Italian descent predominate in the south, as well in many areas in the west. People of
African,
Amerindian or
Japanese origins are small communities in a few towns.
European settlement
Santa Catarina is one of the Brazilian states that exhibits the most signs of 19th century European immigration. The vast majority of the population are descendants of European settlers.
Portuguese
The
Portuguese started arriving in the 1750s, mainly from the
Azores islands, and colonized the coast. In the late 18th century, half of Santa Catarina's population was Portuguese-born. These Portuguese established many important towns of the state, such as
Florianópolis, the capital.
Germans
Germans started arriving in 1828. They were peasants that were attracted to Brazil by the opportunity to get their own land, since
Germany was overpopulated and many people had no land to work. German immigration was very low, until the 1850s, when waves of Germans started arriving in Southern Brazil. To stimulate the development of the German colonization in Southern Brazil, the Brazilian government created many
German colonies. These colonies were ethnically Germanic areas, where people from many parts of Germany settled. Initially, these colonies were in rural areas, where the immigrants were able to cultivate their own farms. Many of these German colonies developed greatly and became big towns, such as
Blumenau and
Joinville, the largest city in Santa Catarina.
Germans had been isolated in rural communities for decades. They didn't have much contact with the other peoples of Brazil, and for generations they were able to speak
German and keep their German traditions in Brazil. This situation changed in 1942, during
World War II, when Brazil declared war against Germany and the German immigrants were required to learn
Portuguese and to follow a
Brazilian way of life.
Nowadays, the German influence in the State of Santa Catarina is still very strong and visible. Many towns, especially the small ones, still retain many aspects of the German culture, such as
Pomerode, a small town where 90% of the population are of
German-Brazilian heritage and most of the inhabitants speak
German fluently or the
Oktoberfest of
Blumenau and many other towns in the region. The architecture also shows German influence, which is also evident in people's customs and food.
Italians
Italian settlers started arriving in Santa Catarina in
1875 and immigrated in large numbers until the
1910s. They were peasants from
Northern Italy and established themselves in ethnically Italian colonies close to the coast. In the beginning, the Italian settlement had failed, because many
Italians died of tropical diseases or left the colonies to find better conditions. However, in Vale do Tubarão region (southern Santa Catarina), Italian
immigrants found cooler weather and better lands, and the settlements prospered. Many Italians worked in the coal
industry and, unlike the
German immigrants, they didn't dedicate themselves very much to
agriculture. As they were not isolated in rural colonies, Italian immigrants were quickly integrated into the Brazilians of
Portuguese descent, that had been living there since the 18th century.
Economy
The
industrial sector is the largest component of
GDP at 52.5%, followed by the
service sector at 33.9%.
Agriculture represents 13.6% of
GDP (
2004). Santa Catarina exports:
aviculture 26.1%,
logging 15.4%,
compressores 8.5%,
cotton 6.8%,
vehicles 5.8%,
woods 5.1% (
2002).
Share of the Brazilian economy: 4% (
2005).
Santa Catarina has one of the highest standards of living in
Brazil- comparable to the Iberian Peninsula countries, and is a major industrial and agricultural center.
In the northeast of the state, electric-mechanical, textile and furniture industries are stronger; in the west, cattle and poultry breeding, and in the south, ceramics and shellfish.
The corridor between Joinville, Jaragua do Sul and Blumenau is heavily industrialized - more than 50% of the state's industrial output is concentrated in this small, but highly developed area.
Santa Catarina has some of the most beautiful beaches in
Brazil - Summer months (Dec-Mar) make the state one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Brazil and South America. Tens of thousands of Argentines and Paraguayans flock to the state's beaches from mid December to late January.
The major cities and their respective fields are:
- 1. Joinville, metal-mechanic; tourism/events; software; commerce.
- 2. Florianópolis, tourism; government; technology; education.
- 3. Blumenau, software, textile and beer.
- 4. São José.
- 5. Criciúma, ceramics.
- 6. Chapecó, cattle and poultry breeding.
- 7. Lages.
- 8. Itajai, seaport.
- 9. Jaraguá do Sul, electric motors and textile.
- 10. Palhoça
- 11. Balneário Camboriú major beach resort.
- 12. Tubarão.
- 13. Brusque, textile.
- 14. São Bento do Sul, furniture.
Statistics
Vehicles: 2,489,343 (
March/
2007);
Mobile phones: 3.7 million (
April/
2007);
Telephones: 1.6 million (
April/
2007).
Cities: 293 (
2007).
Education
Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But
English and
Spanish are part of the official
high school curriculum.
Colleges and Universities
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) (Federal University of Santa Catarina);
Universidade da Regiao de Joinville (UNIVILLE) (University of the Region of Joinville);
Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC) (University of the State of Santa Catarina);
Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL) (University of Southern Santa Catarina);
Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI) (University of the Itajaí Valley);
Universodade do Oeste de Santa Catarina (Unoesc) (University of Western Santa Catarina);
Universidade do Planalto de Santa Catarina (Uniplac) (University of the Plateau of Santa Catarina);
Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (Unesc) (University of Southernmost Santa Catarina);
Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB) (Regional University Foundation of Blumenau);
and many others.
Infrastructure
International Airport
Florianópolis is served by Hercílio Luz International Airport for both domestic and international flights. The traffic has grown significantly at the airport and therefore the city will shortly build a new airport able to serve 2.7 million passengers a year.
The architectural design of the new airport was chosen by a public competition held by Infraero in partnership with the Brazilian Architects Institute (IAB).
Among the over 150 original entries, the proposal of São Paulo architect Mário Bizelli was chosen. The construction work will be tendered in 2005 and should be finished in two years.
Tourism and leisure all the year round
Santa Catarina isn't just a summer destination. The state which was initially known for its beautiful coastline with more than 500 beaches found that its geographic and cultural diversity was also a big tourist attraction and as a result, tourists can today enjoy contrasting types of scenery and climate which are very close to each other – only two hours by car separate paradisiacal beaches from some 2000 meters-high mountains.
Santa Catarina offers a number of sights and events throughout the year: rural tourism, thermal mineral resorts, ecological tourism and adventure sports, historic monuments and sights, religious tourism, Beto Carrero World and Unipraias parks), and the unforgettable beach resort of Balneário Camboriú.
Some of these sights can only be seen in the off-season, like the snow spectacle on the Catarinense Mountain Range - the only place in Brazil where it snows every year. This region is the birthplace of rural tourism, has farm hotels with trout fishing in the ice-cold rivers, horse riding, trekking and outdoor sports activities.
Between July and November, the Right whales visit the state's coast – and the number of tourists wishing to see this spectacle has increased year after year.
The big festivities are in October. The main Oktoberfest in Blumenau is Brazil's largest and the world's second largest (after Germany's Munich).
Joinville is the host city of the July "Joinville Dance Festival", the annual "Festival of Flowers" in November which showcases orchids produced in the region, and several business events in its Convention Center.
Florianópolis the city/island State Capital attracts a large numbers of tourists during the summer months lured by its 42 beaches.
Santa Catarina has one of the most beautiful coastlines in Brazil, with one very busy beach resort: Balneário Camboriú.
There are also many smaller resort towns, including Itapema, Piçarras, Barra Velha and Penha, home to the famous amusement park "Beto Carrero World".
Sports
Football
There are two professional football teams in the city. Both of them have 13 Santa Catarina State Championship titles, which is a state record. The derby between them is known as "O Clássico da Capital" ("The Capital's Classic").
Figueirense FC - black and white. Its nickname is Figueira ("Figtree") and it's also known as O Furacão do Estreito ("The Estreito's Hurricane"). Its stadium is the Orlando Scarpelli, located in the Estreito neighborhood, in the continental part of the city. Figueirense is currently playing in the Brazilian first division.
Avaí FC - blue and white. It is also known as O Leão da Ilha ("The Lion of the Island"). Its stadium is the Aderbal Ramos da Silva, popularly known as Ressacada, located in the Carianos neighborhood, in the south part of the island. Avaí is currently playing in the Brazilian national second division.
But the most famous football team in the state are Malwee from Jaraguá do Sul, the best futsal (indoor football) team in the world with the best futsal player (Falcão) in the world.
Florianópolis is one of the 18 remaining candidates to host games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the only South American bidder.
Tennis
Florianópolis is the hometown of tennis star Gustavo Kuerten.
Surfing
The island is generally considered to be blessed with the best and most consistent waves in Brazil, and in early November of each year hosts what is currently South America's only ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Championship Tour professional surfing competition. Brazil has played host to many an ASP tour event over the past 30 years. Former contest sites include Rio de Janeiro, Barra de Tijuca and Saquarema, but the past four years have seen the tour set up shop in Florianopolis.
Falling towards the end of the tour, the past few years have seen several ASP world champions crowned in Brazil. In 2004 it was Andy Irons, and in 2005 it was Kelly Slater (who had his 2006 ASP World Title already stitched up by Brazil).
Minority languages
The minority languages of the state of Santa Catarina can be divided into two distinct groups:
The Autoctone Languages or Indigenous Languages: Kaingang; Guaraní; others...
The Extoctone Languages or Immigration Languages: German (Hunsrückisch, Pomeranian Pommersch/Plautdietsch);
Italian (Italian or Venetian), Ukrainian (Ukrainian ; others (Polish, etc.)
In some cities and villages, German and Italian are still the first spoken language.
Main cities
Joinville
Florianópolis
Blumenau
São José
Criciúma
Chapecó
Lages
Itajaí
Jaraguá do Sul
Palhoça
Other important cities
Tubarão
Balneário Camboriú
Brusque
Caçador
Joaçaba
São Bento do Sul
Mafra
Further Information
Get more info on 'Santa Catarina Brazil'.
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