Araranguá
Encyclopedia
Araranguá is a city located in the southern part of Santa Catarina
state, in the south of Brazil
. It has 59,134 inhabitants and was settled mainly by Azoreans
and Italians
. Araranguá is known as "A Cidade das Avenidas" ("The City of the Avenues”) because of its wide roads.
Indians. These ethnics groups disappeared after the arrival of the first Europeans settlers.
On February 11, 1728, was started the opening of the Caminho dos Conventos way that linked Morro dos Conventos (“Convents Mountain”) to Curitiba. This way became used mostly by the tropeiros, who carried cattle from Rio Grande do Sul
to São Paulo
. Araranguá became a waypoint for those between Viamão
(former capital of Rio Grande do Sul) and Lages
(in the top of the Planalto Serrano).
The first to arrive in Araranguá region were the Portugueses
, who came from Laguna
in the beginning of the 19th century. They first settled in the Morro dos Conventos. Later, Italian
, German
, Polish
and Spanish
immigrants and the African slaves arrived in the city. In 1816 was inaugurated in the village of Canjicas the first chapel in the region. In 1864 was created the first church within the current city of Araranguá.
The city was founded April 3, 1880, and was named Araranguá because of the Araranguá River. The village was promoted to the condition of city in 1921.
Along the 20th century the city underwent some dismemberments. The city of Criciúma emancipated in 1925 followed by Turvo (1948), Sombrio (1953), Maracajá (1967) and Balneário Arroio do Silva (1997).
in the night between March 28 and 29 of 2003 with winds up to 150 km/h. This event still intrigues scientists.
The city was again struck by at least two tornadoes in the night of September, the 29th of 2009, the first ever recorded in the urban area, although others have been already spotted in rural areas. A school gymnasium collapsed over a house and many windows shattered were broken in some shops, but there were no victims.
, an important highway that connects several major Brazilian cities. It lies roughly halfway between Porto Alegre
and Florianópolis
, the former being 210 km (130.5 mi) away.
The city had an airport served by Varig
in the 1950s but the runway remained without maintenance and remained just a dirt strip used by general aviation until the 1990s when the city developed around it and the area became too unsafe to any operation. Currently the nearest airport is located in Criciúma, 31 kilometres or 19.3 mi away, served only by NHT Linhas Aéreas
and some private charter companies. For commercial flights, the Hercílio Luz International Airport
, in Florianópolis, is the most widely used.
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
state, in the south of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It has 59,134 inhabitants and was settled mainly by Azoreans
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Araranguá is known as "A Cidade das Avenidas" ("The City of the Avenues”) because of its wide roads.
History
Until the 18th century, the city was inhabited mostly by Carijós and KaingangKaingang
The Kaingang people are a Native American ethnic group spread out over the four southern Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. They are also called Caingang and Aweikoma, though some sources list Kaingang and Aweikoma as separate groups...
Indians. These ethnics groups disappeared after the arrival of the first Europeans settlers.
On February 11, 1728, was started the opening of the Caminho dos Conventos way that linked Morro dos Conventos (“Convents Mountain”) to Curitiba. This way became used mostly by the tropeiros, who carried cattle from Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
to São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. Araranguá became a waypoint for those between Viamão
Viamão
Viamão is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In size it is the largest municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and the seventh most populous in the state.The origin of the name Viamão is controversial...
(former capital of Rio Grande do Sul) and Lages
Lages
Lages, formerly Lajens, is a Brazilian town located in the central part of the state of Santa Catarina, in the region known in Portuguese as "Planalto Serrano"....
(in the top of the Planalto Serrano).
The first to arrive in Araranguá region were the Portugueses
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, who came from Laguna
Laguna, Santa Catarina
Laguna is a Brazilian city located in the southern state of Santa Catarina, 120 kilometers south of the state's capital, Florianópolis, and north east of Porto Alegre. Its coordinates are 28.48/28°28'57" S and the longitude is 48.779/48°46'51" W. In 2004, the population was 48,956 and the area was...
in the beginning of the 19th century. They first settled in the Morro dos Conventos. Later, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
immigrants and the African slaves arrived in the city. In 1816 was inaugurated in the village of Canjicas the first chapel in the region. In 1864 was created the first church within the current city of Araranguá.
The city was founded April 3, 1880, and was named Araranguá because of the Araranguá River. The village was promoted to the condition of city in 1921.
Along the 20th century the city underwent some dismemberments. The city of Criciúma emancipated in 1925 followed by Turvo (1948), Sombrio (1953), Maracajá (1967) and Balneário Arroio do Silva (1997).
Climate
Araranguá was struck by the Cyclone CatarinaCyclone Catarina
Cyclone Catarina is one of several informal names for a South Atlantic tropical cyclone that hit southeastern Brazil in late March 2004. The storm developed out of a stationary cold-core upper-level trough on March 12...
in the night between March 28 and 29 of 2003 with winds up to 150 km/h. This event still intrigues scientists.
The city was again struck by at least two tornadoes in the night of September, the 29th of 2009, the first ever recorded in the urban area, although others have been already spotted in rural areas. A school gymnasium collapsed over a house and many windows shattered were broken in some shops, but there were no victims.
Economy
- Agriculture – production of rice, beanBeanBean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s, tobacco and cornMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. - Industry – based on metallurgyMetallurgyMetallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, ceramicsPotteryPottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, furniture and textiles. - Commerce
- Tourism
Transport
Araranguá is accessed by road mainly from the BR-101BR-101
The BR-101 is a longitudinal highway of Brazil. It is the longest in the country with a length of nearly , and it is also considered the most important....
, an important highway that connects several major Brazilian cities. It lies roughly halfway between Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
and Florianópolis
Florianópolis
-Climate:Florianópolis experiences a warm humid subtropical climate, falling just short of a true tropical climate. The seasons of the year are distinct, with a well-defined summer and winter, and characteristic weather for autumn and spring. Frost is infrequent, but occurs occasionally in the winter...
, the former being 210 km (130.5 mi) away.
The city had an airport served by Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
in the 1950s but the runway remained without maintenance and remained just a dirt strip used by general aviation until the 1990s when the city developed around it and the area became too unsafe to any operation. Currently the nearest airport is located in Criciúma, 31 kilometres or 19.3 mi away, served only by NHT Linhas Aéreas
NHT Linhas Aéreas
NHT Linhas Aéreas is a regional Brazilian domestic airline based at Salgado Filho International Airport, Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil...
and some private charter companies. For commercial flights, the Hercílio Luz International Airport
Hercílio Luz International Airport
Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport , is the airport serving Florianópolis, Brazil. It is named after Hercílio Pedro da Luz , 3 times Governor of Santa Catarina and senator.It is operated by Infraero....
, in Florianópolis, is the most widely used.
External links
- City’s official website (in Portuguese)Portuguese languagePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...