Santa Catarina

State in southern Brazil, bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the east; area 95,985 sq km/37,060 sq mi; population (1996) 4,875,244. The capital is Florianópolis and the main ports are Itajai and San Francisco do Sul. A small range of mountains running north–south divides the state into two parts. The east is low-lying, with a tropical climate and producing good crops of coffee, cotton, bananas, tobacco, and rice. The western part comprises a heavily forested plateau interspersed with grasslands, on which cattle farming is the main activity. From the forest come Paraná pine and yerba maté (‘Paraguay tea’), both of which are exported in quantity.

In the late 19th century, many German and Italian immigrants settled in Santa Catarina, and this is reflected in some of the agricultural methods used in this area today. Low-quality coal is mined in the region, but no other minerals are extracted on a significant scale. In the south is the 444 sq km/171 sq mi São Joaquim National Park, established in 1961, and the 113 sq km/47 sq mi Aparados da Serra National Park, established in 1959.