Santa Catarina (Brazil)

Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil. Its capital is Florianópolis, which lies on the island named Santa Catarina.

The state dates from the Spanish settlement of Santa Catarina island in 1542. After the Portuguese took control in 1675, they later established the captaincy of Santa Catarina in 1738. Large numbers of European immigrants, especially from Germany, began arriving in the early 19th century, and the state remains a center of German culture in Brazil. Immigrants from Italy, Poland, Russia, and other parts of Europe later arrived, with one result being an abundance of small, family held farms in the state's interior.

Santa Catarina has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil, and is a major agricultural and industrial center.

Other key cities in the state include Joinville, Blumenau, the site of a major annual Oktoberfest, and the resort town of Balneário Camboriu.