Jaraguá do Sul is a city in the north of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
History
The city was founded on July 25, 1876, by engineer and Brazilian Army colonel Emílio Carlos Jourdan and his family. The city was originally named Jaraguá, but was later renamed to Jaraguá do Sul due to an older city already named Jaraguá in Goiás state.
Etymology
Jaraguá means Lord of the Valley in a Tupi–Guarani language. It was the name given by the indigenous population of the city to the Boa Vista Hill (Morro da Boa Vista).
Geography
It borders Campo Alegre and São Bento do Sul to the north; Blumenau, Massaranduba, Pomerode and Rio dos Cedros to the south; Guaramirim, Joinville and Schroeder to the east and Corupá to the west.
The Itapocu River crosses the city and is considered Jaraguá do Sul's most important river, alongside Jaraguá River and Itapocuzinho River, who are also the main affluents of the former.
The climate is considered temperate, with average annual temperature around 21 °C. In summer temperatures often exceed 35 °C, although they may reach 40 °C in a few days. The winter is relatively cold for Brazilian standards, with an average minimum temperature around 12 °C in the months of June and July. Frost occurs almost every winter. Temperatures of zero or below are rare, and were most recently reached on July 14, 2000. The lowest temperature occurred on July 19, 1975, when thermometers recorded −2 °C. The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.5 °C on January 3, 1973.
Sports
Malwee/Jaraguá, formerly known as Associação Desportiva Jaraguá, is a successful futsal club, which has won the national league twice. In 2007, the city's arena, named Arena Jaraguá, hosted the final matches of the Grand Prix de Futsal. The arena also hosted two Ultimate Fighting Championship events, UFC on FX 8 in 2013 and UFC Fight Night 36 in 2014.
The city's football (soccer) club is Grêmio Esportivo Juventus. The retired goalkeeper Eduardo Roberto Stinghen, nicknamed Ado, was born in the city in 1946. Filipe Luís, who previously played for Flamengo, was also born in the city.
Industry
The local economy is mainly based in metallurgy and clothing industries. The city was the origin for several worldwide companies, like WEG Industries (electric motors and industrial electronics), Marisol (clothing), Duas Rodas (food seasoning), Malwee (clothing), Menegotti (construction equipment) and many others. The city is the 7th largest economy of the state.
FEMUSC
Jaraguá do Sul is home to the Festival de Música de Santa Catarina (FEMUSC) which was created by Alex Klein. The festival is held in late January and attracts students and faculty from all over the world. The program involves faculty and students recitals, orchestral and band performances, lessons and masterclasses.
Schützenfest
The Schützenfest (also known in Brazil as Festa dos Atiradores) is a traditional festival held annually since 1988, celebrated in October in Jaraguá do Sul. It is part of the popular festivals celebrated in that month in Santa Catarina state due to the German colonization in the region.
Demographics
Ethnic groups
The first inhabitants of the area were the indigenous people of the Xokleng and the Kaingang. The following ethnic groups later immigrated to the city: Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Poles, and Africans, who were brought to the city as slaves.
By 2002 City Hall research concluded that 45% of the people from Jaraguá do Sul are descended from Germans. The other main groups were Italians (25%), Poles (6%), and Hungarians (3%); 21% had other ancestry.[33]
Infrastructure
Transports
Airports
Jaraguá do Sul has a municipal aerodrome (ICAO: SIH4), used for particular or business flights. For commercial flights, inhabitants use the Joinville Airport, located about 50km from the city, and the Navegantes International Airport.
Urban
Jaraguá do Sul's urban terminal is located in the Getúlio Vargas Avenue, in the city's downtown, and has a non-integrated municipal transport system currently operated by Viação Canarinho.
Intermunicipal bus system and Highways
The city has an intermunicipal bus station. In operation since 1992, it is located in the Vila Baependi neighbourhood and currently receives about 600 people per day. The building also hosts the Instituto de Meio Ambiente de Santa Catarina (IMA), the Association of Councilors of the Itapocu Valley, The Rã Bugio Institute, and the Centro de Valorização da Vida (CVV). Some of the companies that operate the terminal are: Auto Viação Catarinense, Reunidas S.A. Transportes Coletivos, Empresa União de Transportes, Viação Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes, Empresa União Cascavel de Transporte e Turismo Ltda., Viação Itapemirim S.A., Brasil Sul Linhas Rodoviárias, Expresso São Bento, Auto Viação Venâncio Aires, Empresa de Ônibus Nossa Senhora da Penha and Viação Canarinho.
The city can be accessed through the following highways:
- BR-280 – Accesses other regions of Santa Catarina and the neighbouring state of Paraná.
- SC-110 – Accesses the neighbouring towns of Pomerode and Rio dos Cedros.
- SC-108 – Accesses the cities of Joinville and Blumenau.
Notable people
- Filipe Luís Football player
- Taila Santos mixed martial artist
- Venerable Aloísio Sebastião Boeing
Population growth
The decrease in population between 1950 and 1960 was caused by the secession of the former district of Corupá as a separate municipality.
Bairros
Bairros in Jaraguá do Sul.: