Itajaí facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Itajaí
Municipality
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "Quality of Life"
Location in the state of Santa Catarina
Itajaí Location in Brazil
Country	Brazil
Region	Southern
State	Santa Catarina
Founded	June 15, 1860
Area
• Total	289.285 km2 (111.694 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	264,054
• Density	912.782/km2 (2,364.093/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2010)	0.795 – high

Itajaí (Portuguese pronunciation: [itaʒaˈi]) is a city in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It's located on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, right where the Itajaí-Açu river meets the ocean. Itajaí is one of the richest cities in Santa Catarina.

History of Itajaí

Itajaí was officially founded on June 15, 1860. However, people started settling here much earlier, around 1658, when João Dias D'Arzão arrived.

In 1750, Portuguese settlers from Madeira and the Azores made this region their home. By 1823, it became an important area for these Portuguese families. Later, in the late 1800s, many German immigrants also came to live in Itajaí.

Itajaí and much of Santa Catarina often experience heavy storms, especially in spring. This can lead to floods, and sometimes even tornadoes. In November 2008, severe floods affected the city. Most of Itajaí was underwater, and the port was damaged. Many people lost their homes and belongings. The state was declared a disaster area.

People of Itajaí

Most people in Itajaí are descended from German, Italian, and Azorean (Portuguese) families. This mix of cultures is a special part of the city's identity.

Source: 2022 census

Out of about 264,000 people living in Itajaí, most (around 254,000) live in the city area. About 10,000 people live in the countryside. The population is almost equally split between females (51%) and males (49%).

Religions in Itajaí

The main religions in Itajaí are Roman Catholic (about 61% of people) and Evangelical (about 28% of people). Some people also follow other religions like spiritism, Umbanda, Candomblé, and Buddhism.

Geography of Itajaí

Itajaí covers an area of about 289 square kilometers. About 20% of this area is urban (city), and 80% is rural or protected natural areas.

The city is located on the northern coast of Santa Catarina State, right at the mouth of the Itajaí-Açu river. It shares borders with the cities of Balneário Camboriú, Camboriú, Brusque, Gaspar, Ilhota, and Navegantes. Itajaí is home to the biggest fishing port in Brazil and the largest university in the state, called Univali.

Itajaí is mostly flat because it's at sea level. The highest point is Morro da Cruz, which is 170 meters above sea level.

The BR-101 is the main highway connecting Itajaí to other places. Other highways like SC-100, BR-486, SC-470, and BR-470 also link Itajaí to the rest of the state.

Climate in Itajaí

Itajaí has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has humid winters and dry summers. In summer, temperatures can reach 40 °C (which happened in 2000). In winter, temperatures can drop to 5 °C. It's very rare for temperatures to go outside this range. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Itajaí was -1 °C in 1975.

Economy and Trade

Itajaí is an important city for trade in Brazil. In 2014, Itajaí was the 8th largest exporter in Brazil. A big part of its exports (86%) came from animal products like poultry (chicken) and pork.

Port of Itajaí

The Port of Itajaí is the main port in Santa Catarina. It's the second largest in Brazil for moving shipping containers. Most of the goods produced in Santa Catarina pass through this port to be sent to other countries.

Fun Things to Do in Itajaí

The center of Itajaí

The entrance to the Port of Itajaí

Itajaí has many beautiful beaches, including Molhes, Atalaia, Jeremias, Cabeçudas, Morcego, Brava (Angry) Beach, and Solidão.

A famous natural attraction is the Parrot's Beak. It's a 6-meter-tall rock that looks like a parrot's head.

The city also has large rural areas and lovely natural scenery. You can see the rich history of the Portuguese and German immigrants here.

Itajaí has a special pier for passenger ships. It helps guide ships using lasers.

The Marejada festival is the city's main celebration. It's a Portuguese festival about fishing and seafood. It showcases the ocean and Azorean culture. Itajaí is also home to Clube Náutico Marcílio Dias, a sports club for both soccer and competitive rowing.

Itajaí has been a stop for famous sailing races. It was the finish line for the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013. It also hosted the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012, 2015, and 2018.

The city is served by Ministro Victor Konder International Airport, which is in the nearby city of Navegantes.

Every October, Itajaí celebrates the Marejada festival, which has been held since 1987.

Sister Cities

Itajaí has "sister city" relationships with these places:

See also

In Spanish: Itajaí para niños