Itajaí
title: "Itajaí" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-coastal-places-in-santa-catarina-(state)", "populated-places-established-in-1860", "municipalities-in-santa-catarina-(state)", "1860-establishments-in-brazil", "port-cities-and-towns-in-brazil"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itajaí" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Itajaí |
| settlement_type | Municipality |
| image_skyline | {{multiple image |
| image1 | Itajai-SC.jpg |
| image2 | Casa da Cultura da cidade de Itajai - panoramio.jpg |
| image3 | Igreja Matriz - panoramio.jpg |
| image4 | Parque Náutico Odílio Garcia 1 - panoramio.jpg |
| image5 | Biblioteca Pública Silveira Jr. da cidade de Itajai - panoramio.jpg |
| image6 | Píer - panoramio.jpg |
| image_flag | Bandeira Itajai SantaCatarina Brasil.svg |
| image_seal | Brasao Itajai SantaCatarina Brasil.svg |
| image_map | SantaCatarina Municip Itajai.svg |
| map_caption | Location in the state of Santa Catarina |
| mapsize | 250px |
| motto | "Quality of Life" |
| pushpin_map | Brazil |
| pushpin_mapsize | 250 |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Brazil |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_type2 | State |
| subdivision_name | Brazil |
| subdivision_name1 | Southern |
| subdivision_name2 | Santa Catarina |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Volnei Morastoni |
| leader_party | PMDB |
| established_title | Founded |
| established_date | June 15, 1860 |
| area_total_km2 | 289.285 |
| population_as_of | 2022 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 264,054 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone | BRT |
| utc_offset | −3 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_m | 2 |
| postal_code_type | Postal Code |
| blank_name | HDI (2010) |
| blank_info | 0.795 – high{{Cite web |
| website | |
| :: |
|name = Itajaí |settlement_type = Municipality |image_skyline = {{multiple image|total_width=300px|perrow=2/2/2|border=infobox |image1 = Itajai-SC.jpg |image2 = Casa da Cultura da cidade de Itajai - panoramio.jpg |image3 = Igreja Matriz - panoramio.jpg |image4 = Parque Náutico Odílio Garcia 1 - panoramio.jpg |image5 = Biblioteca Pública Silveira Jr. da cidade de Itajai - panoramio.jpg |image6 = Píer - panoramio.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = |nickname = |image_flag = Bandeira Itajai SantaCatarina Brasil.svg |image_seal = Brasao Itajai SantaCatarina Brasil.svg |image_map = SantaCatarina Municip Itajai.svg |map_caption = Location in the state of Santa Catarina |mapsize = 250px |motto = "Quality of Life" |pushpin_map = Brazil |pushpin_mapsize = 250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_type2 = State |subdivision_name = Brazil |subdivision_name1 = Southern |subdivision_name2 = Santa Catarina |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Volnei Morastoni |leader_party = PMDB |established_title = Founded |established_date = June 15, 1860 |area_note = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 289.285 |population_as_of = 2022 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 264,054 |population_note = |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone = BRT |utc_offset = −3 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_m = 2 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = Postal Code |postal_code = |blank_name = HDI (2010) |blank_info = 0.795 – high{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233352/http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |website = |footnotes =
Itajaí () is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is located on the northern central coast of Santa Catarina and is part of the Vale do Itajaí Mesoregion, on the right bank of the Itajaí-Açu river mouth. It lies at the mouth of the Itajaí River, at 20 feet (6 metres) above sea level. The city has the 2nd largest gross domestic product and the highest per capita income in the State of Santa Catarina.
History
The city was founded on June 15, 1860, but the colonization of Itajaí had started in 1658 when the Paulista João Dias D'Arzão arrived in the region. In 1750, Portuguese colonists coming from Madeira and the Azores made this region their home. By 1823 it became a prominent region for Portuguese settlers and, at the end of the 19th century, received a great number of German immigrants.
Itajaí and most of Santa Catarina State area is prone to torrential storms specially during the Spring season. Floods are frequent and even tornadoes can form.
In late November 2008, around 100 people perished in floods due to the long lasting showers that fell in Southeastern and Southern Brazil. 90% of the city was underwater and the port was partially destroyed. Many lost their homes and other possessions and had no ready shelters to turn to, for the rain combined with river waters invaded every section of the city and most of Central and Coastal Santa Catarina State. President Lula da Silva and other officials flew over the area to evaluate the damage and offer help. The state was declared a disaster area by the State and Federal governments.
Demography
The majority of the population is descended from Germans, Italians and Azoreans. The mixture of German, Italian and Portuguese cultures is a landmark of the city.
::data[format=table]
| Race | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 69.6% |
| Pardo (Multiracial) | 23.6% |
| Black | 6.4% |
| Asian | 0.3% |
| Indigenous | 0.1% |
| :: |
Source: 2022 census
It is estimated that of the little more than 200 thousand inhabitants of the city, about 190 thousand live in the urban area and 10 thousand in the rural area. According to the IBGE census, the population is approximately 51% female and 49% male.
Religion
The predominant religions in the municipality are the Roman Catholic (approximately 61% of the population) and Evangelical (approximately 28% of the population). There are also practitioners of other religions, such as spiritist, umbanda, candomblé and Buddhism, but with less representation.
Geography
It occupies an area of 304 km ², 20% urban and 80% rural (or conservation areas).
Is located on the north coast of Santa Catarina State, specifically at the mouth of the Itajaí-Açu river. It borders onto the cities of Balneário Camboriú, Camboriú, Brusque, Gaspar, Ilhota and Navegantes. Headquarters of the largest fishing port in the country and the largest university in the state, the Univali (Universidade do Vale do Itajaí).
Itajaí is located in the Lower Valley of Rio Itajaí, the coast and the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated at the mouth of the Itajaí-Açu river, allowing the existence of the port.
The city is basically flat - due to being at sea level The highest point is Morro da Cruz, 170 meters above sea level. It was part of the defunct metropolitan area of Foz do Rio Itajaí, together with the neighboring municipalities.
Itajaí hosts one of the biggest festivals of Brazilian popular music. The festival is held every October and brings together musicians and artists from around the country. These meetings are a display of the culture of Itajaí.
The BR-101 is the main link to the city, and highways SC-100, BR-486, SC-470 and BR-470, Itajaí link to the rest of the state.
Territorial division
Below is the current municipal division, according to Ordinary Law of Itajaí / SC, nº 3359/1998 of December 21, 1998 and 3673/2001 of December 10, 2001, with the neighborhoods and their locations: - River Bar - Imaruí - New Brasília - 1st Industrial District - Big Heads - Atalaia beach - Geremias beach - Jetty beach - Canhanduba - Down Canhanduba - Center - Riverside - New City - Miss Little Marica - Merich Krobel - Danielle's Garden - Avelino Werner's Cllotment - Father Schmidt - To live I - To live II - To live III - Green Valley - Lambs - 3rd Industrial District - Abdon Fóes - Bertoldo Michels - Heavenly Girardi - Cavalcante's Coast - Hope's Garden - Juliete's Garden - Progress's Garden - Italy's Garden - Saint Rita's Garden - Brazillian Home's Cllotment - Riverside's Cllotment - Caeser Cranches's Cllotment - Union's Cllotment - Myrtle - Don Bosco - Our Lady of Graces - Itamirim's Garden - Thorns - Good View - Little Thorns - Portal I - Portal II - Valley of the Pines - Saint Roque - Saint Regina - Farm - Little Farm (Our Lady of Guadalupe) - Terrace - Luciana's Garden - Müller's Cllotment - Father Jacó - Itaipava - 4th Industrial District - Wedge Village - Bay - Good retreat - Bright I (Bright outside) - Bright II (Bright inside) - Logwood - Estivado - 7,45645 miles - Orange trees - lemon Tree - Saint Peter's Cllotment - Patience - River of middle - New River(japanese colony) - Board - Angry Beach - Ariribá - Lover's Beach - Bat's Beach - New Holynéia - Saint Clear - Lonely's Beach - Hangover - Mansion Garden - Salt All - Whetstone - Back Up - Saint John - Madevila - Saint Judas - Little River - Saint Vicent - 2nd Industrial District - Bamboozal - Jaí-Açú - Ipiranga's Garden - Olimpic's Garden - Heavens's Garden - Big Peir's Garden - Tarumã's Garden - Mrs. Catarine's Cllotment - 1st May Cllotment - Nilo Bittencourt - Beautiful river - Working Village - Fiuza Lime
Climate
Itajaí has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa) humid in winter and dry in summer. In summer temperatures can reach 40 °C (Temperature reached in 2000) and during the winter they can get as low as 5 °C. It is very rare to get temperatures outside this range. There are reports that the lowest temperature ever recorded in Itajaí was -1 °C in 1975.
|metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Itajaí (1976–2005 normals, extremes 2010–Present) |Jan high C = 29.4 |Feb high C = 29.8 |Mar high C = 28.8 |Apr high C = 26.9 |May high C = 24.3 |Jun high C = 21.9 |Jul high C = 21.3 |Aug high C = 22.1 |Sep high C = 22.6 |Oct high C = 24.5 |Nov high C = 26.6 |Dec high C = 28.6 |year high C = 25.6 |Jan mean C = 24.6 |Feb mean C = 24.6 |Mar mean C = 23.6 |Apr mean C = 21.4 |May mean C = 18.3 |Jun mean C = 15.8 |Jul mean C = 15.3 |Aug mean C = 16.2 |Sep mean C = 17.6 |Oct mean C = 19.9 |Nov mean C = 21.9 |Dec mean C = 23.7 |year mean C = 20.2 |Jan low C = 20.9 |Feb low C = 21.1 |Mar low C = 20.0 |Apr low C = 18.0 |May low C = 14.8 |Jun low C = 12.5 |Jul low C = 11.9 |Aug low C = 12.7 |Sep low C = 14.4 |Oct low C = 16.5 |Nov low C = 18.1 |Dec low C = 19.6 |year low C = 16.7 |Jan record high C = 38.9 |Jan record low C = 15.6 |Feb record high C = 37.5 |Feb record low C = 14.1 |Mar record high C = 35.0 |Mar record low C = 11.2 |Apr record high C = 33.8 |Apr record low C = 8.7 |May record high C = 31.2 |May record low C = 6.1 |Jun record high C = 30.2 |Jun record low C = 2.1 |Jul record high C = 29.3 |Jul record low C = 1.3 |Aug record high C = 33.6 |Aug record low C = 4.0 |Sep record high C = 31.4 |Sep record low C = 7.4 |Oct record high C = 34.9 |Oct record low C = 10.3 |Nov record high C = 34.0 |Nov record low C = 12.5 |Dec record high C = 39.0 |Dec record low C = 12.4 |year record high C = |year record low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 184.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 206.6 |Mar precipitation mm = 190.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 115.7 |May precipitation mm = 126.1 |Jun precipitation mm = 85.5 |Jul precipitation mm = 108.9 |Aug precipitation mm = 99.9 |Sep precipitation mm = 131.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 144.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 149.3 |Dec precipitation mm = 140.1 |year precipitation mm = 1682.1 |Jan humidity = 84 |Feb humidity = 85 |Mar humidity = 85 |Apr humidity = 86 |May humidity = 87 |Jun humidity = 88 |Jul humidity = 88 |Aug humidity = 87 |Sep humidity = 86 |Oct humidity = 84 |Nov humidity = 82 |Dec humidity = 82 |Jan sun = 178 |Feb sun = 157 |Mar sun = 171 |Apr sun = 157 |May sun = 159 |Jun sun = 138 |Jul sun = 143 |Aug sun = 135 |Sep sun = 109 |Oct sun = 127 |Nov sun = 155 |Dec sun = 178 |year sun = 1807 | source 1 = Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA){{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240114130030/https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/143521/1/Atlas-climatico-da-regiao-Sul-do-Brasil.pdf | archive-date = 14 January 2024 | url = https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/143521/1/Atlas-climatico-da-regiao-Sul-do-Brasil.pdf | title = Atlas climático da Região Sul do Brasil: Estados do Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul. | publisher= EMBRAPA | access-date = 25 May 2024}} | source 2 = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia{{cite web | url = https://tempo.inmet.gov.br/TabelaEstacoes/A868 | title = Estação: ITAJAÍ (A868) | work = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia | access-date = 15 October 2023}}
Economy
International trade
As of 2014, the municipality of Itajaí conducted 1.61% of Brazil's total export trade with $3.91B (USD) worth of goods. This figure places Itajaí as the 8th highest exporter in Brazil. Of this, 86% or $3.35B (USD) was made up by the trade of animal products. The top five material goods exported by Itajaí for that year were poultry meat (52%), pork (21%), other prepared meat (9.6%), preserved meat (7.3%), and frozen bovine meat (2.2%).
Port of Itajaí
The Port of Itajaí is the main port of Santa Catarina, and the second largest in Brazil in terms of the movement of containers. It serves as the main port for exports in the region, and almost all production of the state of Santa Catarina moves through it at some point.
Tourism
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Centro_de_itajaí.jpg" caption="Entrance of Port of Itajaí]]Itajaí has many [[beaches]], among them are the Molhes, Atalaia, Jeremias, Cabeçudas, Morcego, Brava (Angry) Beach and Solidão."] ::
One well-known tourist attraction is the Parrot's Beak, a 6-meter-tall rock in the shape of a parrot. The city also has extensive rural areas and natural scenery, with a rich heritage of the Portuguese and German immigrants. Itajaí has a píer for passenger vessels, serving the coast of Santa Catarina and used by the customs, which guides ships in by laser. The Marejada, a Portuguese festival of fishing and seafood, is the principal festival of the city, showcasing attractions relative to the ocean and the Azores. Itajaí is also the hub of Nautical Club Marcílio Dias, a sport association for both football (soccer) and competitive rowing.
In 2013 it has been chosen as the arrival point of the Transat Jacques Vabre and it was a stopover for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
The city is served by Ministro Victor Konder International Airport located in the adjoining municipality of Navegantes.
Each October, yearly celebrate Marejada carried out in Itajaí from 1987.
Twin towns – sister cities
Itajaí is twinned with:
- CHL Melipilla, Melipilla Province, Chile
- USA Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
- JPN Sodegaura, Chiba, Japan
- POR Viana do Castelo, North Region, Portugal
- CHN Xinxiang, Henan, China
References
References
- [https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/sc/itajai/panorama IBGE 2022]
- (11 December 2014). "Itajaí ultrapassa Joinville como o município mais rico do Estado".
- "Archived copy".
- "Censo 2022 - Panorama".
- https://leismunicipais.com.br/a/sc/i/itajai/lei-ordinaria/1998/336/3359/lei-ordinaria-n-3359-1998-divide-o-perimetro-urbano-do-municipio-de-itajai-em-zonas-administrativas {{Bare URL inline. (May 2022)
- "Climate: Itajaí – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org.
- link. (2016-04-06 , ''[[DataViva]]'', Retrieved June 10, 2015.)
- link. (2015-06-11 , ''[[DataViva]]'', Retrieved on June 10, 2015.)
- "Foto dança pau de fitas marejada itajai sc brasil Itajaí SC".
- "Panoramio is no longer available".
- www.izlesem.org. "MAREJADA 2007 - TV ITAJAÍ video izle indir - izlesem.org".
- "Relações internacionais: Cidades irmãs". Agência de Desenvolvimento do Turismo de Santa Catarina – SANTUR.
- "Sister Cities". City of Pompano Beach.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::