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Blumenau

Coordinates: 26°56′S 49°03′W / 26.933°S 49.050°W / -26.933; -49.050
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For other uses, see Blumenau (disambiguation).
Blumenau
Itajaí-Açu river seen from the surroundings of Garcia's stream mouth; city centre at left
Itajaí-Açu river seen from the surroundings of Garcia's stream mouth; city centre at left
Flag of Blumenau
Flag
Official seal of Blumenau
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Cidade Jardim ("Garden City") and Alemanha Tropical ("Tropical Germany")
Location in the state of Santa Catarina and Brazil
Location in the state of Santa Catarina and Brazil
CountryBrazil
RegionSouth
StateSanta Catarina
FoundedSeptember 2, 1850
Government
 • MayorNapoleão Bernardes (2013-2017)
Area
 • Total519.837 km2 (200.710 sq mi)
Elevation
21 m (69 ft)
Population
 (2010 est)[1]
 • Total309,214
 • Density594.83/km2 (1,540.6/sq mi)
Time zoneGMT-3
Postal code
89000-000
Area code+55 47
Websitehttp://www.blumenau.sc.gov.br

Blumenau is a city in Vale do Itajaí, state of Santa Catarina, in the South Region of Brazil. It is 130 km (81 mi) away from the state capital of Florianópolis.

History

The city was founded on September 2, 1850,[citation needed] by Dr. Hermann Bruno Otto Blumenau along with seventeen German immigrants. Later arrivals include biologist and early proponent of Darwinian Evolution, Fritz Müller.

Demographics

As of 2006, Blumenau had an estimated population of 302,000 people, with an area of 519 km² (200 sq mi). The main ethnic origin of the city inhabitants are German and Italian.[2] The city displays many historical and cultural reminders of their heritage, such as houses and other buildings built in a traditional German style, statues, and memorials.

Blumenau, compared to other Brazilian cities, has a very high standard of living, with a Human Development Index of 0.855 as of 2000.[3]

Ethnic composition

Race/Skin color Percentage Number
Whites 94.55% 247,527
Pardos (Mixed-race) 3.50% 9,171
Blacks 1.16% 3,042
Amerindians 0.13% 340
Asian 0.10% 252

Source: IBGE 2000.[4]

Religion

Religion Percentage Number
Catholics 73.90% 193,474
Protestants 22.13% 57,935
No religion 1.22% 3,200
Kardecists 0.72% 1,894

IBGE. Census 2000.[5]

Geography

Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí

The city is located in a valley bisected by the Itajaí-Açu River, surrounded by hills with forests. The lower areas, including towers and tall buildings in the city center, constantly suffer from the threat of floods. Blumenau's first recorded flood took place in the dawn on September 23, 1880. The worst took place in 1983 and 1984, when the city was completely isolated for weeks. [citation needed] Today, Blumenau is well-prepared against such threats, but many citizens prefer to live in higher areas spread into the nearby hills and plains to avoid flooding. However, this planning could not avoid an even worse flooding in late November 2008, that killed over 100 and forced thousands to evacuate. [citation needed]

Blumenau's downtown

Climate

Blumenau
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
170
 
 
30
20
 
 
195
 
 
31
21
 
 
152
 
 
29
20
 
 
108
 
 
27
17
 
 
107
 
 
24
15
 
 
104
 
 
21
12
 
 
104
 
 
21
12
 
 
131
 
 
22
13
 
 
122
 
 
22
15
 
 
166
 
 
25
16
 
 
136
 
 
27
18
 
 
173
 
 
29
19
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Weather Underground
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
6.7
 
 
86
68
 
 
7.7
 
 
88
70
 
 
6
 
 
84
68
 
 
4.3
 
 
81
63
 
 
4.2
 
 
75
59
 
 
4.1
 
 
70
54
 
 
4.1
 
 
70
54
 
 
5.2
 
 
72
55
 
 
4.8
 
 
72
59
 
 
6.5
 
 
77
61
 
 
5.4
 
 
81
64
 
 
6.8
 
 
84
66
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

The climate of Blumenau is considered to be subtropical, a climate of transition between the predominantly tropical climate of Brazil and the predominantly temperate climate of Argentina. Under the Köppen climate classification, the city has a warm, humid subtropical climate.

Blumenau, like the entire state of Santa Catarina is located south of the Tropic of Capricorn; therefore it is mild in the winter with temperatures averaging 16.6 °C (61 °F) and warm and humid in the summer with temperatures averaging around 30 °C (87 °F). In July 23, 2013 the downtown of the city got a snow-rain mix and higher neighborhoods had accumulating snow.[6]

Economy

Blumenau's main economic activity is still the textile industry, responsible for large manufacturers such as Cia. Hering, Karsten and Teka. [citation needed]

Another area of focus is that of information technology, and the city the headquarters of the so-called Valley of the software, and many software leaders in its segment, some of whom were born in Blusoft and Instituto Gene, incubators of companies in the sector.

Blumenau is also emphasized in other industrial sectors such as metallurgical, mechanical and electrical equipment.

It has a strong economy, boosted by strong trade, service and tourism events, with exhibitions of international projection, which are generally held in Vila Germânica (Germanic Ville Park). Additionally, a new but rapidly expanding market is the production of beer craft, such as Eisenbahn.

Transport

Even though Blumenau has its own airport, normally passengers use scheduled flights operated from Ministro Victor Konder International Airport, located in the nearby municipality of Navegantes. Gol Airlines[7] and Azul Brazilian Airlines[8] offer for its passengers free bus transfers between Navegantes and Blumenau at regular times.

Tourism

Carlos Gomes Theater
Moellmann House in Blumenau
Downtown Blumenau

The Blumenau's Tourism Department maintains four tour routes covering different aspects of the city. Besides these, there's the festival of the municipality. Also, the Oktoberfest of Blumenau, held every October, which attracts over a million tourists every year.

Divisions

Blumenau has 2 districts and 33 neighbourhoods:

Notable inhabitants

Actress Vera Fischer is from Blumenau

Twin towns – Sister cities

Blumenau is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ^ IBGE – Estimativas 2007 / Contagem da População 2007
  2. ^ [1] Archived April 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Ranking decrescente do IDH-M dos municípios do Brasil". Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano. Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD). 2000. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática - SIDRA". ibge.gov.br.
  5. ^ "Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática - SIDRA". ibge.gov.br.
  6. ^ "Neve é registrada em cinco pontos de Blumenau". Jornal de Santa Catarina.
  7. ^ "Local Transportation-Navegantes". Gol Airlines. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Ônibus Executivo/Blumenau-Aeroporto de Navegantes" (in Portuguese). Azul Brazilian Airlines. Retrieved 27 March 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blumenau.

26°56′S 49°03′W / 26.933°S 49.050°W / -26.933; -49.050

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