Jaraguá do Sul

Jaraguá do Sul (26°29′10″S 49°04′00″W / 26.48611°S 49.06667°W / -26.48611; -49.06667) is a city located 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 just Jaraguá, but it was later renamed to Jaraguá do Sul due to a 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 is Jaraguá do Sul's important river, crossing the city, being Jaraguá River and Itapocuzinho River its main affluents.

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. Frosts occur almost every winter. Zero temperatures are rare, and that mark was reached most recently 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.