Santa Catarina, Brazil

State Capital City: Florianópolis

State Abbreviation: SC

Santa Catarina ("Saint Catherine") is a state in southern Brazil withone of the highest standards of living in Latin America.

Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island.Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north.It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west it borders theprovince of Misiones, Argentina. #23 on map.

Most of its inhabitants are descendantsof Portuguese, German, and Italian immigrants. The beaches along the coast of561 km (349 mi) are a great attraction for tourists visiting the smallest stateof the South Region. Florianópolis, the capital, is on an island and is one ofthe Brazilian cities that receives the most foreign tourists. To the south,Garopaba is the preferred destination of surfers looking for good waves. In themountain region, São Joaquim is an attraction during winter because of its lowtemperatures. Blumenau, in the interior of Santa Catarina, is the stagefor one of the biggest events of the country: the Oktoberfest, a traditionalbeer party originated from Germany, that happens in October. The heritage of theItalian, German and Portuguese immigrants can be seen in the architecture andthe customs of the state. Joinville is Santa Catarina's largest city.