Barra Velha
Encyclopedia
Barra Velha is a resort town and county seat of about 20,000 inhabitants in the Northern region of Santa Catarina
, Brazil
. Its nine beaches extend from the Rio Itapocu
in the North to the resort town of Piçarras on its Southern border. Additionally, it is the only resort in the area to have a freshwater lake separated from the ocean by an old sand bar, from which it derives its name.
Located between Joinville
and Itajaí
on BR-101, the principal North-South highway in Southern Brazil
, it is an important resort destination for residents of the industrial region to the North and West of the State, with summer weekend population exceeding 100,000.
Settled initially by Azorian whale fishermen in 1812, it retains its fishing village characteristics with boats drawn up onto the beach and the daily catch sold directly from them by the fishermen every morning. In the center of downtown a hill rises sharply from the beach which provides a spectacular view of the lake and town center. A replica of the famous statute of Christ on Corcovado
rises from the summit.
Barra Velha is home of the annual "Festa Nacional do Pirão", a festival celebrating the Azorian dish "Pirão" having a sauce-like consistency and normally made from fish or shellfish. Held in early September, it attracts over 30,000 visitors annually.
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one 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...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Its nine beaches extend from the Rio Itapocu
Rio Itapocu
The Itapocu River flows eastward from the planalto or highlands of Northeastern Santa Catarina, Brazil, to the Atlantic Ocean. Passing through the industrial city of Jaraguá do Sul, it feeds a lake in Barra Velha before reaching the sea. At its terminus, it forms the boundary between the...
in the North to the resort town of Piçarras on its Southern border. Additionally, it is the only resort in the area to have a freshwater lake separated from the ocean by an old sand bar, from which it derives its name.
Located between Joinville
Joinville
Joinville is a city in Santa Catarina State, in the Southern Region of Brazil. Joinville is Santa Catarina's largest city. In 2010, its population has reached approximately 520,000, many of whom are of German descent....
and Itajaí
Itajaí
Itajaí is a Brazilian city in the state of Santa Catarina.-History:The city was founded on June 15, 1860, but the colonization of Itajaí 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...
on BR-101, the principal North-South highway in Southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, it is an important resort destination for residents of the industrial region to the North and West of the State, with summer weekend population exceeding 100,000.
Settled initially by Azorian whale fishermen in 1812, it retains its fishing village characteristics with boats drawn up onto the beach and the daily catch sold directly from them by the fishermen every morning. In the center of downtown a hill rises sharply from the beach which provides a spectacular view of the lake and town center. A replica of the famous statute of Christ on Corcovado
Corcovado
Corcovado, meaning "hunchback" in Portuguese, is a mountain in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The granite peak is located in the Tijuca Forest, a national park. It is sometimes confused with nearby Sugarloaf Mountain...
rises from the summit.
Barra Velha is home of the annual "Festa Nacional do Pirão", a festival celebrating the Azorian dish "Pirão" having a sauce-like consistency and normally made from fish or shellfish. Held in early September, it attracts over 30,000 visitors annually.