The Brazil southern region is characterized by its high standard of living, the highest in the country, as of 2004, the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul had an average of ~0.805 in the Human Development Index.

General Information

• Area: 577.214 km² (6,2%)
• Population: 25.800.000 hab (43,46 hab/km², 12,5%)
• GDP: ~91,5bi US$ (16,5%)
• HDI: ~0,875
• Climate: Temperate in almost all the entire region, warm in the summer and cold in the winter (sometimes there is snow in the southern regions of the region). The northeast part of the region have a Tropical climate, being hot in the summer and warm/cool during the winter, with some cold days.
• States: Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina
• Largest Cities: Curitiba (1.586.848); Porto Alegre (1.360.033); Londrina (446.822); Joinville (429.004); Caxias do Sul (360.223); Florianópolis (341.781); Pelotas (323.034); Canoas (305.711); Maringá (288.465); Ponta Grossa (281.000); Blumenau (277.500); Cascavel (273.000); Foz do Iguaçu (269.585); Santa Maria (243.396), Rio Grande (238.000)
• Economy: Machinery and automobile industry, textiles, tourism, energy production, computer programming, soil, orange, apple, grapefruit.

Area, Population and Ethinical Diversity

The Brazil's Southern region is smaller of the five Regions which Brazil is divided. Nevertheless, it is the third most populous region in the country, with the second highest demographic density (43,46 hab/km²).

The population is very multi-racial; in Paraná, Japanese, Chinese and Arabs are a very strong minority, specially Curitiba, Londrina and Maringá for the Japanese and Foz do Iguaçu for the Arabs and the Chinese.

92% of Santa Catarina's population is made of White Caucasians, due to the influence of the immigration in the 1880-1930s. Santa Catarina has numerous descendants of Germans (Blumenau, Joinville), Italians Criciúma, and, less numerous, Ucranians and Polonians.

Rio Grande do Sul is characterized also by European immigration (German & Italian), but also by the influence of the "Platinos", in the Pampas. As a consequence, the "gaúchos" has the strongest Portuguese accent in Brazil, mixing altogether Spanish and the immigrants influences.

The region is highly urbanized (85%) and many cities are famous by its urban planning, like Curitiba, Londrina and Maringá.

Economy

The Sul is one of the most highly industrialized regions of the country.

In Curitiba, automobile manufacturing and machinery manufacturing are the most important economy factors of the city.

In the north of Santa Catarina (Blumenau, Jaguará do Sul), textiles are produced. It is the main textile center of Brazil. The region (Joinville) also is known for computer programming.

Rio Grande do Sul produces mainly machinery equipment.

Food processing is a major industry in the area, many cities have its economy heavily relying on it (Chapecó, Cascavel, Santa Maria). The region is a major producer of grapefruits, soil, apples and cow meat.

Tourism is also a heavy economy factor, either by its natural beauty (Balneário Camboríu, Foz do Iguaçu, Florianólis) or by the beauty and historical attractions of the region (Curitiba, Gramado, Maringá). Also, one of the biggest thematic parks of the world, the Beto Carrero Thematic Park, is installed in the region, in Balneário Camboríu) contributes significantly to the economy of Santa Catarina.

See Also

Brazil Regional Division

In "ECONOMY" - "Tourism is also a heavy economy factor, either by its natural beauty (Balneário Camboríu, Foz do Iguaçu, Florianólis) or ...", the correct is Florianópolis.

By Marcos E. Berretta Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil meb@sodisa.com.br