FLORIANOPOLIS (formerly Desterro, Nossa Senhora do Desterro and

See also:

• SANTA

Santa Catharina, and still popularly known under the last designation)  , a city and port of Brazil and the capital of the state of Santa Catharina, on the western or inside shore of alarge island of the same name, 485 m . S.S.W. of Rio de Janeiro, in 27° 30' S., 48° 30' W . Pop . (1890) 11,400, including, many Germans; (1902, estimate) 16,000; of the municipality, including a large rural district and several villages (189o), 30,687 . The harbour is formed by the widening of the strait separating the island from the mainland, which is nearly 2 in. wide at this point . It is approached by narrow entrances from the N. and S., which are defended by small forts . The island is mountainous and wooded, and completely shelters the harbour from easterly storms . The surroundings are highly picturesque and tropical in character, but the town itself is poorly built and unattractive . Its public buildings include the president's official residence, arsenal, lyceum, hospital and some old churches . The climate is warm for the latitude, but the higher elevations of the vicinity are noted for their mild climate and healthfulness . There are some German colonies farther up the coast whose products find a market here, and a number of small settlements along the mainland coast add something to the trade of the town . The more distant inland towns are partly supplied from this point, but difficult mountain roads tend to restrict the trade greatly .

There is a considerable trade in market produce with Rio de Janeiro, but the exports are inconsiderable . Santa Catharina was formerly one of the well-known whaling stations of the

South Atlantic, and is now a secondary military and naval station . The island of Santa Catharina was originally settled by the Spanish; Cabeza de Vaca landed here in 1542 and marched hence across country to Asuncion, Paraguay . The Spanish failed to establish a permanent colony, however, and the Portuguese took possession . The island was captured by a Spanish expedition under Viceroy Zeballos in 1777 . A boundary treatyof that same year restored it. to Portugal . In 1894 Santa Catharina fell into the possession of revolutionists against the government of President Floriano Peixoto . With the collapse of the revolution the city was occupied by the government forces, and its name was then changed to Florianopolis in honour of the president of the republic .