Criciúma

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Criciúma, Santa Catarina
Flag of Criciúma, Santa Catarina
Flag
Official seal of Criciúma, Santa Catarina
Seal
Location in Brazil
Location in Brazil
Criciúma, Santa Catarina (Brazil  )
Criciúma, Santa Catarina
Criciúma, Santa Catarina
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 28°40′40″S 49°22′12″W / -28.67778, -49.37
Country Flag of Brazil Brazil
Region South
State Flag of Santa Catarina (state) Santa Catarina
Founded January 6, 1880
Government
 - Mayor Anderlei Antoneli (PMDB)
Area
 - City 235.628 km² (91 sq mi)
Elevation 46 m (151 ft)
Population (2007)
 - City 190,923
 - Density 798.9/km² (2,069.1/sq mi)
 - Metro 354,066
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 - Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
HDI (2000) 0.822 – high

Criciúma is a city in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. At 28°40′39″S, 49°22′11″WCoordinates: 28°40′39″S, 49°22′11″W, it is located 180 km south of Florianópolis, the state capital and around 900 km south of São Paulo. The city is the center of Brazil's flooring and home materials industry, and is the second-largest such center in the world.

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The city was founded on January 6, 1880 by Italian immigrants. It has an approximate population of 180,000 habitants, and an area of 209.8 km². In April 2004, Criciúma was affected by a tropical cyclone, a phenomenon unheard of in recent South Atlantic history, which caused some damage.

It is the Brazilian capital of coal and ceramic tiles, but also very strong in plastic, textiles (jeans), and chemicals.

Criciuma is 24 km inland from the Atlantic ocean (Rincão beach) and around 40 km from the mountains of the interior of Santa Catarina state.

Criciúma is also the name of the city's football (soccer) team, which plays in the national league. They have won several championship titles, including a national championship in 1991 (Copa do Brasil). They are currently the state soccer champion (2005). Their colors are white, black and yellow, symbols of the state mineral resources, mainly coal.

Several small towns lie around Criciuma forming a metropolitan area of 250 thousand people. The most important are: Içara (a major producer of honey), Urussanga, Nova Veneza, Siderópolis, Orleans and Araranguá.

The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Criciúma.

[edit] External links