Grande Floripa Bay

The waters around Santa Catarina Island form sheltered bays along the southern Brazilian coast. The island was a useful stopping place for ships sailing toward the River Plate. In 1673 Francisco Dias Velho received land there and founded the settlement that became Nossa Senhora do Desterro. During the eighteenth century the Portuguese strengthened their hold on the island, building forts to guard the approaches and settling migrants from the Azores along the coast.