Santa Catarina Island

Santa Catarina Island lies close to the southern Brazilian mainland, separated from it by narrow waters opening into bays. European ships called here on voyages towards the River Plate. Francisco Dias Velho established a Portuguese settlement on the island in the seventeenth century, later known as Nossa Senhora do Desterro. In the eighteenth century forts guarded its approaches and settlers from the Azores founded communities on the island and adjoining coast.