Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina (pron. IPA: ['sɐ̃.ta ka.ta.'ɾi.na] [1]) is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in the country. Its capital is Florianópolis, which partly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighboring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west it borders the province of Misiones, Argentina. Santa Catarina is the most European state of Brazil. Most of its inhabitants are descendants of Portuguese, German and Italian immigrants. Its largest city is Joinville.