The history of Blumenau is the result of the arrival of German immigrants who settled these fertile areas of theAtlantic Forest. In 1845, having an interest in the problems faced by European immigrants, Hermann Blumenau reached an agreement with theSociety for the Protection of German Emigrants to represent it and traveled to Brazil, aiming to create new German settlements and to check the situation of those that already existed. He traveled toRio Grande do Sul, and then toSanta Catarina, where he visited the German colony ofSão Pedro de Alcântara. Aware of comments about theItajaí Valley, he explored it in detail, in association with his compatriotFerdinand Hackradt, since the aforementioned society was dissolved.[3]
After taking certain precautions, Hermann Blumenau headed for Germany, to seek immigrants. On September 2, 1850, Hermann Blumenau returned to the chosen area with the 17 initial immigrants. Despite the floods, clashes with wild animals and even with theindigenous peoples, due to the work of German immigrants willing to migrate continuously in greater numbers, the settlement prospered. Those first immigrants had a great support from the Brazilian government, who gave them land, housing, livestock, seeds, education and healthcare for very low prices, and in many cases, entirely free.[3]
On February 4, 1880, themunicipality of Blumenau was created, composed of about 13,000 residents.[3]
As of 2020[update], Blumenau had an estimated population of 361,855 people, with an area of 519 km2 (200 sq mi). The main ethnic origin of the city inhabitants areGerman andItalian.[5] The city displays many historical and cultural reminders of their heritage, such as houses and other buildings built in traditional German styles, statues, and memorials.
Blumenau, compared to other Brazilian cities, has a very highHuman Development Index, 0.806 as of 2010.[6]
The city is located in a valley bisected by theItajaí-Açu River, surrounded by hills with forests. The lower areas, including towers and tall buildings in the city center, constantly suffer from the threat of floods. Blumenau's first recorded flood took place in the dawn on September 23, 1880. The worst took place in 1983 and 1984, when the city was completely isolated for weeks.[citation needed] Today, Blumenau is well-prepared against such threats, but many citizens prefer to live in higher areas spread into the nearby hills and plains to avoid flooding. However, this planning could not avoid even worseflooding in late November 2008, that killed over 100 and forced thousands to evacuate.[citation needed]
The climate of Blumenau is considered to be subtropical, a climate of transition between the predominantly tropical climate of Brazil and the predominantly temperate climate ofArgentina. Under theKöppen climate classification, the city has a warm,humid subtropical climate.
Blumenau, like the entire state ofSanta Catarina, is located south of theTropic of Capricorn; therefore it is mild in the winter with temperatures averaging 16.6 °C (61 °F) and hot and humid in the summer with high temperatures averaging around 30 °C (87 °F). On July 23, 2013 the downtown of the city got a snow-rain mix and higher neighborhoods had accumulating snow.[9]
Another area that draws attention is that ofinformation technology; the city is the headquarters of the so-calledBrazilian Silicon Valley, and many software leaders in its segment, some of whom were born inBlusoft andInstituto Gene startup incubators. Blumenau is also known as a location for the manufacturing of metallurgic, mechanical, and electrical equipment.
It has a strong economy, boosted by strong trade, service, and tourism events, with exhibitions of international importance, which are generally held inVila Germânica (German Villa Park). Additionally, a new but rapidly expanding market is the production of craftbeer, such asEisenbahn.
The Blumenau's Tourism Department maintains four tour routes covering different aspects of the city. Besides these, there's the festival of the municipality. Also, theOktoberfest of Blumenau, held every October, attracts over a million tourists every year. Originally begun as a fundraiser to alleviate the devastating floods of 1983 and 1984, the Blumenau Oktoberfest has become the second largest Oktoberfest after Munich.[13]
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