Lages

Infobox City
official_name = Lages
native_name =
nickname = "Princesa da Serra" (Princess of the Serra)
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = View of the Catedral Diocesana

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mapsize =
map_caption = Location in the state of Santa Catarina and Brazil
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = South
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name2 = Santa Catarina
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Renato Nunes de Oliveira
established_title = Founded
established_date = November 22 1776
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.644.313
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_km2 =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 159,604
population_footnotes = [http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/estimativa2006/POP_2006_DOU.pdf]
population_density_km2 = 63.7
population_density_sq_mi =
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population_density_metro_km2 =
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population_urban =
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd= 27|latm= 48|lats= 57|latNS=S
longd= 50|longm= 19|longs= 33|longEW=W
elevation_m = 916
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
website = [http://www.lages.sc.gov.br/ Lages City Hall]
footnotes =

Lages, formerly Lajens, is a Brazilian town located in the central part of the state of Santa Catarina, in the region known in Portuguese as "Planalto Serrano".

It is located in the mountain region of the state. It is the main city of this region, and borders the towns of Otacílio Costa, São Joaquim, and Correia Pinto. The main course of urban water is Carahá River.

Lages hosts an annual festival called "Festa do Pinhão", that is famous throughout the country.

Economically, the city is known for its strong cattle breeding and wood processing factories.

History

In the beginning of the 17th century, the arrival of the first Europeans established the town. The growing of the "Campos de Lajens" was due to the opening of roads to reach the fields of the state Rio Grande do Sul. The people of São Paulo and Minas Gerais were attracted to this region due to the cattle-breeding business with the "gauchos".

Very primitive documents mention Lajens as a stop for horse riders that were traveling from Sorocaba or São Paulo, transporting mules, horses and cattle. Correia Pinto, the founder, was a horse rider, and ran cattle groups from Lajens to São Paulo.

On November 22, 1766, Lajens was promoted to state from village. In 1820 it detached itself from São Paulo to be part of the state of Santa Catarina. On May 25, 1860, it was elevated to city status. In 1960 the city's name was changed to Lages with a "g" wrongly inserted.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.lages.sc.gov.br/ Lages City Hall]
* [http://www.festadopinhao.com Festa do Pinhão official site]