Curitiba, Parana ( Little Europe in South America )
Recently, I became fascinated with the country of Brazil. After asking my friends what they knew about Brazil (and keep in mind they’re not geographers), I realized that for the most part we in the United States know very little about this beautiful country in the southern hemisphere. Moreover, when we think of Brazil, it is most often the capital, Brasilia, which comes to mind, or the city of Rio de Janeiro, the home of the world famous “Carnaval.”
However, for me the greatest city in Brazil or for that matter, in all of South America is Curitiba. Yes, I know many of you are saying Curti-what? For you geographers, the coordinates 25.5° South and 49° West may be familiar. For you non-geographers, Curitiba is approximately 497 miles (800 km) south of Rio and is in the state of Parana. Nearly all-major cities in Brazil are near the coast, as you may know, with the exception of Sao Paulo the largest city in Brazil and Curitiba. Both of these cities are inland, but yet each is only a short hour’s drive from the cool Atlantic waters.
The reasons that I find Curitiba fascinating are many. First, it’s one of the oldest cities in the Americas, founded in 1653 by the Portuguese. (The founding papers are still on in display in Lisbon, Portugal in the Marinha e Ultramar archives.) The name, Curitiba, went through a series of changes from the original Guarani word, "kur'yt' yba" (The Guarani are one of the few indigenous tribes of Brazil). The word means pine nut and the current spelling became official in 1919.
One of the things that I find enchanting about the metropolis of Curitiba is its similarity to so many cities in the United States. Curitiba is an ultra-modern city with a population approaching two million. It is not only modern, but it is a leader in many civic and industrial areas. For example, their transit system is a paradigm for the world. Recently the Mayor of Los Angeles, the honorable Richard Riordan, traveled to Curitiba for ideas on how to improve the antiquated transit system of L.A. Transportation in Curitiba is facilitated by “central hubs” within the city where the long buses, a regular 40 passenger bus with two connected coaches in tandem, pick up their passengers for the outlying areas of the city.
For those who live in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, or in many of the large cities in the U.S, you would notice little difference if you were in Curitiba. The city abounds with supermarkets, shopping centers, and the hustle-bustle that we commonly associate with large cities. In some ways Curitiba is even more modern than many cities in the United States. For example, Curitiba recently held elections and the people voted by touch-screen computers.
Curitiba is a very industrialized city with state of the art automotive plants like Ford, Chrysler, Renault and VW/Audi. And like all cities it creates enormous amounts of refuse with the estimates in 1999 of 51,000 tons per month. In other words, all the gains and pains of a fully industrialized city.
The climate of Curitiba is wet and temperate owing to its geographic location on the eastern coast of Brazil with latitude south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The average temperatures are around 22°C. (71.6°F), with the temperatures dipping in the winter months to an average of 12 degrees C. (53.6 F). However, frost is not unheard of in Curitiba. The climate is similar to that of the states of Georgia or South Carolina in the United States.
There is little difference between the people of Curitiba or the people of any large city in the western United States. However, the people of Curitiba have a difficult time relating to earthquakes. Curitiba, or the entire country of Brazil for that matter, has never experienced an earthquake or a volcanic eruption. The country of Brazil rests on a cratonic shield, i.e. it has escaped orogenic (mountain building) activity for the past two hundred million years. There are, however, rugged hills around Curitiba reaching as high as 1200 meters (3900 feet) that have been caused by erosion. The city was built on a plateau and the mean elevation is 914 meters, about 2900 feet.
The city has five rivers, the Passauna, Iguacu, Atuba, Barigui, Belem, as well as many beautiful parks, and many have small lakes for recreation. The largest park is the “Parque Barigui ” named after the river. Moreover, Curitiba has many green areas, which along with the parks comprises 22 million square meters of park-like settings.
Although the climate may be like the southeastern United States, when you walk city streets of Curitiba between its tall cement canyons, you may feel like you’re in New York. Brazilians have a penchant for building skyscrapers, and Curitiba is no exception. Its tall buildings are the equals of any within Brazil or throughout the world. Their tall buildings are beacons of progress, and the city of Curitiba in the last ten years has accelerated into the twenty-first century as one of the world’s leaders in business and commerce.
And, like many cities through out the world, Curitiba takes great pride in the lighting and decoration of their city for the Christmas season. Many in Curitiba feel that their city’s decorations equal, or may be even prettier than those of New York. Christmas truly allows their civic pride to show. But, there’s one major difference between the two cities: There’s no dreaming of a white Christmas in Curitiba, for it’s summer in December. Hmmm, “I’m not dreaming of a white Christmas in Curitiba,” that sounds like a good title for a Christmas song, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not….
One theory about the name "Curitiba" comes from the Tupi words kurí tyba, "many pine seeds" due to the large number of seeds, also known as "Pinhão"[7], of Paraná (or Brazilian) pines (Araucaria angustifolia)[8] , in the region prior to its foundation.[9] The other version, also from the Tupi language, comes from the combination of kurit (pine tree) and yba (large amount).[10]
The Portuguese who founded a village in 1693 gave it the name of "Vila da Nossa Senhora da Luz dos Pinhais" (Village of "Our Lady of the Light" of the Pines). The name was changed to "Curitiba" in 1721. Curitiba officially became a town in 1812, spelling its name as Curityba. An alternative spelling also came up: Coritiba. This spelling looked to become dominant for it was used in press and state documents, but a state decree in 1919 settled the dispute by spelling the city name Curitiba.[9]
Tourism and recreation
With Linha Turismo (Tourism Line), the visitant can know a big part of touristic places of the city.
Botanic Gardens
Curitiba's trademark, created to resemble Frenchgardens, rolls out its flower carpet to the visitors right at the entrance. The greenhouse, with a metallic structure, has botanic species that are national symbols, and also a water fountain.
The native forestis filled with paths for walking. The Botanic Museumattracts researchers from all over the world. There is a space for exhibitions, libraryand a theatre.
German Woods
The wood has various features to celebrate and promote the Germantraditions. There are 38 thousand square meters of native forest, which was part of the old farmfrom the Schaffer family. The replica of an old wooden church, built in 1933 at the Seminário neighbourhood, with neo-gothic decorative elements, shelters a concert hall called Bach's Oratorium.
Other attractions are the John and Mary path, which tells the Grimm brothers tale, a children's library, the Philosophers Tower, a wooden observatory allowing a panoramic view of the city and the OceanRidge, and the German Poetry Square, with a reproduction of the Casa Mila façade, a German building from the beginning of the last century, originally located in the citycentre. It's closed for remodeling at the present time.
Italian Woods
A place for the typical parties of the Italiancommunity in the district, such as the GrapeParty, the Wine Party and the 4 Giorni in Italy. It has structure for foodand drinkstalls, space for shows and folkloric presentations and a polenta pot.
Japan Square
Homage to Japanese immigrants who settled there dedicating themselves to agriculture. Scattered around the square are 30 cherry trees sent from Japanand artificial lakes. In 1993 the Japanese Portal, the Culture House and the Tea House were built.
Tingüi Park
Part of the biggest linear environmental park in the Country, established at the Barigüi river margins, it reminds us of the Indians who used to live there, with the statue of Tindiqüera Chieftain. The UkrainianMemorial is also there, homage to the immigrants, in a replica of an orthodox church, originally built in inland ParanáState, hosting a pêssankas and icons exhibition.
Wire Opera House
It is one of the emblematic symbols of Curitiba, with tubular structure and transparent ceiling, of great beauty. Inaugurated in 1992, it caters for all types of shows, between lakes, typical vegetationand cascades, on a unique landscape. The Wire Opera Houseis part of the Pedreiras Park, together with the Paulo Leminski Cultural Space, where the Passion of Christ was enacted, and hosted many other big events since 1989, and can hold, in the open air, 10 thousand people seated or 50 thousand standing.
Tanguá Park
This park was inaugurated in 1996, the Tanguá Park surprises with its beauty as an example of urban space being re-utilized, on one old complex of disactivated quarries, and it is part of the Barigüi riverpreservation project joining Tingüi and Barigüi parks. This park with an area of 450 thousand square meters has two quarries connected by a 45 meter tunnelthat may be crossed on foot by a path over the water. It can be visited on boat or on foot (hiking). The park has a cooper and bicycletrack, snack bar, belvedere and Poty Lazzaroto garden.
Portugal Wood
Homage to the Portuguese-Brazilianbonds, this space is highlighted by a track following a small brook, where one can see drawn on tiles excerpts from famous Portuguese language poets, as well as a tribute to the great Portuguese navigators and their discoveries.
Curitiba International Ecological Marathon
In November, happens the Maratona Ecológica Internacional de Curitiba ("Curitiba International Ecological Marathon"). This marathonis known as the hardest in Brazil,[46] because happens in the end of the year, when usually is warm weather in the city (because is summerin Southern Hemisphere), and the hilly course, with many of the inclines being in the last 10 km. To compensate the hard course, runners count with good structure[47] and enthusiastic fans cheering along the course.[48]
Tourism Line
Every year, tourism grows in Curitiba. To attend this demand, the Linha Turismo ("TourismLine") started in 1994. Its a special city tour that visits the principal tourist attractions in Curitiba, featuring comfortable whitebuseswith big windowsand a shape similar to that of streetcars. The vehicles are equipped with a sound system that plays recorded messages describing sites in three different languages: Portuguese, Englishand Spanish. It is possible to visit the parks, squaresand the rest of the city's tourist attractions. Considered one of the best in the country, the Linha Turismo is available every thirty minutesand has a two and a half-hour tour, which travels around forty-four kilometers. To go on the tour you must buy a ticketwith five tickets that give you the right to get on and off bus four times. Users can therefore choose the touristic point where they want to stay longer. Then, they can embark again to complete the remaining part of the itinerary. Today the line goes to 25 key reference points in Curitiba, completing 44 km (27 mi) in 2 and ½ hours.
Education
Bus and the Federal University.
[edit] Educational institutions
- Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR);
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR);
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR);
- Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP);
- Universidade Positivo (UP);
- Centro Universitário Franciscano do Paraná (UNIFAE);
- Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná (EMBAP);
- Faculdade Dom Bosco (FDB);
- Faculdade de Artes do Paraná (FAP);
- Faculdade de Tecnologia (FATEC);
- Centro Universitário Curitiba (UNICURITIBA);
- and many others.
[edit] Educational system
In the 1990s, the city started a project called Faróis de Saber ("Lighthouses of Knowledge"). These Lighthouses are free educational centers which include libraries, Internet access, and other cultural resources. This community libraries works with municipal schools, have a collection of approximately 5000 books, and be cultural reference and leisure for the community, and are designed to diversify the opportunities of access to knowledge, expanding the area of formal education.[50] In each quarter of the city these "Lighthouses of Knowledge" have been implanted containing library and room of computer science, to public use, mainly by students; job training, social welfare and educational programs are coordinated, and often supply labor to improve the city's amenities or services, as well as education and income. Among the Brazilian capitals, Curitiba has the lowest rate of illiteracy,[51] and also number 1 in education between the Brazilian capitals.[52]
[edit] Urban planning
Public Transport in Curitiba.
Bus in the city.
Largo da Ordem, Sunday Market in Curitiba.
November 15 Street, one of the major streets of Curitiba, is a pedestrian-only street since 1972.
November 15 Street.
The Curitiba Botanical Garden.
Modern Curitiba.
Curitiba has a master planned transportation system, which includes lanes on major streets devoted to a bus rapid transit system. The buses are long, split into three sections (bi-articulated), and stop at designated elevated tubes, complete with disabled access. There is only one price no matter how far you travel and you pay at the bus stop.[53]
The system, used by 85% of Curitiba's population, is the source of inspiration for the TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia; Metrovia in Guayaquil, Ecuador; as well as the Orange Line of Los Angeles, U.S. State of California, and for a future transportation system in Panama City, Panama as well as Cebu City, Philippines.
The city has also paid careful attention to preserving and caring for its green areas, boasting 54 square metres (580 sq ft) of green space per inhabitant.[54]
In the 1940s and 1950s, Alfred Agache, cofounder of the French Society for Urban Studies, was hired to produce the first city plan. It emphasised a star of boulevards, with public amenities downtown, an industrial district and sanitation. It was followed when possible, but was too expensive to complete.[55]
By the 1960s, Curitiba's population had ballooned to 430,000, and some residents feared that the growth in population threatened to drastically change the character of the city. In 1964, Mayor Ivo Arzua solicited proposals for urban design. Architect Jaime Lerner, who later became mayor, led a team from the Universidade Federal do Paraná that suggested strict controls on urban sprawl, a reduction of traffic in the downtown area, preservation of Curitiba's Historic Sector, and a convenient and affordable public transit system.[56]
This plan, known as the Curitiba Master Plan, was adopted in 1968. Lerner closed XV de Novembro St. to vehicles, because it had very high pedestrian traffic. The plan had a new road design to minimise traffic: the Trinary Road System. This uses two one-way streets moving in opposite directions which surround a smaller, two-lane street where the express buses have their exclusive lane. Five of these roads form a star that converges on the city centre. Land farther from these roads is zoned for lower density developments, to reduce traffic away from the main roads. In a number of areas subject to floods, buildings were condemned and the land became parks.[57]
Today, Curitiba is considered one of the best examples of urban planning worldwide.[58] In June 1996, the chairman of the Habitat II summit of mayors and urban planners in Istanbul praised Curitiba as "the most innovative city in the country."[59]
Curitiba was recently recommended by UNESCO as one of the city-model for the reconstruction of the cities of Afghanistan,[60] after the U.S military intervention occurred in that country in 2001.
In the 1980s, the RIT (Rede Integrada de Transporte, Integrated Transport Network) was created, allowing transit between any point in the city by paying just one fare.[61] At the same time, the city began a project called the "Faróis de Saber" (Lighthouses of Knowledge). These Lighthouses are free educational centers which include libraries, Internet access, and other cultural resources. Job training, social welfare and educational programs are coordinated, and often supply labor to improve the city's amenities or services, as well as education and income.[62]
Curitiba is referred to as the ecological capital of Brazil, with a network of 28 parks and wooded areas. In 1970, there was less than 1 square meter of green space per person; now there are 52 square meters for each person. Residents planted 1.5 million trees along city streets. Builders get tax breaks if their projects include green space. Flood waters diverted into new lakes in parks solved the problem of dangerous flooding, while also protecting valley floors and riverbanks, acting as a barrier to illegal occupation, and providing aesthetic and recreational value to the thousands of people who use city parks.
In 2007, the city was the third place in a list of "15 Green Cities" in the world, according the U.S. magazine "Grist." After only of Reykjavik in Iceland and Portland in the United States. As a result, according to one survey, 99% of Curitibans are happy with their hometown.[63] The "green exchange" employment program focuses on social inclusion, benefiting both those in need and the environment. Low-income families living in shantytowns unreachable by truck bring their trash bags to neighborhood centers, where they exchange them for bus tickets and food. This means less city litter and less disease, less garbage dumped in sensitive areas such as rivers and a better life for the undernourished poor. There's also a program for children where they can exchange recyclable garbage for school supplies, chocolate, toys and tickets for shows.
Under the "garbage that's not garbage" program, 70% of the city's trash is recycled by its residents. Once a week, a truck collects paper, cardboard, metal, plastic and glass that has been sorted in the city's homes. The city's paper recycling alone saves the equivalent of 1,200 trees a day. As well as the environmental benefits, money raised from selling materials goes into social programs, and the city employs the homeless and recovering alcoholics in its garbage separation plant. Open University, created by the city, lets residents take courses in many subjects such as mechanics, hair styling and environmental protection for a small fee. Retired city buses are often used as mobile schools or offices. Downtown areas were transformed into pedestrian streets, including a 24-hour mall with shops, restaurants and cafes, and a street of flowers with gardens tended by street kids.
The "capacity building job line" was created to generate a better quality of life for people in the region surrounding a new economic development axis of Curitiba. Key initiatives include the South-Circular bus line, which links the southern and eastern regions of town; Entrepreneurial Sheds, business incubators designed to help small companies get established and prosper; and the Crafts Lycée, which trains people for professions such as marketing and finance so that they can find employment in new companies that emerge from the business incubator. Specifically, the goal is to provide jobs and income for the unemployed among 400,000 people living in 15 peripheral towns, and to structure and develop the region according to integrated planning principles. About 15,000 new jobs have been generated so far, and 15,000 more are expected.[64]
There's a model, inexpensive, speedy transit service used by more than 2 million people a day. There are more car owners per capita than anywhere in Brazil, and the population has doubled since 1974, yet auto traffic has declined by 30%, and atmospheric pollution is the lowest in Brazil.[65]
[edit] Culture
Musicians on a street.
Paiol Theatre.
Paranaense Museum.
Museum of Expeditionary.
[edit] Arts and entertainment
Curitiba is the first city in Brazil to have an IMAX movie theatre. It is in the Palladium Shopping Center which is the biggest
Education
Posted by Oscar Wolford. Posted In : Curitiba
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