Everything is ready at the ironman city, set in Jurerê, for the great start tomorrow at 07:00am.

Next weekend, 28/05/06, is going to happen the Ironman Qualifier event in Florianópolis. The starting point is Jurerê beach where the event headquarters, Ironman City, has been set at the Clube Doze de Agosto. The race course is:
Swim - 3,8km
Bike – 180 km
Run – 42,195 km

The event is very important for the city tourism and commerce to cope with the low season. There is plenty of accommodation in Jurerê area but it is recommended to book quickly if you wish to stay there. Alternatively you can seek accommodation in Canasvieiras beach which has many options and it is not to far from the course starting point.

For more information visit Ironman Brazil

I am now living in Daniela, a tip with a nice white sand beach and mangrove situated in the Northwest part of the Santa Catarina island and next to the Carijós Ecological Station, a preservation area created by federal incentive to protect the mangroves, threatened by the fast urban expansion which the Santa Catarina island has been facing.

Created in 20/07/1987 is now administrated by IBAMA and made of 2 areas: the Ratones Mangrove with 6,25km2 and the Saco Grande mangrove with 0,93 km2 making up a total of 712 hectares. The name “Carijós” comes from the Guarani Indian tribes that used to populated the state coastline.

The ecological station had been facing a lot of difficulties to maintain its purposes therefore was created the Associação de Amigos Pró-Conservação da Estação Ecológica de Carijós ( Association of friends for the preservation of the Carijós Ecological Station ) which helped to take real actions against the pressure of real state advancing and other problems.

It is a magic region; you get enchanted by the nature sounds and the vast green plains surrounding you. Living so close to a preservation area gives me the balance I need to cope with the pressures of modern life and technology.

To access the area, just follow the road SC – 401 and you will see the signs to Jurerê and Daniela. Turn right and follow the road SC – 402. The typical mangrove vegetation can be seen from the road and it is a nice drive. Two species facing extinction can be found: the Lontra, a river otter (Lutra longicaudis) and the Jacaré-de-papo-amarelo, an aligattor (Caiman latirostris).

For more information visit Ibama/Carijós website