Metropolization in the coast territory: A spatial analysis on the axis Itajaí-Florianópolis-SC

Abstract

The state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, has its largest urbanization on the Atlantic slope, consisting of independent river basins that flow to the coast. The development of relatively close cities and complementary economic activities consolidated a multipolarized urban network. In this context, the Itajaí-Florianópolis axis has witnessed an accelerated demographic growth, due to the various economic activities then present (industry, commerce, services, logistics, etc.) which are added to the tourist activities of the last decades. Based on these questions, the article carried out a spatial analysis of this area, from a historical perspective of urban growth in the coastal territory of Santa Catarina. It sought to understand how the pre-existing urban fabric is articulated with recent urban structures, originated from a model of tourism urbanization. The analyzes showed that the Itajaí-Florianópolis axis presents a movement towards metropolization along the main highway that connects the Santa Catarina urban network, the BR-101.

Keywords: metropolization, tourism urbanization, coastal territory, Itajaí-Florianópolis axis.