The Tubarão River flows from the Serra Geral foothills to the Southern Santa Catarina Lagoon System, 75 miles (121 km) away.
These Jesuits were antagonized by a tribal chief called Tub-Nharô, which means Ferocious Father in the Guarani language.
In those years the Portuguese Empire brought some Azorian families to colonize Southern Brazil.
In 1800s troopers found mineral coal near the banks and the mining operations started in 1884 when the Dona Thereza Christina Railway was inaugurated.
The low quality coal produces too many reject material, which was continuously throw away in areas near the Tubarão tributary rivers.
Levees were built along its banks on the low areas and the river had its course rectified eliminating about 2 miles (3.2 km) of its meanders.