São Joaquim is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, situated in southern Brazil. It is located at latitude 28 ° 17 '38 "south and longitude 49 ° 55' 54" West, with an altitude of 1360 meters. Its population in 2004 was 23,114 inhabitants. Located in the Planalto Serrano, is located 136 km to Tubarão, 81 km to Lages and 227 km to Florianópolis. The town has a large ethnic diversity, including Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Afro- Brazilians, though composed mainly of descendants of German and Swedish immigrants.