Historical error in demarcation causes Paraná to lose territory to Santa Catarina after more than a century
An almost hundred-year-old mistake was discovered when a resident of Guaratuba, Paraná, carried out a measurement on his own. The area in question covers 490 hectares, equivalent to approximately 500 football fields.
IAT technicians checking the new border between Paraná and Santa Catarina - Photo Reproduction/IAT
From 2025 onwards, Paraná will suffer a loss of 490 hectares of area to Santa Catarina. A resident of Guaratuba (PR), When carrying out a measurement on his own, he discovered that the stretch corresponding to approximately 500 football fields, considering the maximum dimensions established by FIFA of 120 meters long and 90 meters wide, actually belongs to the territory of Santa Catarina. This alert gave rise to a series of investigations conducted by the IAT, which confirmed the inaccuracy through detailed analysis of maps and measurements carried out on site.
The Border Correction Process
Based on this information, the IAT, which has a specific department for the state's territorial management, carried out an in-person inspection at the locations indicated by the citizens of Paraná. In addition, he carried out an evaluation of old documents, confirming the inconsistency in the demarcation carried out by the Army. Forest engineer Amauri Simão Pampuch, from the IAT Territorial Management Directorate, explained that the team had to cross difficult-to-access areas to locate the original landmarks.
This way, it was possible to find the correct addresses and, later, correct the maps. In addition to finding original landmarks, the study also involved conversations with local communities to update geographic information. After the IAT team identified the discrepancy, several visits to the indicated locations were necessary to accurately verify the limits. Correcting maps is a complex procedure that requires fieldwork and a thorough analysis of documents.
Impacts of the New Delimitation on Municipal Administration
The main change occurs on the dividing line between the municipalities of Guaratuba (PR) and Garuva (SC). Although this modification represents only 0.002% of the area of the state of Paraná, it could impact land owners in the region, as explained by the IAT forestry engineer. This indicates that the change will have significant implications for the municipalities involved, mainly in terms of urban planning and tax collection. The city halls of Guaratuba and Garuva are currently conducting studies to evaluate the effects of this transition, considering aspects related to public equipment and tax collection.
IBGE was informed about the update of territorial limits, which will ensure accuracy in future publications and statistics. Meanwhile, the local community is adapting to the new reality, where clear information is essential for residents to understand and adjust to changes in the borders of their territory. The boundaries between municipalities were revised by the IAT in 2022, a relatively rare event in the states. According to Pampuch, the current demarcation is fair and reflects what should always have been done, correcting past cartographic mistakes. This update benefits both city halls and states in managing their territories.
Next steps
The City of Guaratuba (PR), which will have part of its territory changed, stated that it still needs to carry out a detailed analysis to assess the impacts of this change. The Municipal Urban Planning Secretariat declared that it will carry out a study on the review of the territorial area to assess territorial impacts, the impact on possible public facilities and also on tax revenue.
On the other hand, Garuva City Hall (SC) announced that it awaits receipt of all necessary documentation and new geographic coordinates. After receiving this information, they plan to identify all affected properties in the area, notify owners, update the territorial map and move forward with defining the zoning of the Master Plan.
IBGE reported that it is closely monitoring updates in the country's territorial division. In case of changes to municipal boundaries, they ensure that updates to the population will be implemented within the necessary deadlines.
