Home of the Paraná Wood Group, São Jerônimo da Serra holds unique features in fertile soil, natural beauty, weather, and history. The region is strategically located in the north of the Paraná state, allowing efficient logistics to any economic activity. Distant 90 km from Londrina, 330 km from Curitiba, and 539 km from the capital city of the state of São Paulo, it allows companies such as GPW to reach important markets around the globe. With an excellent topography – flat lands in most of the city which allows mechanization, and high altitude for the development of seeds – as well as quality soil, agribusiness is its main economic activity. However, the region is open and willing to attract industries and companies that promote its development without affecting its ecosystem, which is excellent for tourism.
São Jerônimo da Serra was colonized almost 200 years ago, when Kaingang indigenous people still lived in the region. The settlers noticed the region’s economic power and privileged location, attracting a great amount of people to settle in the location. Since it is situated in the transition region from the Second to the Third plateau of Paraná, it is a region presenting uneven areas, rivers, cascades and caves of karst formation in the Botucatu and Piramboia sandstones, forming amazing landscapes of great tourist attraction. Shallow and abundant waters, four types of soil, covered by natural, riparian and planted forests are only a few of the characteristics that can result in profit to those willing to invest in the tourism industry, welcoming tourists during summer and winter alike.
Geographer Guilherme Jordano, a scholar and expert in São Jerônimo, explains that the geomorphology, together with the geology of the region, provides several geographical accidents to the area, such as rivers with a wealth of waterfalls, rapids and falls, hills with altitude ranging from 900 m to 1,150 m above sea level, and over 50 caves, canyons, cuestas, sea of hills, “U” shaped valleys, and remains of Atlantic Rainforest, scattered with examples of araucaria trees in it, which is utterly rare. In addition, it has two types of climate at the same time: the CFB, mesothermic wet subtropical climate, with hot summers and infrequent frosts, and in the southern part of the city, a predominance of CFA climate, that is, mesothermic subtropical climate, with mild summers and more frequent frosts.
Waterfalls are a unique chapter in the geography of the city. There are so many that no one has yet been able to count them all. Several are open to the public, such as the largest one, known as João Nogueira, with a 136-meter fall, in addition to Larini, Humánitas or the Priest’s waterfall, the Maria Júlia, Caratuva, among many others. Furthermore, there are paths that can be used for walks, horseback riding, motorcycling or even driving by car. “São Jerônimo has a huge potential for tourism, since it gathers characteristics sought by the entire world. However, the region needs to have conscious tourism, with careful exploitation, such as what is done in the region by the Paraná Wood Group regarding agribusiness, preserving and protecting the nature”, Jordano declares.
There are excellent business opportunities in São Jerônimo da Serra, whether in agribusiness, in planted forest or in tourism. Mainly for companies and investors interested in green economy and sustainability. The success of the Paraná Wood Group is an example of what can be achieved with determination, entrepreneurship, and trained labor.
