Una is a municipality located in the southern region of the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. It sits within the Atlantic Forest biome along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, encompassing an area of approximately 1,126.73 square kilometers. The municipality lies roughly 503 km south of Salvador, the state capital, and shares borders with Canavieiras to the south, Ilhéus to the north, and Buerarema, Santa Luzia, Arataca, Mascote, and São José da Vitória.
Name and Etymology
The name "Una" derives from the Tupi-Guarani language and means "black," referring to the dark coloration of the Una River, which flows through the region.
History
The initial settlement of the area dates to 1770, when D. Maria Clementina Henriqueta and her family occupied the lands. A sesmaria (land grant) was formally issued by Queen Maria I of Portugal on July 26, 1787, establishing the Fazenda São José at the confluence of the Una and Cachoeira (now Sapucaeira) rivers. The settlement attracted European immigrants — including Germans, Austrians, Poles, and Russians — who contributed to early cacao cultivation.
The municipality of Una was officially created on August 2, 1890, detached from the neighboring municipality of Canavieiras. It was briefly reannexed to Canavieiras in 1923 under the name Cachoeirinha before regaining autonomy in 1924. The settlement was elevated to city status and officially renamed Una on January 1, 1939, via Federal Decree-Law No. 311.
Japanese immigrants arrived in the 1950s, establishing one of the earliest such colonies in Brazil's Northeast and introducing mangosteen cultivation, which later made Una a leading producer of this fruit in Brazil.
Geography and Climate
Una is located at approximately 15°17′34″ S latitude and 39°04′30″ W longitude, with an average elevation of about 40 meters. The municipality experiences a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen classification Af), characterized by hot, humid conditions year-round. Annual rainfall exceeds 1,800 mm, and average temperatures hover around 23.5 °C.
The landscape predominantly consists of Atlantic Forest remnants, interspersed with mangrove ecosystems, restinga vegetation on sandy coastal strips, and beaches. The Una River traverses the area, and the municipality contains several significant protected areas, including the Reserva Biológica de Una (an 18,715-hectare federal biological reserve established in 1980) and the Parque Nacional da Serra das Lontras (11,336 hectares, created in 2010).
Demographics
According to the 2022 Brazilian Census conducted by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), the municipality has a population of 18,131 inhabitants, with a population density of approximately 16.09 inhabitants per square kilometer. This figure represents a decline from 24,106 residents recorded in the 2010 census. The Human Development Index (IDHM) measured 0.560 in 2010, placing it in the low-development category.
Economy
Agriculture is the foundational pillar of Una's economy, centered on crops including cocoa, coconut, açaí, cupuaçu, piassava, oil palm, and hearts of palm. The municipality is notable as Brazil's leading producer of mangosteen, introduced by Japanese immigrants. The GDP per capita was approximately R$ 25,024.05 as of 2023 data.
Tourism and Infrastructure
Una features several beaches, including Comandatuba, Itapororoca, Independência, Lençóis, and Ilha do Desejo. Ilha de Comandatuba hosts the Transamerica Comandatuba resort, a major tourism destination, and the Una-Comandatuba Airport serves both the city and the resort. The municipality is divided into five administrative districts: Una (the municipal seat), Colônia, Comandatuba, Pedras de Una, and Vila Brasil.
Biodiversity
The region supports exceptional biodiversity within the Atlantic Forest biome, one of the world's richest and most threatened ecosystems. Notable species include the golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas), classified as Endangered by the IUCN, and the collared sloth (Bradypus torquatus). The area's coastal zone hosts four species of nesting marine turtles.
