Barra Velha is a resort town and county seat located in the Northern region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The municipality has a population of approximately 30,000 inhabitants.
The town features nine beaches that stretch from the Rio Itapocu in the north to the neighboring resort town of Piçarras on its southern border. A defining geographical characteristic of Barra Velha is its unique freshwater lake, which is separated from the ocean by an old sand bar—the feature from which the municipality derives its name.