among the large islands standing just beyond the niterói harbor, santa cruz is the one which is located further away from the harbor itself.

west of it are the renave shipyards in the 'ilha do viana' and the brazilian navy bases in the mocangué island.

to the south are the large docks and urbanizations build in and around the conceição island.

close to this landmass is the caju island, which is united to both mocangué and the mainland through the imposing bulk of the niterói- rio bridge.