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___ Brazil

Iguazu-Falls are a string of waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Walkways allow close views of the falls from both countries.
Image: Martin St-Amant

Flag of Brazil

Location map of Brazil

This page is about many aspects of "Brasil", the country that occupies about 50% of South America. Brazil is located in the central eastern part of the continent, by far the largest portion of it lies south of the equator.

Border countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The country has an almost 7,500 km long coastline at the Atlantic Ocean.

The country is huge, it is divided into 26 States and 1 Federal District. Out of the 26 states, only nine are landlocked. Brazil covers an area of 8,514,877 km² (3,287,597 sq mi), making it the fifth largest country in the world and also the largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere (and yes, it is larger than Australia by some 800,000 square kilometers). Compared is slightly larger than 15 times the size of France, and it is even slightly larger than the contiguous United States.

Brazil has a population of 207 million people (in 2017), it is the most populous country in South America. The national capital is Brasília, the planned city atop the Brazilian highlands. Largest city and Brazil's economic capital is Sao Paulo, the most 'famous' city is Rio de Janeiro. Spoken language is (Brazilian) Portuguese, this variety of the Portuguese language is a relict of the Portuguese colonization of the Americas.

Federative Republic of Brazil | Republica Federativa do Brasil

Country Profile

Background:

Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior.

Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America's leading economic power by the 1970s. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

Official Name:
Republica Federativa do Brasil
short form: Brasil
international long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
international short form: Brazil

ISO Country Code: br, bra

Actual Time:
Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro Tue-Oct-16 17:34
Local Time = Brazil lies within 4 different time zones.
Southern Brazil uses daylight saving time from October until February: +1 hour

Country Calling Code: +55

Capital City: Brasilia (pop. 2.1 million)
GDF - Governo do Distrito Federal
The Federal District Government. (in Portuguese)

Other Cities:
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fortaleza, Recife, Porto Alegre, Curitiba

Government:
Type: Federative Republic.
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal).

Geography:
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Area: 8.5 million km² (3 290 000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than the USA
Terrain: Dense rain forests in northern regions including the Amazon Basin; semiarid along the northeast coast; mountains, hills, and rolling plains in the southwest, including Mato Grosso; and coastal lowland.

Climate: Mostly tropical or semitropical with temperate zone in the south.

People:
Nationality: Brazilian.
Population: (in 2017) 207 million.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 8,745 (year)
Ethnic groups: Brazil's population is derived from three main ethnic sources. To the original inhabitants (Indians) were added successive waves of Europeans (mainly Portuguese) and Africans (mostly from the sub-Saharan west coast, belonging to the Bantu and to the Sudanic (Yoruba) ethnic groups).
Religion: Roman Catholic (80%).
Language: Brazilian Portuguese.
Literacy: 81% of adult population.

Natural resources: Iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium, gemstones, oil, wood, and aluminum. Brazil has 12% of the world's fresh water.

Agriculture products: Brazil is the biggest exporter of coffee, soybeans, beef, sugar cane, ethanol and frozen chickens.
Other products: wheat, rice, corn, cocoa, and citrus.

Industries: Textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment.

Exports - commodities: transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, automobiles

Exports partners: China 19%, USA 13%, Argentina 6.8%, Netherlands 5.4% (2015)

Imports - commodities: machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

Imports partners: China 17.9%, USA 15.6%, Germany 6.1%, Argentina 6%, South Korea 6.1% (2015)

Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)

Brazilian National Congress building in Brasilia

Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia, the building was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Image: Eurico Zimbres

Official Sites of Brazil

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

República Federativa do Brasil
Federal Republic of Brazil, the official Brazil Government Page.

Presidência da República
The President of the Federal Republic of Brazil. (in Portuguese)

Ministério das Relações Exteriores
The Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Diplomatic Missions
Missão do Brasil junto às Nações Unidas
Brazilian Mission to the UN
Embassy of Brazil in the USA
Washington D.C.
Embassy of Brazil in the United Kingdom
London
Brasilianische Botschaft in Deutschland
Berlin
Ambassade du Brésil en France
Paris

Brazilian Missions Abroad
Brazilian Missions around the World.
Foreign Missions in Brazil
Diplomatic Missions accredited in Brazil.

Statistics
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística
Up-to-date statistics and geographical data. (in Portuguese and English)

Maps

Map of Brazil
Political Map of Brazil.

Administrative Map of Brazil
Map is showing Brazil's 26 states plus the location of the Federal district.

Google Earth Brazil
Searchable map and satellite view of Brazil.

Google Earth Brasilia
Searchable map and satellite view of Brazil's capital city.

Google Earth Rio de Janeiro
Searchable map and satellite view of Rio de Janeiro.

Google Earth São Paulo
Searchable map and satellite view of São Paulo, largest city in Brazil.

Information and searchable maps with satellite views of other Brazilian cities:
Aracaju, Belém, Belo Horizonte, Boa Vista, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Goiânia, João Pessoa, Macapá, Maceió, Manaus, Natal, Palmas, Porto Alegre, Porto Velho, Recife, Rio Branco, Salvador (da Bahia), São Luís, Teresina, Vitória

Map of South America
Reference map of South America.

Online News from Brazil

Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC)
The Brazilian public company manages the federal government's broadcast network, on its website it provides also national news (in Portuguese).

BrazilGovNews
Brazilian government news.

Brazzil
Brazilian magazine.
Correio Braziliense
News from Brazil. (in Portuguese)
O Estado de S. Paulo
Brazilian news. (in Portuguese)
Folha de São Paulo
Brazil's largest daily. (in Portuguese)
Folha International
English language news version of Folha de S.Paulo.
Jornal do Brasil
Rio's daily newspaper, with Brazilian and international news. (in Portuguese)
Globo Online
Brazilian and international news. (in Portuguese)
Universo Online
Brazilian magazine. (in Portuguese)

International News sources
The Rio Times
Daily news on Brazil from WorldNews Network.
The Guardian: Brazil

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A Samba school parades in the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil

Arts & Culture

Art & culture of Brazil
A guide to Brazil's culture from the cultural heritage to popular art.
Cinemabrasil
Brazilian movies.
Fundação Biblioteca Nacional
The National Library.
LIESA
Official site of the Independent League of Rio de Janeiro's Samba Schools.
Olodum
Official site of the Afro-Brazilian creators of samba-reggae from Bahia.
Rio Carnival
The Guide for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
Sepultura
Brazil's heavy metal band.

Sports
Abadá-Capoeira
The Afro-Brazilian dance and martial art.

Soccer - Futebol
Confederação Brasileira de Futebol
Football Federation of Brazil.
Federação Metropolitana de Futebol - FMF

Dancer at Rio Carnival
Image: Rodrigo Lobo - Visual Rio

Business & Economy

Banco Central do Brasil
The Central Bank of Brazil.
The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES)
The most important state-owned development bank in Brazil.

Rio De Janeiro Stock Exchange (BVRJ)
BVRJ was Brazil's second largest exchange it merged with Bovespa in 2002.
BM&F Bovespa
Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo the São Paulo's Stock Exchange was founded in 1890. Until the mid-1960s, Bovespa and the other Brazilian stock markets were state-owned companies. In 2002 Bovespa merged with the Rio De Janeiro Stock Exchange. In 2007 the Exchange became a for-profit company.

Ministério da Indústria, Comércio Exterior e Serviços
Website of the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services, the ministry is mainly responsible for development policy on industry, trade and services, foreign trade, and Intellectual property and technology transfer.

National Confederation of Industry - CNI
The Brazilian Network of International Business Center. The CIN Network is coordinated nationwide by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and founded with the support of the National Agency for the Promotion of Exports (APEX), the network aims at internationalizing of Brazilian businesses.

Transportation
Airlines
Major airlines in Brazil
Avianca Brazil
Oceanair Linhas Aéreas is a Brazilian airline based in São Paulo. From its hubs at São Paulo Congonhas airport, Rio De Janeiro Santos Dumont airport and Brasília International Airport it operates mainly domestic passenger services.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras
Brazilian low cost carrier based in Barueri (São Paulo), a merger of Azul TRIP Linhas Aéreas, formerly the largest regional carrier in Brazil.
Gol Transportes Aéreos
GOL is the largest low-cost airline in South America, the airline is based in São Paulo.
LATAM Airlines Brasil
Formerly TAM Airlines, Brazil's and Latin America's largest airline. Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazil's TAM Airlines merged in 2012.
Total Linhas Aéreas
Airline based in Belo Horizonte. It operates mainly cargo and some charter services within Brazil.

Airports
Brasília International Airport
The international airport serving the federal capital Brasilia.
Congonhas Airport
One of the three commercial airports serving São Paulo.
Guarulhos International Airport
Also known as Cumbica Airport, is the main international airport serving São Paulo.
Galeão International Airport
Rio de Janeiro's International Airport and one of Brazil's busiest international airports.
Tancredo Neves International Airport
The airport is serving Belo Horizonte and its metropolitan area.

Caracol Falls (Cascata do Caracol), Caracol State Park, Brazil

Caracol Falls Brazil (Cascata do Caracol), the 130 m (426-foot) waterfall is located about 7.00 km (4.35 miles) from Canela, Brazil in Caracol State Park.
Image: Tiago Fioreze

Travel and Tour Consumer Information

Destination Brazil - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Brazil:
Cities: Brasilia, São Paulo (the financial capital of Brazil, Ibirapuera Park, Paulista Avenue), Rio de Janeiro (Christ the Redeemer, Corcovado, Sugarloaf Mountain, Santa Teresa neighborhood, Tijuca Forest, Copacabana, Ipanema), Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza (the capital of Ceará state, is one of the top destinations for business and also great for a holiday on its awesome beaches), Manaus (Amazon Theatre), Natal (Natal Dunes State Park, Forte dos Reis Magos), Recife, Porto Alegre, Salvador (da Bahia).
Iguazu Falls, Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
Find accommodation, attractions, festivals, events, tours and much more.

Visit Brasil
Official tourism website of Brasil.

The Brazilian Tourist Board
Brazil information on travel and tourism with news and photos.

Férias Brasil
Vacations Brazil is a comprehensive tourist guide in Portuguese.
Meu Brasil
A travellers guide to the various regions of Brazil by Sergio Koreisha.

Vivabrazil
A comprehensive travel and tourism guide to Brazil.

Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state, Brazil

Chapada Diamantina, the Diamond Plateau is situated in Bahia state in the north east of Brazil. With its canyons, rivers, and waterfalls the plateau is one of the best destinations for trekking in the country.
Image: Cleide Isabel

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Brazil

Historic Town of Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the center of the gold rush in the time of Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. The town was founded at the end of the 17th century.

Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
Founded in the 16th century and rebuilt by the Portuguese after being looted and burned by the Dutch. The town is linked to the sugar-cane industry and Brazil's economy based on slavery, which began long before the first Portuguese settlement was established in 1532.

Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia
Salvador da Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, from 1549 to 1763.

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
Congonhas is a historical city located in the Brazilian state of Minas. The sanctuary in Minais Gerais, south of Belo Horizonte was built in the second half of the 18th century. the s was created by Aleijadinho, one of the outstanding artists in the baroque style in the world.


Education Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro Pontifical Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro, founded in 1941. UCAM - Universidade Candido Mendes Candido Mendes University, since 1902. Universidade de São Paulo Sao Paulo University.


Environment & Nature Amazonia - Amigos da Terra Friends of the Earth Brazil acts to promote the sustainable use of forest products, the prevention of fire, supporting isolated communities and the development and monitoring of public policies. Greenpeace Brazil The Brazilian section of Greenpeace. WWF Brasil World Wide Fund for Nature in Brazil (in Portuguese).	Sugar Loaf - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Image: Halley Pacheco de Oliveira

History

A Brief History of Brazil
A New York Times article about Brazil's history.
Brazil: Five Centuries of Change
Brazil's history - site contains the second edition of Thomas E. Skidmore’s textbook Brazil: Five Centuries of Change, by Brown University Library.
The cradle of Brazil's history
Brazil's history in the São Paulo region.
Arquivo Nacional
The National Archive of Brazil.
Museu Histórico Nacional
The National Museum of History. (in Portuguese)

Native

FUNAI Fundação Nacional do IÍndio
National Indio Foundation.
The Uncontacted Indians of Brazil
Website by Survival International, a global movement for tribal peoples’ rights, the site provides also a Map of Indian Tribes of Brazil.
Museo do Índio
The Indian museum with information about Brazilian's indigenous people.
Instituto Socioambiental
Socio-Environmental Institute, a private non-profit institution, established to propose integrated solutions to social and environmental issues.
OPAN
Operação Amazônia Nativa promotes supports projects of the aboriginal communities in the regions Center-West and North of Brazil. (in Portuguese)