| Area |
8,547,404 sq km (3,300,170.9 sq miles). |
| Population |
20.7 per sq km |
| Capital |
Brasília - population 2,051,146 (2000). |
| Climate |
Varies from arid scrubland in the interior to the impassable tropical rainforests of the northerly Amazon jungle and the tropical eastern coastal beaches. The south is more temperate. Rainy seasons occur from January to April in the north, April to July in the northeast and November to March in the Rio/São Paulo area. |
| Language |
The official language is Portuguese, with different regional accents characterising each State. Spanish, English, Italian, French and German are also spoken, particularly in tourist areas. Four linguistic roots survive in the indigenous areas: Gê, Tupi-guarani, Aruak and Karib. |
| Religion |
There is no official religion, but approximately 70 per cent of the population adhere to Roman Catholicism. A number of diverse evangelical cults are also represented, as are animist beliefs (particularly spiritism, umbanda and candomblé). |
| Time |
Brazil spans several time zones from GMT - 2 to GMT - 5 depends on area of country
|
| Highlights |
Brazil is a land of extraordinary diversity; the best beaches in South America, spectacular waterfalls, exciting cities, the massive Amazon basin, vast wetlands,Carnaval and music. Rio has one of the most beautiful settings in the world, best seen from the famous Sugar Loaf. Salvador in the northeast has a huge number of churches and museums - it is also the hub of Brazilian music and offers an alternative venue during Carnaval. Thousands of miles of golden sand beaches run along the Atlantic coast, some with huge dunes running down to the sea. The spectacular Iguazu Falls which cross over into Argentina are set in a national park which boasts a huge variety of plant and bird life. The wetlands of the Pantanal offer the best opportunity to see wildlife but the real highlight of Brazil is the Amazonas region. Departing from Manaus, visitors have the opportunity to explore this immense rainforest which contains one third of all living species on earth. Brazil is without doubt one of the most exciting, vibrant, colourful and unique countries in the world.
|
| Country Facts |
Brazil, covering an area of over 3,286,000 sq. miles, comprises nearly half of South America - the world's fifth largest country. All other South American countries (except Ecuador & Chile) border Brazil. Brazil's modern population, estimated at 141,452,000 in 1987, is one of the world's most successful examples of race integration - African, Portuguese and Amerindian have intermarried since the arrival of the Portuguese in the early fifteen hundreds. The historical Portuguese influence, most prevalent with the country's language, has mixed with a diverse local Indian population. The famous Brazilian football team has highlighted the mixture of races making up the country's population with a variety of outstanding black and white players; Pele, Jazino, Revalino, Socrates, Zico... |