ABOUT BRAZIL

Key Facts | Geography | History

Brazil is the jewel of South America. A phenomenal kaleidoscope of people, culture, tophography, and wildlife. South Winds Travel & Tours has designed mini vacation "modules" that you can combine in almost any way to create your "Dream Holiday".

Key Facts
Official title: Federative Republic of Brazil
Capital: Brasília
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Real
Area: 8,511,965 sq km
Population: 147m (1989)
State Population of Rio de Janeiro: 14.367.225
State Population of São Paulo: 36.966.527
President of Brazil: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Amazonas River Lenght: 6.571 Kilometers
Bird Species in Pantanal: 650 Approximately
Cities in Brazil: 5.507
Brazil Police Number: 198

Geography
Brazil is the largest country in South America, and the fifth largest in the world (after Russia, China, Canada, and the United States).
Claiming almost half of the continent, Brazil shares a common border with every South American country except Ecuador and Chile. Its land mass totals approximately 3,300,000 square miles, more than the continental United States and slightly less than all the European countries together. More than one third of the country is occupied by the Amazon basin, with large areas of swamps and floodlands.
The highest point in Brazil is the Pico da Neblina (3,014 m.), near the border with Venezuela.
Brazil is composed of 26 states and 1 Federal District, and is divided into 5 (five) different regions, which are:
North: (States of Amazonas, Pará, Roraima, Acre, Amapá, Tocantins and Rondonia).
Northeast: (States of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão)
Central West: (States of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goiás)
Southeast: (States of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, and São Paulo)
South: (States of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul)

Total area: 8,511,965 sq km;
Land area: 8,456,510 km2; includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo
Brazil's coastline runs along the Atlantic Ocean for over 11,919 mi (7,408 km) of white sandy beaches.

Climate: Most of Brazil lies immediately south of the Equator, and, as a result is mainly tropical and sub-tropical, being particularly humid in the Amazon region and along the coast. The southern coast and the higher lands present a more temperate climate.

Brief History
Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral. The new territory was originally called Terra da Vera Cruz (Land of the True Cross), until Italian navigator, Americo Vespucci, explored the coastline in 1501, and named it Brazil.

Various economic cycles punctuated the history and development of the country. The first such cycle was the “Brazilian Wood Cycle”, then came the “Sugar Cane Cycle”, the “Gold Cycle”, the “Diamond Cycle”, the “Coffee Cycle” and the “Rubber Cycle”, which brought prosperity to the north of Brazil. When the king of Portugal, Dom João VI, moved his court to Brazil at the beginning of the 19th century, the country was given a new sense of importance and impetus. Ports were opened to international commerce and the resulting spirit of regeneration contributed to the expansion of major commercial and cultural activities.

The first movement for the Independence of Brazil, from Portugal, occurred in 1789, and its hero, popularly known as “Tiradentes”, became the national symbol of liberty; however, Independence was proclaimed in 1822 by Dom Pedro I, first emperor of Brazil. His son, Dom Pedro II, reined for 49 years until 1889. when Brazil was proclaimed a Republic. Today it is a Federated Republic, divided into 27 states.

Since its discovery, Brazil has been struggling in the face of an enormous inheritance. Blessed with unlimited potential, Brazil exhibits some of the greatest riches and diversities in the world. Yet, despite the constant clash between first and third-world values, what makes Brazil so very attractive is just that- its differences. From Indians roaming the Amazon jungle, to 18th century historical villages, to 19th century country plantations, and, modern, 20th century cities where international trends prevail and the nightlife shines brightly, you can see it all in Brazil. It is equally a land of exotic and racial variations – as no one color can classify the Brazilian. Brazil has been praised for both its lack of discrimination and lack of overt racial prejudice. Enjoying good conversation is a favorite pastime of Latin Americans.

With all this in mind, the extent and heterogeneous nature of its tropical country, its rich history and folklore, its colorful people, and its passionate rhythms, one thing is certain – anyone who travels to Brazil with an open heart and mind is sure to come away with an incurable case of saudade (a virtually indefinable Portuguese word that refers to the passion and longing that the very thought of Brazil elicits.)