Brazil takes up half of South America. It is home to the worlds second longest river (The Amazon) and contains almost half of the worlds rain forest. It is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of size and population and the official language is Portuguese.
Up until 1500 the area was the composed of many small nationals formed by the regions indigenous tribes. However Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed the territory for Portugal in 1500. It was ceded to Rio de Jeneiro in 1808 and only achieved independence in 1822. Brazil has lived through a succession of military and dictatorial regimes with associated guerrilla resistance and weathered several severe financial crisis. Democratic rule has now been in place for 30 successive years.
Capital city: Brasília
Highest Point: Pico da Neblina 2,995.30 m (9,827 ft)
Longest river: Amazon River, 6,992 km (4,345 mi)
Total Area: 8,514,877 km2 (3,287,612 sq mi)
Bordering countries (10) Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in the world. It conjures up images of beautiful people on long beaches, fantastical carnivals, and of course, the stunning bay overlooked by a huge statue of Jesus sited on the peak of Mount Corcovado. Geography Of Guanabara Bay The city of Rio de Janeiro…
The Amazon is a vast forest. Most of it is in Brazil however significant areas of 7 other countries are all covered by this forest; Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The forest covers the drainage basin of the Amazon river. One in ten of the world’s known species live in…
Located in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau. Mount Roraima is 9 miles (14km) long, and 9222ft (2810m) tall at its highest point, with 1300ft (400m) cliffs on each side of the plateau. At its summit, Roraima is largely sandstone without much vegetation, though a…
Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1984, Iguazu Falls is often revered as the world’s most spectacular waterfall. Situated on the border of the Brazilian state, Parana, and the Argentine province of Misiones, Iguazu Falls spans 1.7 miles (2.7km) in width, and features 275 individual waterfalls, with heights ranging from 196-270ft (60-82m). The…