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Brazil
Capital: Brasilia
Location: 15°45′S 47°57′W
Largest city: São Paulo
Official language: Portuguese
Government: Presidential Federal republic
Independence from Portugal: - Declared September 7, 1822 - Recognised August 29, 1825 - Republic November 15, 1889
Area: 5th in the World
Total: 8,514,877 km² (3,287,597 sq mi)
Water (%): 0.65
Population: 188,078,261 (5th) (2006 estimate)
Density: Density 22 /km² (182nd) (57 /sq mi)
GDP (PPP) : Total $943.6 billion[1] (10th) (2006 estimate)
Per capita $5,017 (74th)
HDI (2004) : 0.792 (medium) (69th)
Currency: Real (BRL)
Calling code: +55
Internet TLD: .br
Member of: UN, OAS, CSN, CPLP, Mercosur
About Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America. It spreads across almost half (47.3%) of South America, and occupies a total area of 8,547,403.5 km2. It is the fifth largest country in the world after Canada, the Russian Federation, China and the United States. Except for a small number of islands, Brazil is a single and continuous landmass. The Equator crosses through the Northern region, near Macapa, and the Tropic of Capricorn cuts through the South of the country, near São Paulo.
Brazil’s east to west extension (4,319.4 km) is almost equivalent to the distance from north to south (4,394.7 km). The country borders French Guiana, Suriname, Guiana, Venezuela and Colombia, to the north; Uruguay and Argentina, to the south; and Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, to the west. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries on the South American continent that do not border Brazil. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the country’s entire eastern coast, providing 7,367 km of coastline.
Language of Brazil
The official language is Portuguese; the accent and the intonation, however, are very different from what one hears in Portugal and other former Portuguese colonies. Some people say that Brazilians speak “Brazilian”, just like Americans can say they speak “American”, and not English. And there are also many Brazilians who are descendants of immigrants and who speak German and Italian, especially in towns in southern Brazil.
Brazil – a country which greets visitors with a huge smile
The mixture of races has made Brazil a culturally rich and at the same time unique country. This miscegenation began with the Indian, the African and the Portuguese, but soon after, immigrants from around the world began to arrive: Europeans, Asians, Jews and Arabs. The result is a happy people, open to everything new, a people one can only find in Brazil.
Because of this massive diversity, Brazil is one of the last places on Earth where no one is a foreigner, where one can change one’s destiny without losing one’s identity and where each and every Brazilian has a little of the entire world in his or her blood. This may be the reason why Brazilian’s welcome people from another land so openly. According to surveys carried out with foreign tourists who visited the country, 97.2% intend to return soon; 56.5% had their expectations completely satisfied; and, for 31.7%, it exceeded their expectations in every way. As you can see, those who go to Brazil become fans on their first visit.
Brazilian democracy
Brazil has been a Republic since 1889. Throughout this entire period, the country actually experienced little more than thirty years of democracy (1946-1964 and from 1985 to the present). Nevertheless, it is one of the most democratic nations on Earth. Brazilian democracy, which was won back after 21 years of a military dictatorship, proved to be vigorous and became an important part of the life of its people.
The National Congress has been operating like clockwork for 175 years. In the entire history of the country, only on three occasions did the elected representatives not complete their terms. The strength of the Congress is actually so great that not even the military dictatorship of the 1960s could do without it. There have been national elections in Brazil since 1823. And these elections have been open to voters in a manner almost unheard of even for European democracy standards.
Useful Information
Visas and Passports
Tourists and visitors from Mercosul countries do not need to present passports. They merely need to show their ID cards. Visitors from other countries must present a passport that is valid for the next six months.
Electricity Voltage
Electricity voltages vary from one state to another. Check the voltage before connecting any electrical appliance to an outlet.
Car Hire
All the well know car hire firms have counters at the country’s main airports and in the main urban centers. Tourists may also book cars through their travel agencies.
Taxis
The tourist may opt to take an ordinary taxi easily found in the streets or through radio taxi services. It is recommended that accredited taxi services at the airports and at points nearby the main hotels be given priority. It is not usual in Brazil to tip a taxi driver although it is common to round off the amount and let the driver keep the change as a gratuity.
Tips
Most bars and restaurants include a service charge of 10% in the Bill. It is usual to leave a little extra if the service has been satisfactory. When no service charge has been included then a tip of 10% to 15% is the general rule.
Currency
The Brazilian currency unit is the Real ($R). Dollars and Travelers Checks can easily be changed in hotels, banks or travel agencies. Most establishments accept credit cards.
Communications
To make an international call, dial: 00 + operator code* + country code + area code (if there is one) + telephone number For reverse charge international calls dial 0800 7032111.
Operators:
Brasil Telecom 14
Embratel 21
CTBC 34
GVT 25
Intelig 23
Telefónica 15
Telemar 31
Language
The national language is Portuguese but it is a little different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal
Climate
The climate is predominantly tropical with some variation according to the region. The average annual temperature in the north is 28º C and 22º C in the south.
Time Zones
Because of its continental dimensions Brazil has 4 time zones. The official time is Brasília time and it corresponds to 3 hours less than GMT. From September to February the clocks are put forward one hour in most Brazilian States.
History of Brazil
A brief history of Brazil begins with the arrival of the first indigenous peoples, over 8,000 years ago, into the present territory of that nation.
It is widely accepted that Brazil was first "discovered" by Europeans on April 22, 1500, by Pedro Álvares Cabral.
From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Brazil was a colony of Portugal. On September 7, 1822, the country declared its independence from Portugal and became a constitutional monarchy, the Empire of Brazil. A military coup in 1889 established a republican government. The country has been nominally a democratic republic ever since, except for three periods of overt dictatorship (1930–1934; 1937–1945 and 1964–1985).
Brazil is today South America's largest economy, the world's ninth largest economy, and fifth most populous nation.
A country in motion
The land area of Brazil extends over 8.5 million square kilometers, occupying just under half (47%) of the area of Latin America. The country possesses 20% of all the world’s biodiversity; an example of this natural wealth is the Amazon Rainforest, with 3.6 million square kilometers. The political and administrative organization comprises three main Branches of Power: the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislative, and the principle of autonomy among the Union, the Federal District, 26 states and 5,563 towns and cities (IBGE/2003).
Ranking fifth among the world’s most populated countries, the population of Brazil amounts to 50 million families or approximately 180 million inhabitants (2004), the majority - 81% - in urban areas. The national birth rate, which reached as high as 6.3 in 1960, currently stands at 2.1 children per female. The result of this decline, which can be associated to an improvement in social indicators and consequently in quality of life, will be a population whose majority of citizens will be aged between 15 and 44 years within the next four decades. This will represent one of the largest job and consumer markets among the countries on the American continent.
Diversified Economy
Brazil accounts for three fifths of the South American economy’s industrial production and integrates various economic groups, such as Mercosur, G-22 and the Cairns Group. The country’s scientific and technological development, together with a dynamic and diversified industrial sector, is attractive to foreign enterprise: direct investment was in the region of US$ 20 billion /year on average, compared to US$ 2 billion/year last decade.
Brazil trades regularly with over one hundred nations, with 74% of exports represented by manufactured or semimanufactured goods. Its main partners are: the EEC (representing 26% of the balance), the US (24%), Mercosur and Latin America (21%) and Asia (12%). One of the most dynamic sectors in this trade scenery is the so-called “agrobusiness” sector, which for two decades has kept Brazil amongst the most highly productive countries in areas related to the rural sector.
The owner of a sophisticated technological sector, Brazil develops projects that range from submarines to aircraft and is involved in space research: the country possesses a Launching Center for Light Vehicles and was the only country in the Southern Hemisphere to integrate the team responsible for the construction of the International Space Station-the ISS. A pioneer in the field of deep water oil research, from where 73% of its reserves are extracted, Brazil was the first capitalist country to bring together the ten largest car assembly companies inside its national territory.
Government system of Brazil
The Federative Republic of Brazil is a democratic State by rights, with a Presidential system of government. The President of the Republic performs two functions: those of Head of State and Head of the Federal Government.
The Presidency of the Republic and the Vice-presidency are in the foremost position of federal public administration, assisted by the ministers, with the subordination of the government bureaus, autarchies, foundations, public companies and other directly or indirectly controlled entities.
In accordance with the 1988 National Constitution, the Federal Government acts decisively in the life of the Brazilian people, be it by establishing rules, implementing programs or rendering services to the population.
For the execution of programs, the Federal Government establishes priorities for the application of public resources, planned over a four-year period. Such priorities are described in the Pluri-Annual Plan (PPA), which must be submitted by the President to National Congress. The Plan establishes, furthermore, the liaison between the long term programs and the Annual Budgetary Law.
Direct free vote
Only native-born Brazilians with a minimum 35 years of age may occupy the Presidency of the Republic. In addition, they must be democratically chosen, by way of direct elections, and obtain an absolute majority of votes. Elections are direct and to be carried out, simultaneously, throughout the country, on the first Sunday in October of the year prior to the end of the presidential term. The duration for each term is four years, with a single possibility for re-election, and starting date of January 1st of the year following the electoral polls.
Since 1822, the year in which Brazil achieved its independence from Portugal, up to the present day, the Executive Power has been exercised practically without interruption. The first Constitution, of 1824, conferred the leadership of the Executive Branch upon Emperor D. Pedro I. Following the proclamation of the Republic in 1889, the president was elected by the people.
Between the years of 1961 and 1963, Brazil experienced a brief period of a parliamentary government system. With the military coup in 1964, indirect elections were adopted in which the President was elected by an electoral House, at a public session and by means of a nominal voting system. With the country’s return to democracy, presidential elections were once again carried out by means of a direct and secret voting system, in 1985.
Brazil: A country for everyone
Brazil is unique for its richness of nature, culture, economy and history. This lends the country a Wonderland quality, with countless tourist attractions, and diversity as its main instrument to fulfill this potential. Beaches, forests, mountains, rivers, festivals, diversified cuisine, national parks, and historical towns are scattered among 26 states and the Federal District, where the Capital, Brasília, is located.
This racial mixture has generated a nation of happy, sharing people, a country where all come together under their differences and diversity, in an environment of peaceful coexistence. Brazil is indeed, a country for everyone. In addition, its economic growth allied to the country’s strategic position in the South American makes it a focal point for attracting technical, commercial and social events, which in conjunction with the leisure options, define Brazil as a special country, with such a plethora of travel opportunities on offer.
Tourism in Brazil
Very few tourist destinations are able to offer such varied options as Brazil. Its natural beauties, the enormous popular festivities and the countless protected environmental reserves are priceless attractions, which amaze foreign tourists when the time comes for them to choose their holiday destination. Everyone has already heard of Rio de Janeiro, Carnival, the Amazon or the country’s beautiful beaches.
Recent surveys carried out by Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Institute) revealed that the most sought after Brazilian location is Rio de Janeiro. Also called “Cidade Maravilhosa”, or Enchanting City, this capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro flaunts breathtaking scenery, and is also home to the largest popular festivity in the world: Carnival. This grandiose celebration, a yearly gathering of thousands of merrymakers, who dance and watch the Samba School parades, attracts a significant number of foreign visitors to the grandstands and box seats lining the Marques de Sapucai Avenue.
Carnival is also present in the schedules of several other Brazilian cities, attracting the interest of a great many foreigners who visit Brazil. São Paulo follows Rio’s example, and it too puts on some lively Samba School parades; in Pernambuco, it is the merrymakers of Olinda and Recife who, wearing fancy costumes, dancing in the streets following music groups on floats and maracatus, and carrying the famous gigantic dolls are the ones who stand out; in Salvador, capital of Bahia, the fun is provided by trios eletricos, mobile stages which attract thousands of followers, dancing along behind them, until sunrise, to the sound of the axe music from Bahia.
The country’s beautiful beaches and natural wonders also capture people’s attention and attract 35% of the tourists, according to surveys carried out by Embratur. With a coastline extending for more than seven thousand kilometres, Brazil has the privilege of being able to offer several leisure options in this segment. Among the most visited in the country, are the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro; Joaquina, in the South of the country, is known for the national and international surf championships held there; Praia do Forte, along the North coast of Bahia, the headquarters for the Tamar Project for the preservation of sea turtles; and the natural beauty of the beaches in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.
And one must not forget Ecotourism, a segment which has attracted a flock of new followers over the past few years. According to data from the Ecotourism Society, average annual growth has been from 10% to15%. Those interested in this type of travel total 5% of the entire world tourist flow, or approximately 35 million people. And Brazil is one of the destinations in this segment showing the greatest potential for growth, since it is where one of the world’s icons for ecology and biodiversity, the Amazon region, is located -- in the North of the country and spread over some 5.5 million square kilometres. It is estimated that the forests alone in the Amazon region harbour 60% of all life forms on the planet – more than half of which are still unknown to science.
Midwest Region of Brazil
This Region is right in the heart of Brazil, representing 18.86% of the national territory. It comprises the States of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso and the Federal District.
The economy in the Midwest Region is essentially based on cattle breeding, which took the place of gold and precious stone prospecting, which were local activities in the past. With the move of the country's federal capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília in the 60s, the construction of roads and railways to the interior of the country made the accesses easier, speeding up the population settling and contributing significantly to its development. The Brazilian largest manganese reserve is in the Midwest Region, at Urucum Woods.
Tourism has grown at impressive speed in the last decades there, attracting visitors from several parts of Brazil and the world; who all enjoy the Region's flora and fauna riches, as well as its innumerous marvelous views.
Located in the middle of vast Central Upland, the Midwest Region reveals how attractive the tours in the interior of the country can be. Starting in the west part of Mato Grosso do Sul State and the southeast part of Mato Grosso State, we have Pantanal Mato-grossense; the largest swampy plain area in the world, cut by Paraguai River. Its fauna and flora riches draw the attention of the world. In the same state, it's possible to take tours through pleasant places, such as Alta Floresta, where ecotourism is the greatest attraction; Bonito, one of the places with the most crystalline waters in the country; and Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, full of mountains and beautiful landscapes offered by the meadow vegetation.
Dividing the States of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás, Araguaia River attracts innumerous fishermen from all parts of Brazil and the world. The State of Tocantins has rich Jalapão, a place for ecotourism and adventure sports. And in the State of Goiás, historical attractions, such as Pirenópolis draw many visitors all year long, with its steep stone-paved streets and its colonial houses. Other attractions in the same state include Chapada dos Veadeiros and the National Park of Emas, where the contact with the nature is the essence of the tours. In the Federal District, the National Park of Brasília is one of the greatest local attractions.
Hikes in the middle of the nature, adventurous sports and much of the country's history can be found in the Midwest Region.
North Region of Brazil
The North Region is composed of the following states: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. This is the largest Region of Brazil, corresponding to 45.27% of the national territory.
Its demographic density is the lowest considering all the regions of the country, with only 2.92 inhabitants per km2. Most people live in the urban area, and its largest metropolis is Belém, capital of Pará State.
The economy of the North Region is essentially based on the vegetal plantation and extraction, such as latex, assai, woods and nuts; and mineral extraction of gold, precious stones, cassiterite and tin (metal); as well as mining exploitation, mainly iron, at Carajás Mountain Range (in the State of Pará) and manganese, at Navio Mountain Range (in the State of Amapá).
Tourism is one of the economic sectors that have widely grown in the last years in all the North Region of the country. Its natural riches and the wide variety of fauna and flora attract hundreds of tourists and people who like ecotourism and sport fishing, as well as ornithologists and adventurers every year, all of them always searching for the tranquility of the contact with the nature.
Amazon, Jalapão, National Park of Jaú, Mamirauá Reserve, and the great festival of Círio de Nazaré are only some of the attractions waiting for you in the largest Region of Brazil.
North East Region of Brazil
The Northeast Region is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory.
Its economy is mainly based on the production of sugar, cocoa and cotton; as well as the extensive cattle breeding. Some time ago, at São Francisco River Valley (between States of Bahia and Pernambuco), fruits for export started being produced too. At the seaside and the continental platform of the Region, the main activity is the exploitation of oil, which is later processed in the State of Bahia.
Tourism has grown significantly in the Region in the last decades, showing the high potential of each State, and generating excellent perspectives for the future.
The Northeast Region has about 46 million people, which represents 28.9% of the total number in the whole country. Most of the population lives in the urban area. The most important cities of this Region are: Salvador, capital of Bahia State; Recife, capital of Pernambuco State and Fortaleza, capital of Ceará State.
Besides the capitals, most coastal cities of the Northeast Region have innumerous natural beauties, such as the Marine National Park of Abrolhos, Itacaré, Comandatuba Island, Costa do Sauípe, Canavieiras and Porto Seguro, in the State of Bahia; the Marine National Park of Fernando de Noronha, in the State of Pernambuco; tropical paradises, such as Canoa Quebrada and Jericoacoara, on the coast of Ceará, as well as the places to practice free flight, as Quixadá and Sobral; and Lençóis Maranhenses, embellishing the coast of Maranhão State, among many others. But the Northeast Region has much more. In the interior area, several riches are kept, as National Parks of Serra da Capivara and Sete Cidades, both in the State of Piauí; João Pessoa, in the State of Paraíba; Chapada Diamantina, in the State of Bahia; and many other attractions.
South Region of Brazil
Corresponding to only 6.75% of the national territory, the South Region is the smallest of all regions. It comprises three states: Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Its main characteristics are the strong European colonial influences of immigrants from Germany, Italy and Azores, present in several cities and the traditional hospitable spirit of the South Region's population: approximately 25 million people.
In the past, its economy was based only on agricultural and cattle raising activities. However, some years ago, an important industrial park was created and has developed a lot, directing the attention to the Cities of Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul State, and Curitiba, capital of Paraná State. In the agricultural production, the utilization of modern cultivation techniques turned wheat, soy, rice, corn, beans and tobacco into the main products marketed by the region. In cattle breeding, herds of European types are raised.
Vegetal extraction, mainly of pinewood; swine breeding; charcoal reserves and meat processing industries that provide for both domestic and international markets, are some other activities that ensure the Region a balanced and stable economy.
It has also a great hydroelectric potential, as it can be seen at huge Itaipu Power Plant, located at Paraná River, right between Brazil and Paraguay, and near Iguaçu National Park, which has wonderful views and several attractions to be in contact with the nature. Also in the State of Paraná, it is possible to enjoy very beautiful beaches at Ilha do Mel - the "Honey Island" and at Superagüi National Park.
In Santa Catarina State, beaches such as Joinville, Bombinhas, Garopaba, Florianópolis and Blumenau are the most visited ones. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, highlights are: Torres, at the seaside; and Porto Alegre, São Miguel das Missões, Cambará do Sul, Gramado and Canela, in the interior area.
Southwest Region of Brazil
It's composed of four states: Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It represents 10.85% of the national territory and is located on the highest part of the Atlantic Upland, which comprises Mantiqueira, Mar and Espinhaço mountain ranges, making the view a real chain of hills.
Southeast Region has the highest number of population: approximately 70 million people. It's widely known as it has the two most outstanding metropolises of the country: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The City of Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais State, also ranks high, as it is the largest regional metropolis.
The economic area of the Southeast Region is the most developed and industrialised in the country. It has large herds of cattle, as well as important agricultural production, including sugar cane, orange and coffee cultures. It also has significant iron and manganese reserves at Espinhaço mountain range, in the State of Minas Gerais; and a reserve with good quantity of oil at Campos basin, in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
In tourism, there are innumerous options in this Region. The State of Minas Gerais has the most varied tours, from Lagoa Santa and Sete Lagoas caves to the waterfalls of Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, not to mention the historical cities, such as Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Sabará, Mariana, São João del Rei and Congonhas do Campo.
Highlights in the State of Espírito Santo include the state capital, Vitória, where the sport fishing is the greatest attraction. In São Paulo, places like Brotas, Cordisburgo, São Luiz do Paraitinga, Santos, Ilhabela, Ubatuba, State Park of Serra do Mar, PETAR - Upper Ribeira Tourist State Park and Taubaté are good attractions for offering varied leisure options.
In the State of Rio de Janeiro, the scenery is not different from the other states of the Region. Innumerous options of tours are offered in all the state. At the seaside, the most visited cities are Parati, Arraial do Cabo, Armação de Búzios and Angra dos Reis, which are the tourists' favorites. Other interesting places include Casimiro de Abreu, Itatiaia National Park, Tijuca National Park, Petrópolis and Teresópolis.
At the mountain ranges in the interior or in the blue sea of its coast, the Southeast Region is impressive for its natural beauties, combined with the culture, history and sophistication.
Useful Links
Government Sites
Brazilian Government: http://www.brasil.gov.br/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mre.gov.br/ingles/
Ministry for Tourism/Embratur: http://www.braziltour.com/site/gb/home/index.php
Main Newspapers
O Globo: http://oglobo.globo.com/
Folha de São Paulo: http://www.folha.uol.com.br/
Interesting Sites
InfoBrazil: http://www.infobrazil.com/ Brazilian News Site in English
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