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Brazil

Iguazu Falls are a series of waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border between 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

Location map of Brazil

Flag 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 vast, it is divided into 26 states and one 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. The 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

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)

Country Profile

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

Official Sites of Brazil

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

Brazilian National Congress building in Brasilia

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

Governo 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 of Brazil

Map of Brazil (click map to enlarge)
Image: ? nationsonline.org

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, Goiania, Jo?o Pessoa, Macapá, Maceió, Manaus, Natal, Palmas, Porto Alegre, Porto Velho, Recife, Rio Branco, Salvador (da Bahia), S?o Luís, Teresina, Vitória

Map of South America
Reference map of South America.

News of Brazil

Newspapers

Online News from Brazil

Empresa Brasil de Comunica??o (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

Arts & Culture of Brazil

A Samba school parades in the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Fernando Fraz?o/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
Brazil's 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.

KondZilla
A music video site fearuring Brazilian Funk ostenta??o.

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

Business & Economy of Brazil

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 S?o 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 Servi?os
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 S?o Paulo. From its hubs at S?o Paulo Congonhas airport, Rio De Janeiro Santos Dumont airport and Brasília International Airport it operates mainly domestic passenger services.
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. Total Linhas Aéreas 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 S?o Paulo.
Guarulhos International Airport
Also known as Cumbica Airport, is the main international airport serving S?o Paulo.
Gale?o 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.

Tourism in Brazil

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

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, Len?óis 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.

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
There are 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Brazil (see the complete list)

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 in Brazil

Palácio Universitário campus Rio de Janeiro

Palácio Universitário, the 19th-century neoclassical building serves as the campus of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Fulviusbsas

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro, founded in 1941.

UCAM - Universidade Candido Mendes
Candido Mendes University. Latin America's oldest private university was established in 1902.

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
UFRJ is one of the largest federal universities in the country.

Universidade de São Paulo
Sao Paulo University. USP is a major institution of higher learning and research in Brazil.

Environment & Nature

God's Finger rockformation at Serra dos órg?os National Park

Rockformations with Dedo de Deus (God's Finger) peak in the background, Serra dos órg?os National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
Image: Carlos Perez Couto

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).

Brazil History

Painting: Portuguese navigator Pedro álvares Cabral landing in Porto Seguro

Brazil was officially "discovered" in 1500, when a fleet commanded by Portuguese navigator Pedro álvares Cabral, on its way to India, landed in Porto Seguro.
Painting: Oscar Pereira da Silva (1865–1939)

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)

Indigenous People of Brazil

Baré people, Comunity Nova Esperan?a, Brazil

Comunity Nova Esperan?a, Baré people. Cuieiras river, a tributary of the Rio Negro, Amazonia, Brazil.
Image: Daniel Zanini H.

Brazilian Indians
Survival page about Brazilian native people.

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. (An English version)

OPAN
Operação Amazônia Nativa is Brazil's first indigenous non-governmental organization; it promotes and supports projects of the aboriginal communities in the regions Center-West and North of Brazil. (in Portuguese)

Indigenous peoples in Brazil
Wikipedia articel about Indigenous peoples in Brazil.

Additional Information

Exploora
Brazilian internet directory and search engine. (in Portuguese)

Additional Information on Brazil

Amnesty International: Brazil

BBC Country Profile: Brazil

FAO: Brazil

GlobalEDGE: Brazil

The Heritage Foundation: Brazil

Human Rights Watch: Brazil

OEC: Brazil

Reporters Without Borders: Brazil

US Library of Congress / Country Studies / Brazil

Wikipedia: Brazil

The World Factbook -- Brazil