General Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Geographical Low Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Major Cities: Sao Paulo 19.96 million; Rio de Janeiro 11.836 million; Belo Horizonte 5.736 million; Porto Alegre 4.034 million; BRASILIA (capital) 3.789 million
Major Landforms:Tropical rainforest of the Amazon Basin, the Pantanal freshwater wetland, Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands of small mountain ranges, and the Mato Grosso Plateau
Major Bodies of Water: Amazon River, Rio de la Plata, Paraguay River, Parana River, Sao Francisco River, Sobradinho Lake, Tucurui Lake, Balbina Lake, Furnas Lake, Duck Lagoon, Atlantic Ocean
Famous Places: Christ the Redeemer, Sao Paulo, Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain, Ipanema Beach, Fernando de Noronha, Carnival in Rio, Amazon Rainforest
Economy of Brazil
Major Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Major Exports: transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Major Imports: machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil
Currency: real (BRL)
National GDP: $2,294,000,000,000
States of Brazil
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Government of Brazil
Type of Government: federative republic
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Divisions: Brazil is divided up into 26 states. The capital city, Brasilia, is a separate federal district.
National Anthem or Song: Hino Nacional Brasileiro (Brazilian National Anthem)
National Symbols:
Animal - Jaguar
Bird - Macaw, Rufous-bellied Thrush
Flower - Ipe-amarelo
Tree - Pau-brazil (also called Brazilwood)
Coat of Arms - Blue center with 27 stars, a yellow and green star, surrounded by coffee and tobacco leaves
Colors - Green and yellow
Motto - Ordem E Progresso ('order and progress')
Carnival - Celebrated in February before Ash Wednesday
Description of flag: The flag of Brazil was adopted on November 19, 1889. It has a green background with a yellow rhombus (sideways diamond). In the center is a dark blue circle with 27 stars depicting the sky over Rio de Janeiro. In a banner across the blue circle is the motto 'Ordem E Progresso.' The 27 stars represent the 26 states and the federal district of Brasilia.
National Holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Other Holidays: New Years' Eve (January 1), Carnival, Tiradentes' Day (April 21), Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (September 11), Our Lady of Aparecida (October 12), All Souls' Day (November 2), Republic Day (November 15), Christmas (December 25)
The People of Brazil
Languages Spoken: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Nationality: Brazilian(s)
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
Origin of the name Brazil: The name 'Brazil' comes from the name for the brazilwood tree that the region was famous for early in its history. The word 'brazil' means 'red like an ember' in Portuguese and was used to describe this unique wood. The original name for the country was 'Terra da Santa Cruz' which means 'Land of the Holy Cross.'
