Destinations / The best countries of South America / Brazil
Brazil
Total area: 8,514,877 km2
Population: 190,732,694
Density: 22/km2
Currency: Real (R$)
Official language(s): Portuguese
Capital: Brasília
Governement: Federal presidential constitutional republic
Internet TLD: .br
Calling code: +55
Brazil is a country located in the Eastern part of South America. It is bordered to the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana, on the northwest by Colombia, on the west by Bolivia and Peru, on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, but the largest city here is Sao Paulo.
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, the United States and China. Its territory covers almost half of South America and it shares borders with all states on the continent except Chile and Ecuador.
The name "Brazil" is derived from the Portuguese word brasa, shiny coal. The first Portuguese to set foot on Brazilian soil called the red color of the wood jecarada "brasil". And they immediately realized the importance of this wood, a raw material, which, when exported, would bring enormous wealth to the European colonial power.
Transportation network is poorly developed, except the southern and south-eastern parts of the country. Tourism is expanding now; hunting and fishing tourism prevails, as well as visiting exotic natural areas, attending festival (carnivals), etc..
The major objectives here are: Brasilia –the capital city, Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings with colonial monuments - the palace of Quinta de Boa Vista, San Antonio church, Candelaria monastery and others, resorts - among them the famous Copacabana, popular carnivals, such as "Samba", Sao Paulo and its surroundings ( XVII-XVIIIth century monuments, museums, beautiful landscapes).
You can visit Brazil all year round, depending on how much money you want to spend.
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