Area
and People
Brazil
is the largest country in South America and it is
the fifth largest country in the world after the
Russian Federation, Canada, China, and the United
States. Brazil is a Federal Republic consisting
of 26 states and a Federal District, and has Brasilia
as a capital city.
It resides in an area of 3,286,470 sq. miles (8,511,965
sq. km.).Divisions: 26 states (estados in Portuguese)
and 1 federal district (distrito federal); Acre,
Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito
Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao,
Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para,
Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de
Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,
Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo,
Sergipe, Tocantins.
Brazil has a population approximately 165 million,
the 6th largest in the world after those of China,
India, the United States, Indonesia, and the Russian
Federation. The population of Brazil is predominantly
young, with 62 percent of the people under 29 years
of age. Nationwide, the demographic density is relatively
low.
The population is concentrated along the Atlantic
coastal areas of the South-Eastern and North-Eastern
states.
Industrial
activity is concentrated in the South-Eastern region,
with 50% of the industrial production taking place
in the state of Sao Paulo alone.
Travelers
Checks / Credit Cards
Cash
and traveler checks, can be exchanged at most banks
or exchange booths as well as the major hotels.
US dollar travelers cheques can be conveniently
cashed at all provincial banks and authorized money
changers.
Major international credit cards, such as American
Express, Diners Club, Master Charge or VISA are
accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and
shops.
Climate
Plateau
cities such as Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte
have very mild climates averaging 66 F (19 C).
Coastal cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Recife and
Salvador have warm climates balanced by the constancy
of the trade winds.
Further south, in cities such as Curitiba and Porto
Alegre, the cooler subtropical climate resembles
many areas of the U.S. and Europe, with winter temperatures
often falling below freezing. Despite its reputation
for blistering heat, the Amazon region rarely experiences
temperatures above 90 F (32 C).
The hottest part of Brazil is in the northeast where,
in the dry season between May and November, temperatures
above 100 F (38 C) are recorded frequently.
The heaviest rainfall in Brazil is found around
the mouth of the Amazon River, near the city of
Belém, and also in upper Amazonia, where more than
78 inches of rain falls every year.
The seasons in Brazil are the reverse of those in
the U.S. and Europe:
Currency
Real
(R$) is the Brazilian monetary currency since July
1, 1994. Exchange facilities for cash and traveler
cheques are available in banks, hotels, and foreign
exchange booths located in tourists areas.
Click here for actual
Currency Exchange Rates
Language
Brazil
is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South
America. The national language is Portuguese,
with English as the second language widely taught
in schools. There are no regional dialects.
Brazilian Portuguese varies from European Portuguese
including pronunciation and vocabulary. Some aspects
of Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation might seem
unusual to native English Speakers. The use of nasalize
vowels. Nasalized vowels are indicated in spelling
by a following "m" or "n" or
by "~" over the vowel.
English words of Brazilian Portuguese origin include
cashew, ipecac, macaw, petunia, piranha, tapioca
and toucan.
Basic
words and phrases in Brazilian Portuguese
Visas
Visitors
from certain foreign countries will require a visa
which is usually processed within 2 working days
by applying to the nearest Brazilian Embassy or
Consulate.
Requirements for a tourist visa include a passport
valid for at least 6 months, one passport-sized
photograph and a round-trip ticket.
A 90-day visa (five years for US citizens) obtained
in advance is required by most visitors to Brazil.
Time
Zone
One
hour difference ahead to New York when daylight
savings time, 3 hour difference ahead to New York
when standard time.
Religions
Almost
90% of the population are Roman Catholic, but recently,
Protestant groups in Brazil have been growing in
number. There is also a small Jewish community
in Brasil.
Race
There
are three basic racial sources for the Brazilian
people: the Natives (Indians), the European immigrants
(mainly Portuguese), and Africans, most of
whom came from the sub-Saharan west coast. In the
16th century, the area now known as Brazil was inhabited
by several hundred inhabitant tribes who spoke different
languages and had different cultures. Intermarriages
by the natives among Portuguese settlers and, later,
among African slaves, produced a racial mix that
was further diversified in the 19th century
as German, Lebanese, and Italian immigrants began
to arrive. The arrival of Japanese to Brazil has
found since the beginning of the 20th century, and
has increased almost exponentially to nowadays.
Electricity
Electricity
in Brazil are various. Some cities operates exclusively
on 110 Volt or 120 Volt, 60 cycles and some operates
on 220 Volt or 240 Volt.
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