Brazil

World Geography
South America
 Brazil - Location
Continent:
South
America
5th largest
country in
the world in
terms of land
area
 Brazil - Overview
Population:
202,656,788
(July 2014
est.)
World rank:
5th
 Brazil - Overview
Capital: Brasilia
Brasilia was founded in 1960 to
serve as the capital and to
encourage development in the
countrys interior
Previously the capital had been
Rio de Janeiro
 Brazil - Overview
Largest city: Sao Paulo
Brazil - Flag
Brazil Area Comparison
Brazil is
slightly
smaller
than the
U.S.
 Brazil - Geography
Major border
countries:
Argentina
Bolivia
Columbia
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
 Brazil - Geography
Brazils climate is mostly
tropical, but there are temperate
areas in the south
 Brazil - Geography

Brazil has more rainforest than

any other country in the world
Brazil also has:
Plains
Hills
Mountains
 Brazil - Geography
The majority of the Amazon
Rainforest and Amazon River are in
Brazil
 Brazil - Geography
The Amazon Rainforest:
2.1 million square miles
60% of the rainforest is in Brazil
Brazil - Geography
Over half of all
rainforest land on
Earth is part of
the Amazon
One in ten known
species in the
world lives in the
Amazon
 Brazil - Geography
Deforestation (the clearing away
of forests/trees) is an
environmental issue
The rainforest is being cleared to
make room for human
settlement and development
 Brazil - Geography
Amazon River:
Largest river in the world
Discharges as much water as the
next seven largest rivers combined
 Brazil - History
Before Europeans
arrived in the 1500s,
present-day Brazil was
populated by semi-
nomadic tribes
These tribes did not
have a written language
or build permanent
structures, so very little
is known about Brazil
prior to the 1500s
Brazil - History
1500 A Portuguese
fleet led by Pedro
Alvares Cabral arrives
in Brazil and claims it
for Portugal
Sugar became an
important export
Millions of slaves from
Africa would be
brought to Brazil to
work on Plantations
 Brazil - History
September 7th, 1822 Brazil
declares their
independence from Portugal
Dom Pedro I, 4th son of the
King of Portugal, took the
side of the Brazilians and
led them in fighting for
independence
Portugal would recognize
Brazils independence in
1825 Dom Pedro I
 Brazil - History
A war with Paraguay in
the 1860s was the
deadliest war in South
American history
Brazil suffered
approximately 71,000
casualties
Since the war, Brazil has
avoided getting involved
Paraguayan cavalry under attack in the political and
by Brazil and its allies military affairs of other
nations
 Brazil - History
Slavery would be
abolished in 1888
In 1889, the
Brazilian military
overthrew the
popular monarch,
Dom Pedro II
 Brazil - History
Brazil would be ruled
by populists and
then military leaders
until 1985 when the
military peacefully
turned over power to
civilian rulers

President Castelo Branco,

Brazils first military
 Brazil - History

Today, Brazil is
the largest
country in South
America in
terms of size,
population, and
economy
Brazil - Economy

GDP per
capita:
$12,100 (2013
est.)
World rank:
105th
Currency:
Brazilian real
 Brazil - Economy
Agriculture, mining, manufacturing,
and service industries are important
to Brazils economy
Brazil is the worlds leading coffee
producer
 Brazil - Economy
High income inequality and
crime are problems
Favelas term given to slums in
Brazil, usually in urban areas
 Brazil - Government
Form of
government:
federal republic
Head of
government &
chief of state:
president, currently
Dilma Rousseff

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff

 Brazil - Government
The National Congress (pictured)
is Brazils legislative body
Brazil Government
Brazilians
between the ages
of 18 and 70 are
required to vote
by law
Brazil is divided
into 26 states and
one federal
district
 Brazil - Culture
Brazil has a multicultural and
multiethnic society
Brazilian culture has been
heavily influenced by Portugal,
but has also been influenced by
African, Native American, and
other Western European
countries
 Brazil - Culture

Official language: Portuguese

Religion:
65% Roman Catholic
22% Protestant
 Brazil - Culture
Football (soccer) is the
most popular sport in
Brazil
The Brazilian National
Team has won the World
Cup a record five times
Brazilian player Pele is
regarded by many as
the greatest player of
all time
The Brazilian National Football
team at the 1970 World Cup
 Brazil - Culture
Carnival of Brazil
Annual festival marking the
beginning of Lent
 Brazil Interesting Info
Mount Roraima tabletop
mountain on the border of Brazil,
Guyana, and Venezuela
 Brazil Interesting Info
Christ the Redeemer:
30 meter statue of Jesus Christ
overlooking Rio de Janeiro
 Brazil Interesting Info
Iguazu Falls:
Waterfalls on the border of Brazil
and Argentina