Important Facts On Brazil

This post is specially made for the people of Brazil and interested people of the world who wants to know more important facts about
country Brazil. So, stay in touch for more general knowledge.

• Brazil is the largest country in South America and covers nearly half (47%) of the South American continent.
• Brazil is larger than Japan, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Indonesia and South Africa
• Brazil shares borders with every country except Chile and Ecuador
• Today, Brazil has one of the largest economies in the Americas and is the largest in South America.
• Brazil is currently the fifth largest economy in the world.
• Brazil was given to Portugal as part of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 and the first person to officially claim Brazil for Portugal was Pedro Álvares Cabral.
• The official language of Brazil is Portuguese; however, there are more than 180 native languages spoken in the country.
• Brazil is the only country in South America whose dominant language and culture comes from Portugal.
• The name Brazil comes from an Amerindian word Brasil, which describes a dark rosewood type common in the country. At a time, the wood was Brazil's main export and thus gave the country its name. Since 1968 however, the export of Brazilian rosewood has been banned.
• Brazil has 13 cities with over one million residents.
• Brazil's literacy rate is 86.4% which is the lowest of all South American countries. It falls just behind Bolivia and Peru at 87.2% and 87.7%, respectively.
• Brazil is a diverse country with ethnic groups including: 54% European, 39% mixed European-African, 6% Africa, 1% other.
• Brazil's most common agricultural exports today are coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus and beef.
• Brazil has a plethora of natural resources which include: iron ore, tin, aluminum, gold, phosphate, platinum, uranium, manganese, copper and coal.
• After the end of the Brazilian Empire in 1889, it was determined that the country would have a new capital and shortly thereafter, the site of present-day Brasilia was chosen in an effort to promote development there. Growth did not occur until 1956 and Brasilia did not officially replace Rio de Janeiro as Brazil's capital until 1960.
• One of the most famous mountains in the world is the Corcovado located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known worldwide for its 98 foot (30 m) high statue of the city's emblem, Christ the Redeemer, which has been on its summit since 1931.
• Brazil's climate is considered mainly tropical, but it is temperate in the south.
• Brazil is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world because its rainforests are home to more than 1,000 bird species, 3,000 fish species and many mammals and reptiles such as alligators, freshwater dolphins and manatees.
• The most species of monkeys are found in Brazil
• The rainforests in Brazil are being cut at a rate of up to four percent per year due to logging, ranching and slash and burn agriculture. Pollution of the Amazon River and its tributaries is also a threat to the rainforests.
• The Rio Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous attractions in Brazil. It attracts thousands of tourists yearly, but it is also a tradition for Brazilians who often spend the year prior to the Carnaval preparing for it.
• World's second largest river the Amazon is found in Brazil
• Brazil is one of the largest Roman Catholic countries
• Brazil has the largest stadium called the Maracana
• Brazilians love to play soccer.
• In Brazil 4 million cars already run on gasohol instead of petrol. Gasohol is made from the natural resource sugarcane.
• Brazil is home to many transexuals and it has become a big problem with the masses and government. So to solve the problem they will be putting in separate washrooms with "T" on the doors alongside the usual "W" for womens and "M" for males.
• One of the world's superfoods the Acai berry is grown in Brazil. It has become popular over the years and now if readily available in health food stores and other such shops. The Brazilians have used this berry for 300 years to stay healthy and young. It is also a great dietary food.
• Brazil does have the worlds widest road. The Monumental Axis can hold 160 cars driving side by side. That is a boat load of cars!