This is my country, The Country of Soccer (Pelé, Romario,Ronaldinho... )! A Tropical Country! Brazil is the biggest country of the Latin America, and because of this We can find here a lot of different landscapes. We can say that We are too the country of the contrast! We have from big rivers like the Amazonas up to semi-arid landscape in the Northeast. We have a lot of rich people contrasting with poor people in a population of almost 160 million of people. We have beautiful beaches and high montains (I like to climb the Peek of Agulhas Negras). I just want to say to you that I love my country and if you don't live here, came one day to visit us. Our people is very hospitable as you never saw in any part of the world.

History

Prior to discovery and settlement by Europeans, the region was sparsely inhabited by diverse Indian tribes.

1500 - Portuguese Admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral, first European to reach Brazil, initiating Portuguese

colonization.

1808 - Portuguese king, fleeing Napoleon's army, transfers seat of gov't. from Lisbon to colony of Brazil.

1815 - Dom Joao VI declares Brazil a kingdom, equal with Portugal.

1822 - Dom Joao returns to Portugal; his son, Pedro, declares Brazil an independent empire and assumes

throne as emperor.

1888 - Slavery of black Africans abolished.

1889 - Second emperor, Dom Pedro II, deposed, republic proclaimed.

1930 - Military coup; Getulio Vargas seizes power as dictator.

1954 - Democratic civilian rule restored.

1960 - Capital moved from Rio de Janeiro to new city of Brasilia.

1964 - Military coup; censorship imposed, political opposition quelled.

1967 - Present constitution adopted.

1985 - Civilian rule restored, Jose Sarney assumes presidency.

1989 - Brazil announces large-scale environmental plan for Amazon Basin to control destruction of this

globally-important ecosystem.

LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS & RELIGIONS

Languages: Portuguese 97%, Amerind. Languages 1%, Other 2%.

Ethnic Groups: White 53%, Mulatto 22%, Mestizo 12%, Black 11%, Japanese 1%, Other 1%.

Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 6%, Afro-Amer.Spirit.2%, Spiritist 2%, Atheist 1%, Other 1%.

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP)

GNP(millions): (1989) $375,146, (1990) $387,901, (1991) $401,090

Annual GNP Growth: 3.4%

GNP per Capita: $2,582, %GNP for: (Agriculture) 9%, (Industry) 36%, (Services) 55%, (Defense) 0.3%

MAJOR CITIES

(Population, Latitude, Longitude, Int.CodePhone, TimeZone)

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Sao Paulo: 10,063,000, 23.33S, 46.39W, 55-11, GMT-3

Rio de Janeiro: 5,603,000, 22.53S, 43.17W, 55-21, GMT-3

Belo Horizonte: 2,114,000, 19.55S, 43.56W, 55-31, GMT-3

Salvador: 1,804,000, 12.58S, 38.29W, 55-71, GMT-3

Fortaleza: 1,584,000, 3.45S, 38.35W, 55-85, GMT-3

BRASILIA: 1,568,000, 15.45S, 47.55W, 55-61, GMT-3

Nova Iguacu: 1,319,000, 22.45S, 43.28W, 55-21, GMT-3

Recife: 1,288,000, 8.06S, 34.53W, 55-81, GMT-3

Curitiba: 1,279,000, 25.25S, 49.25W, 55-41, GMT-3

Porto Alegre: 1,272,000, 30.03S, 51.10W, 55-512, GMT-3

Belem: 1,117,000, 1.27S, 48.29W, 55-91, GMT-3

Goiania: 923,000, 16.40S, 49.16W, 55-62, GMT-3

Campinas: 841,000, 22.54S, 47.05W, 55-192, GMT-3

Manaus: 810,000, 3.08S, 60.01W, 55-92, GMT-4

Sao Goncalo: 728,000, 22.51S, 43.04W, 55-21, GMT-3

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GOVERNMENT

Type of Government: Federal Republic

Government Leaders: PRESIDENT Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (1995), VICE PRESIDENT Marco MACIEL

(1995)

Major Parties: Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Liberal Front Party (PFL), Brazilian Social

Democratic Party (PSDB), Workers Party (PT), Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), Democratic Workers Party (PDT),

Social Democratic Party (PSD).

CULTURE & TOURISM

Official Language: Portuguese. English widely spoken.

Civilian government: re-established in 1985.

Visa: Required. Return ticket or letter from travel agent assuring onward passage required with application.

Health: Tapwater not potable. Malaria suppressants and rabies, hepatitis, and typhoid fever shots recommended.

Yellow fever shot may be required.

Sights: Rio de Janeiro (especially Carnival), Brasilia, the Iguacu Falls (seventh largest in world), the Amazon,

Salvador, Recife.

Climate: Tropical to semitropical. Spring and summer clothes generally suitable. Seasons reversed from northern

hemisphere.

Currency: Real R$ (Feb.1995: R$1.00 = $1.10US).

Tourist Arrivals (1000s): 1,272

Tourist Receipts (million $): 1,225.

Telex Access Code(s): 391

Ham Radio Prefix(es): PP-PY,ZV-ZZ