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History
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Culture
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It´s easy to remember that Brazil was first discovered in 1500, but did you
know that Rio de Janeiro was once the capital of the whole Portuguese empire and
the home of the King?
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Football unites everyone as they wait for Brazil to win the World Cup yet again.
Rio and São Paulo maintain an eternal rivalry.
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Geography
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Religion
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Brazil is larger than the United States (if you leave out Alaska!) and has borders
with every country in South America except Chile and Equador. Just imagine 4,500
miles of beaches and the vast Amazon rain forests.
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No other country has more Catholics than Brazil, but in many places the people have
developed their own local customs which owe a lot to African and other influences.
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Climate
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Language
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The locals can tell the difference between summer and winter but most visitors don´t
notice. You have a good chance of enjoying a hot sunny day on the beach in the middle
of winter
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In a country of so much diversity, itīs remarkable that almost everyone speaks the
Brazilian version of Portuguese.
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Population
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Architecture
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Most of the population of 185 million was traditionally concentrated in the coastal
states, but the growth rates are now higher inland. Greater São Paulo has
over 17 million, Greater Rio de Janeiro over 10 million.
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Some splendid colonial buildings are preserved, many of them churches. The modernist
movement has been very influencial, especially during the construction of the new
capital Brasilia in 1960 by Oscar Niemeyer.
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Immigration
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Races
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This human melting pot includes millions of people whose ancestors came from distant
countries such as Japan, Syria and Germany and who still maintain some old-country
traditions.
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The indigenous Indians number about 250,000, living in special territories which
cover about 10% of the country. Brazil has more Afro-descendents than any other
country except Nigeria.
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Education
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Art
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There´s still plenty of room for improvement, but literacy levels are steadily
increasing, especially among the young. Poor mothers now receive a family allowance
if their children regularly attend school.
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"Girl from Ipanema", samba and classical Villa Lobos - Brazilian music is as varied
as its people. Discover the new cinema or enjoy the exciting capoeira dances.
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