Brazil federal republic, the largest country in South America, occupying nearly one-half of the entire area of the continent. It is bounded on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by Uruguay; on the west by Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru; and on the northwest by Colombia. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world (after Russia, China, Canada, and the United States). The total area of Brazil is 8,511,965 sq km, its maximum north-south distance is about 4345 km, and its maximum east-west distance is about 4330 km . Most of the people of Brazil live near the Atlantic Ocean, notably in the great cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The country, which was once a Portuguese dependency, is the world's leading producer of coffee .
The state border of Brazil has a length of 23.086km!
The republic has a common border (15.719km) with every country of South America except Chile and Ecuador.
The equator crosses following federal states of Brazil: Amazon, Roraima, Pará and Amapá.
The population of Brazil is about 185 millions. About 75% of the population is urban.
The overall population density is about 17 per sq km
Since 1994 the REAL is the basic unit of currency. 1 Real = 0,25 Euro or 1 Euro = 2,50 Real.
Capital: Brasilia
The republic is composed of 26 states and the federal district
Acre, Alagoas, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, and Tocantins. The federal district includes Brasília, which replaced Rio de Janeiro as the national capital in 1960.
Other leading cities
São Paulo, center of Brazilian industry
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
São Paulo |
Rio de Janeiro |
Porto Alegre |
Salvador |
Manaus |
Fortaleza |
Belo Horizonte |
22 percent of the population lives under the poverty line.
90% of the inhabitants of Brazil are Roman Catholic.The illiteracy is boasted with about 13,3 percent in the average, however, there are higher values regionally.
Land and Resources
A vast region of highlands, known as the Brazilian highlands or Brazilian plateau, and the basin of the Amazon River are the dominant physiographic features of Brazil. The plateau is an eroded tableland occupying most of the southeastern half of the country. With general elevation of about 305 to 915 m. 
Because of the impenetrability of this growth, huge areas of the Brazilian lowlands have only recently been explored. On the northern edge of the Amazon Basin is another mountainous area. Pico da Neblina (3014 m), at the border with Venezuela, is the loftiest point in Brazil.
The Brazilian coastline has a total length of some 7367 km.
Brazil biggest river is the Amazon with a length of 3700km all navigable by oceangoing ships.
Other big rivers are : São Francisco river, Tocantins river, Japurá river, Içá river, Madeira river, Xingu river and the Tocantins river. most of the streams traversing the highlands contains falls and rapids and impede navigation
Climate
Climatic conditions in Brazil range from tropical to subtemperate. In the valley of the Amazon River annual temperatures average between 26.7ºC‹ and 32.2ºC. Maximum precipitation occurs between January and June
Winter temperatures as low as -5.6ºC are occasionally recorded in the extreme south, and frosts are common throughout the region.
In the east central Brazilian uplands the climate is subtropical, but because of the higher altitudes sharp diurnal variations of temperature occur, and the nights are cool. This region is frequently subject to severe droughts. The northeast has tropical climate.
Mineral resources
Brazil has immense timber resources, the forest areas covering some 5.7 million sq km. Mineral resources are extensive, including quartz crystal, industrial diamonds, chrome, iron ore, phosphates, coal, manganese, petroleum, mica, graphite, titanium, copper, gold, oil, bauxite, zinc, tin, and mercury.
Plants and animals
The flora of Brazil is highly diversified, particularly in the Amazon Basin. Hundreds of species of plant life, including bignonias, laurels, myrtles, and mimosas, abound in this region. Palms and hardwoods are abundant. Among the indigenous and widely cultivated fruits are the pineapple, fig, custard apple, mango, banana, guava, grape, and orange. Vegetation in the river valleys of the plateau region is luxuriant, but in the highlands the forests, consisting largely of deciduous species, are far less dense; and this section has extensive tracts of bushes and open plains. Coniferous trees thrive in those areas where temperate climatic conditions prevail. In the arid sections of the plateau region, cacti and other spiny plants are common.
In the Northeast of Brazil you find big Carnaúba field (a kind of palmtree).
The animal life of Brazil is also extremely varied and differs in many respects from that of North America and the eastern hemisphere. Larger animals include the puma, jaguar, ocelot, and several members of the dog family. Peccary, tapir, anteater, sloth, opossum, and armadillo are abundant. Deer are plentiful in the south, and monkeys of many species abound in the selva. Many varieties of birds are indigenous to the country. The reptilian fauna includes several species of alligator and numerous species of snake, notably the bushmaster, fer-de-lance, and boa. Fish and turtle abound in the rivers, lakes, and coastal waters of Brazil.
Population
Approximately 53% of the population of Brazil is composed of people of European descent (primarily Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, German, and Russian). Mulattoes and mestizos are the second largest grouping, constituting about 34% of the population. The mestizos, called also caboclos, are a mixture of European and Indian stocks. Other important groupings are blacks (about 11%); full-blooded Indians dwelling principally in the Amazon Basin (less than 2%); and Asians, mainly Japanese and Lebanese.
