Brazil

Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior.
Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America's leading economic power by the 1970s. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

related countries: Portugal

Official Name:
Republica Federativa do Brasil
short form: Brasil
international long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
international short form: Brazil

ISO Country Code: br

Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro Sat-Oct-22 14:23
Local Time = Brazil lies within 4 different time zones.
Southern Brazil uses daylight saving time from October until February: +1 hour

Country Calling Code: +55

Capital City: Brasilia (pop. 2.1 million)
GDF - Governo do Distrito Federal
The Federal District Government. (in Portuguese)

Other Cities:
Sao Paulo (17.9 million), Rio de Janeiro (10.7 million), Belo Horizonte (2.6 million), Salvador (2.6 million), Fortaleza (2.1 million), Recife (2.9 million), Porto Alegre (3 million), Curitiba (1.6 million).

Government:
Type: Federative Republic.
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal).

Geography:
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Area: 8.5 million sq. km. (3 290 000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than the USA
Terrain: Dense forests in northern regions including Amazon Basin; semiarid along northeast coast; mountains, hills, and rolling plains in the southwest, including Mato Grosso; and coastal lowland.

Climate: Mostly tropical or semitropical with temperate zone in the south.

People:
Nationality: Brazilian.
Population: 180 million.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 8 745 (year)
Ethnic groups: Brazil's population is derived from three main ethnic sources. To the original inhabitants (Indians) were added successive waves of Europeans (mainly Portuguese) and Africans (mostly from the sub-Saharan west coast, belonging to the Bantu and to the Sudanic (Yoruba) ethnic groups).
Religion: Roman Catholic (80%).
Language: Brazilian Portuguese.
Literacy: 81% of adult population.

Natural resources: Iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium, gemstones, oil, wood, and aluminum. Brazil has 12% of the world's fresh water.

Agriculture products: Coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef.

Industries: Textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment.

Exports partners: USA 23%, Argentina 6.1%, China 6%, Netherlands 5.8%, Germany 4.2% (2003)

Imports partners: USA 20%, Argentina 9.8%, Germany 8.7%, Japan 5.2%, China 4.4% (2003)

Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)