Basic questions. What are the features of Brazil in terms of age and ethnic composition of the population? What is the level economic development countries?
Geographical location. Brazil is a giant country. It occupies almost half the continent's area: territories takes fifth place in the world (8.5 million sq. km). The famous Paul Brazil mahogany tree grew in the only country discovered by the Portuguese; hence the name of the country.
Nature Brazil is fabulous and unique. The vast territory covers the equatorial forest plains of the Amazon and the tropical landscapes of the Brazilian plateau. (Study the maps for relief, minerals, climatic features, rivers, location of natural areas.). The Amazon and its tributaries play a large role in the life of the country. The central part of the Brazilian Plateau is characterized by typical savannas. They mine in the west sedimentary minerals: oil, brown coal. In the eastern part in the mountains lie ore minerals. The Brazilian plateau is one of the unique regions of the world in terms of reserves and diversity of minerals. Due to the presence of deposits of high-quality iron, manganese, and nickel ores, it is called the “iron heart” of the country. Precious and semi-precious stones - emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, garnets - are the wealth of this region.
Population. Brazil is one of the top five countries in the world in terms of population - 188 million people Almost half of the inhabitants inhabit only about7% territory of the country, a narrow strip of the Atlantic coast. Average population density -20 person on1 sq. km, in the southeast - about80, in the north -3 person. ( Analyze the “Population Density” map)
Brazil is characterized by high natural population growth. The complex process of urbanization is developing rapidly. The relocation of peasants to cities, the development of “false urbanization” has become one of the main problems of Brazil. Near 40% of peoplelive below the poverty line and20% live in conditions of poverty.
Brazil is a typical example of complex ethnic composition mainland population. Over95% of the country's population are Brazilians, a racially diverse nation that includes whites(53,7%), black people(6,2%), mulattoes(38,5%), mestizos, sambo. The culture of modern Brazil is a fusion of Portuguese, Amerindian and African components. The bulk of people are employed in industry and the service sector, with a slightly smaller number in agriculture.(Fig.2)
Industry defines the face of the country. Brazil is characterized by industrial growth. The country ranks second in the world in mining and first in exporting iron ore, third in bauxite mining. In the coastal areas of Rio de Janeiro, near the main industrial centers, oil and iron ore deposits have been discovered (Karajas), bauxite (Trombetas). Aluminum production required a significant increase in electricity generation, which led to the construction of cheap hydroelectric power plants. Hydroelectric power stations have been built in the La Plata River basin: Itaipu- the largest in the world. Significant reserves of uranium ores contributed to the construction of the first Brazilian nuclear power plant"Angra-1" in the Rio de Janeiro area.
Brazil is one of the “key countries” of the developing world, one of its leaders. In terms of overall GDP, it ranks first among all developing countries. Industry is the leading sector of the Brazilian economy, accounting for more than 35% of GDP. The largest industrial development area in Brazil is Greater Carajas. Its core is an open pit where 100 thousand tons of iron ore are mined per day. The industrial structure of Brazil is dominated by heavy industry: ferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering ( Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Sorocaba, Ouro Preto). Brazil is one of the top five countries in the world for the production of marine vessels, tractors, televisions, and cotton fabrics. It has achieved success in the development of the automotive industry, aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, as well as in the development of electronics and computer science. In the first of the Latin American countries, an artificial Earth satellite was created here. In terms of computer production, Brazil is second only to the USA, Japan and Germany. (Look at the map for major industrial centers and the main areas of agricultural development.)
Agriculture provides 95% of the country's food needs. Brazil ranks first in the world in the production of coffee, orange juice, sugar, and is among the top five countries in the collection of soybeans, cocoa, and the number of cattle and pigs. (Fig.5) Almost a third of the population is employed in agriculture. Agriculture is a fairly developed and significant sector of the economy.
Brazil's main task is to develop the interior of the country.
Leading species transport is automobile (80% of freight turnover). The length of railways is about 30 thousand km, roads – about 2 million km. (Fig. 6) The Trans-Amazon highway crosses an area 5.4 thousand km long. Large length of inland waterways, navigable at any time of the year. External economic relations. An important source of the country's income continues to be the export of valuable wood species, natural and instant coffee, cocoa, rubber, and medicinal plants. Brazil's main trading partners are the USA, countries Western Europe, Latin America, Netherlands. The problem of its external debt is extremely acute for the country.
Cities. Sao Paulo- “economic capital” of the country, forming a large agglomeration with a population of more than 32 million inhabitants. The state of Sao Paulo accounts for about 2/3 of the country's total industrial production. Rio de Janeiro ("January River") - one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is home to 13 million people. They say that Sao Paulo is a city where one mainly makes a living, while Rio de Janeiro is a place where one mainly enjoys life . (Figure 3) Brasilia in terms of the boldness of its architectural forms and the use of the latest solutions in construction, it is a city of the 20th century, which has become a symbol of national pride. The capital project was developed by outstanding Brazilian architects L. Costa and O. Niemeyer. The buildings built here blend well with the terrain. The appearance of Brasilia is so original that UNESCO included the city in the list of World Heritage of Humanity.
Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of territory and population. The age structure is dominated by the young population. The ethnic composition of the population is very complex. Brazil is the leader in South America in terms of economic development.
1. Describe the distinctive features of the state of Brazil. 2. How did the history of the settlement of the mainland affect the culture of Brazil? **3 Construct a structural and logical diagram of the “Economy of Brazil.” **4. Study the chart in the textbook "GDP per capita in Brazil." Compare the same figure in Australia. Draw a conclusion.
SUMMARY
1. Draw on a contour map objects that characterize the geographical location of South America and Africa (from memory). 2. Which cultivated plants are native to Africa and South America? 3. Compare the use of rivers in the lives of people in Africa, Australia, and South America. 4. On which continent, Africa or South America, was the culture more influenced by the cultures of other peoples? Why? *5. What structural changes in the age composition of the population have a special impact on the development of countries' economies? *6. Why does South America have the longest mountain range, but Africa has no large mountain ranges? **7. What is the role of mineral resources in the development of industry, and natural conditions in the development of agriculture in Australia, Africa, and South America? **8. Compare the problems of environmental protection of the continents of the Southern Hemisphere. What are the similarities and differences? Why? **9. Compare the role and place of the economies of Australia, Africa and South America in the world economy. **10. Prove that the expression “Brazilian miracle” is justified. Can the same be said about economic development in African countries? **11. Imagine that you have the opportunity to solve environmental problems in one of the countries of Australia, Africa, or South America. Which country will you go to and what will you do? **12. Think about what areas of cooperation between Belarus and the countries of Africa, South America, and Australia you can offer?
North America
Advanced tasks 1. Select information about the culture of the peoples who inhabited the continent before its discovery by Europeans. 2. Collect additional material about the largest states of North America: features of nature, population, economic activity. 3. Using additional literature, describe the most famous protected natural areas located on the North American mainland (of your own choice).
North America, unlike its neighbor South America, does not have a large number of natural objects that claim to be the largest on our planet. Such objects include, perhaps, the largest accumulation of freshwater lakes on Earth with the largest lake in area - about. The top and largest karst cave on Earth - Mamontov. However, it was from this continent that European colonization began. New World (territories located outside of Eurasia and Africa) and it was here that a state was formed that has the most developed and powerful economy in the world - the United States.
Federal Agency for Education
Sochi State University tourism and resort business
Institute of Economics and Management
Department of “Management”
Test
in the discipline "World Economy"
on the topic: “Economic development of Brazil”
Completed:
Kovalenko A.N.
Brief description of the country:
Brazil is the largest country Latin America. In terms of territory size, it is second only to the Russian Federation, the USA, China and Canada, and has large reserves of more than 30 types of mineral raw materials.
Brazil is located in the eastern and central parts South America occupies almost half of the continent, its area is about 8.5 million square meters. km. It borders in the north with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, in the west - Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, in the northwest - with Colombia, in the south - with Uruguay. In the north and east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in which it owns numerous islands. The country is home to one of the most extensive water systems in the world - the Amazon and Paraná basins, which together cover 70% of Brazil's territory.
Brazil's climate varies by region from tropical to temperate. The country's territory is divided into two main natural zones: the forest plains of the Amazonian lowland along the banks of the Amazon River, and the tropical landscapes of the Brazilian plateau. The country has one of the leading places in the world in reserves of iron ore, manganese, bauxite, zinc, strategic raw materials, nickel, uranium, and gold.
Brazil has a population of about 183 million people. The share of the urban population is 81.2%. Average life expectancy is 64 - 72 years.
Brazil is a federal republic consisting of 26 states. Head of state, government and supreme commander- President. The highest legislative body is the National Congress. Executive branch carried out by the president and the government formed by him. The judiciary is represented by the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the Supreme Court of Justice, regional courts, courts for electoral, military, etc. issues.
On the territory of Brazil there is the Manaus FEZ, which has existed for 37 years. It occupies an area of 3.6 million square meters. km., unites 2 thousand trading firms in 22 industries, which provide employment to 50 thousand workers and employees, produce a variety of finished products worth $13.2 billion. By industry, 75% of the value of the zone’s products comes from the products of the electronic and electrical industries and for the assembly of motorcycles. The Manaus zone is an important “pole” of attraction for foreign investment.
According to the UN classification, Brazil belongs to the group of “newly industrialized states” and is among the “ten” leading countries in the world in terms of GDP.
Brazil is a member of the following integration associations: MERCOSUR (the South American common market, which has the fourth largest economy in the world and is one of the most dynamically developing consumer markets in the world with a population of 200 million people and a total GDP exceeding $1 trillion), ALADI, IBERO, Rio de Janeiro Group, OAS, SELA, etc.
Economy of Brazil:
In the international division of labor, Brazil remains predominantly a supplier of agricultural products, which have a pronounced export focus. In terms of agricultural exports, Brazil is second only to the United States and France. The main export crops - coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, sugar cane and soybeans - account for over a third of the cultivated area.
Brazil is the world's first producer of coffee, which is its main export. It came out on top in the supply of sugar cane.
Brazil is a world leader in the production of bananas and beans, ranks second in the world in soybean and cocoa production, is the largest rice producer in the Western Hemisphere, and has one of the world's largest livestock populations.
Brazil's economy has historically been characterized by a series of booms and slumps. Its development was also greatly influenced by high inflation and colossal external debt - during periods of crisis the country had to resort to borrowing.
Economic reforms in the 1990s - including privatization and the opening of markets - helped stabilize the financial situation.
Natural resources Brazil, especially iron ore, are in great demand among large industrial countries such as China. Thanks to the development of offshore fields, Brazil has ceased to depend on oil imports and, for the first time in many decades, has switched to self-sufficiency in hydrocarbons.
The problem of stratification between the poor and the rich is still acute in the country. Land is particularly unevenly distributed in the country - most of the land is owned by a handful of the richest families. The fight against the current state of affairs is led by the powerful Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MLW), which aims to redistribute agricultural land and uses "direct action" methods, including plot occupation.
The basis of Brazil's current economic potential was created during a period of relatively stable development, starting in the mid-60s. years when its economy received large injections of foreign capital, new technologies and equipment. During these years, a modern automobile industry was created (6th place in the world), its own aircraft industry - the ERZh-145 passenger aircraft of the Embraer company, oil production (Brazil is one of the 20 largest oil producing countries and 10 countries with the most developed oil refining); aerospace complex. Within the span of one generation (from the mid-70s to the mid-90s), Brazil made a sharp leap in its development. GDP grew from $74 billion (in 1975) to $750 billion (in 1995), i.e. 10 times, per capita – from $715 to $4.7 thousand.
Main sectors of the Brazilian economy:
Mechanical engineering concentrated in the country's two main industrial complexes - Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Highest value has transport engineering (automobile and shipbuilding).
Aircraft manufacturing. Embraer, founded by the government and initially producing small aircraft, now exports various types of aircraft. These days, the government is encouraging the development of microelectronics industries and the production of personal computers.
Mining industry. Almost every state in Brazil has mining activities. The leader in the mining industry is the state of Minas Gerais. Recently, the export of Parana iron ore has been added to the export of Minas Gerai iron ore. Excluding aluminum and manganese ores from the state of Amazonas and iron ore, Brazilian industry consumes most of the remaining minerals produced. These are chromium, magnesium and quartz from Bahia, copper and lead from Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, asbestos from Goiás, nickel from Goiás and Minas Gerais. The latter state is Brazil's main supplier of zinc and copper. To the south of the Amazon River, deposits of tin ores were found, deposits of tungsten were found in Rio Grande do Norte, and silver in Parana and Bahia. Coal production in Santa Catarina covers more than half of the entire country's needs. The state of Minas Gerais specializes in the mining of gold and precious stones, while the states of Bahia and Espirito Santo specialize in the mining of only precious stones: topazes, amethysts, opals, aquamarines, tourmalines, emeralds and other varieties of semi-precious stones.
From 1940, when commercial oil development began, until 1965, oil production was carried out in the state of Bahia, north of the city of El Salvador. Subsequently, new deposits were found in the area from Fortaleza to Santos. Natural gas production is carried out in the states of Sergipe and Bahia. More than half of all oil is produced in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The state-owned company Petrobras, founded in 1953, has the most modern technologies in the world in deep drilling.
The country is one of the world leaders in arms production. Factories that produce weapons are in both private hands and state management. The products produced are reliable and low in price, which makes them suitable for many third world countries.
Tourism- a relatively young sector of the national economy. The concept of creating real resort areas has not yet found its application. The tourist complex is limited to a few large and expensive hotels in Rio de Janeiro and mountain resorts in Minas Gerais. The main entertainment centers are located in city centers or nearby.
In light industry, the most traditional industries include food, textiles and tobacco.
Agriculture. Since the middle of the 20th century. The share of agriculture in the gross national product began to decline. Today, less than a third of the total economically active population is employed in this industry (30%). Brazil is self-sufficient in food supply; moreover, the country is a leading exporter of tropical grain crops. Brazil is the world's first producer of coffee, which is its main export. Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais are the main coffee producing states, followed by Paraná and Espirito Santo. Soybean and its products (animal feed) are another important export. It grows rice, sugarcane, corn, wheat, cotton, cocoa and other crops.
The country ranks first in the world in terms of timber reserves of various valuable species. According to a government report in 2005, a fifth of the Amazon's forests have now been cleared.
I would like to note that over the past decade, Brazil has made major strides in creating modern industrial production, turning from an agricultural to an industrial-agrarian country.
Back in the early 90s, the government began to carry out reforms that had a positive impact on the economic situation in the country, improving both economic and socio-economic indicators.
The main achievements of the government in the social sphere were the reduction of the unemployment rate to 7.5% of the country's economic income (600 thousand new jobs were created in 2000), as well as the adoption of a law increasing the minimum wage to $85.
Brazil's economic development in 2001 was significantly influenced by the Argentine crisis and the decline in economic activity in Japan and the United States. Erupted in the 1st half. The 2001 energy crisis in the country, caused by an increase in electricity consumption due to increased production, a lack of energy capacity and a lack of water in hydroelectric reservoirs, also caused significant damage to the Brazilian economy. But, despite this, the volume of GDP in 2001 increased by 4.13% compared to the previous year (industrial production increased by 5.09%, agricultural production - by 1.82%, service sector indicators - by 2 .76%).
In 2002, GDP reached 1.3 trillion. reais ($466 billion). The GDP growth rate was 1.4%. Industry accounted for 36% of the value of GDP, agriculture - 10%.
There was a significant reduction in investment risk indicators, and the attractiveness of Brazilian government securities, the exchange rate of the real against the US dollar has noticeably strengthened. Inflation rates have slowed.
The state of the economy in 2002 was negatively affected by: a fairly high loan interest rate (the Central Bank discount rate is 25%), growing public debt, which reached 885.2 billion reais (63.9% of GDP). A serious burden on Brazil's finances lies with the servicing and amortization of foreign debt obligations, the amount of which amounts to about $220 billion.
Annual per capita income in 2002 was about 3.2 thousand dollars. However, this average figure, due to the very high degree of social stratification of society even for South America, does not reflect the real standard of living. Brazil's main problem, holding back its economic growth and hampering progress in education and science, is gross social inequality.
Living conditions for the majority of the population remain difficult. This is especially pronounced in the poorest areas of the country, mainly in the north and northeast.
Volume foreign trade in 2002 amounted to 107.5 billion dollars (exports - 60.3 billion dollars, imports - 47.2 billion dollars). A record positive foreign trade balance of $13.1 billion has been achieved since 1994. Almost 75% of Brazilian exports account for semi-finished products with a high share of added value and goods of the full industrial processing cycle (airplanes, cars, agricultural machinery, marine vessels, wood products and etc.). In terms of agricultural exports (coffee, raw sugar, tobacco products, orange juice, soybeans, etc.), Brazil is second only to the United States and France. The main trading partners are EU member countries (26.1% of foreign trade turnover), the USA (about 24.1%), Latin American countries (19.5%, including MERCOSUR - 11.8%), Asian countries (13.9 %).
But, despite the apparent prosperity, in 2002, the economic and financial crisis in Argentina had a noticeable negative impact on the situation in the Brazilian economy, as a result of which Brazil lost its second most important market. The situation in the Brazilian economy was aggravated by the September terrorist attacks in the United States, which led to a further reduction in capital inflows to Brazil and a decrease in its export capabilities.
Thus, we can conclude that despite generally favorable trends in foreign trade, an improving export structure, etc., Brazil still faces a number of problems that need to be solved (including the low quality of a number of Brazilian goods, restrictions on import of Brazilian products in a number of countries).
Brazil faces economic crisis
Political turmoil, the crisis and falling oil prices on the world market threaten the stability of the Brazilian economy, says the International Monetary Fund. According to the published report on the economic prospects of the IMF, the level of growth of the Brazilian economy will be lower than the indicators planned by the government of the largest Latin American country.
For the first time, IMF experts admitted that the political crisis caused by the scandal surrounding corruption in parliament and the involvement of the ruling Workers' Party in the illegal financing of the 2002 election campaign may have negative consequences on the economic situation in Brazil.
In 2005, economic growth in Brazil was only 2.3%, less than half the 2004 figure - 4.9%. True, the Central Bank of Brazil predicted a slowdown, but the results turned out to be lower than the predicted 2.6%. In Latin America, only Haiti, which is in a protracted crisis, has a lower figure - 1.5%.
A particularly strong lag was noted in the agricultural sector, the growth rate of which did not exceed 0.8%. This is the lowest figure in the last 8 years.
Brazil's closest rivals on the world stage have significantly outpaced it in terms of GDP growth, which grew by 9.9% in China, 7.1% in India and 5.5% in Russia.
In Latin America, Brazil, as already noted, was in the very tail, ahead only of Haiti. For comparison, according to ECLAC, Argentina's GDP grew by 9.1% in 2005 and Mexico's by 3%.
The Asian financial crisis and the economic and financial crisis in Argentina had a noticeable negative impact on the situation in the Brazilian economy. Despite generally favorable trends in foreign trade, an improving export structure, etc., Brazil still faces a number of problems that need to be solved (including the low quality of a number of Brazilian goods, restrictions on the import of Brazilian products in a number of countries) .
In the structure of Brazil's exports, high-tech goods account for only 8%. Currently, only products from the automotive industry in Brazil meet global standard requirements for high-tech products.
There is a significant problem in the economy related to the size of the national debt, which threatens to result in a serious financial crisis.
Tutoring
Need help studying a topic?
Our specialists will advise or provide tutoring services on topics that interest you.
Submit your application indicating the topic right now to find out about the possibility of obtaining a consultation.
Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world (8.5 million km2) and the largest country among Latin American countries. Brazil is a key developing country, a presidential federal republic consisting of 26 states and 1 federal district, where the capital of the country is located - the city of Brasilia.
Brazil occupies almost half the area of South America, located in the eastern part of the continent. The north of the country crosses the equator, and the south crosses the Southern Tropic, which determines the location of most of the country in a hot thermal zone.
In the north, Brazil borders French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana and Venezuela; in the west - with Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina; in the south - with Uruguay. Despite large number neighbors, the state border of Brazil runs along difficult natural boundaries (including the Amazonian jungle), especially since the western regions of Brazil are extremely poorly developed. In the east, the country has extensive access to the Atlantic Ocean, which contributes to the development of Brazil's foreign trade relations with various regions of the globe.
Natural conditions Brazil's resources are characterized by great diversity and are generally favorable for the development of the country's economy. The entire north of the country is occupied by the vast Amazonian lowland, which is characterized by a humid and hot equatorial climate; east - the Brazilian Plateau, which is characterized by a subequatorial belt with seasonal precipitation; The southeast of the country is characterized by a hot and fairly humid tropical climate.
Brazil is poorly supplied with fuel resources. Local deposits coal, oil and natural gas do not satisfy the country's internal needs. Brazil is extremely rich in ore mineral resources. Iron ore reserves are of global importance - the so-called iron triangle, formed by the deposits of Itabira, Serra dos Carajas and Morro do Urucun; manganese (Serra do Navio), aluminum (Trombetas), nickel (Nikelandia) and tin ores (Porto Velho), as well as base metals, uranium, gold, rare and trace metals. Non-metallic resources include reserves of apatites, phosphorites (Itumbiara) and diamonds.
Brazil has huge reserves of forest (Amazonian jungle), water (Amazon and its tributaries, São Francisco, Parana and its tributaries), hydropower, soil (campos), agroclimatic and recreational resources.
In terms of population (about 200 million people), Brazil ranks 5th in the world, second only to China, India, the USA and Indonesia. The population is distributed extremely unevenly. The vast majority of the population lives along the Atlantic coast, where 90% of the country's population is concentrated, and the interior regions (Amazonia) are extremely sparsely populated, and as a result the average population density is low, amounting to only 20 people per 1 km2.
Population reproduction is characterized by a high birth rate (22%) and natural increase (14%), and the age structure is characterized by a large proportion of children and adolescents (32%).
The Brazilian nation was formed as a result of the mixing of indigenous people - Indians, European colonialists- Portuguese and other immigrants from Europe, as well as African blacks brought as slaves. Despite the multiracial composition, the population of Brazil is homogeneous in terms of nationality and religious composition. 96% of the population are Brazilians who speak Portuguese. The dominant religion is Catholicism.
Brazil is characterized by a high level of urbanization - the share of city dwellers is more than 80% of the country's population, but it is precisely for Brazilian cities that the problem of “false urbanization” is most typical. This leads to the “inflation” of the largest cities and agglomerations: Sao Paulo (more than 10 million inhabitants), Rio de Janeiro (5.6 million people), Belo Horizonte, Recife and Salvador.
Brazil is an industrial-agrarian country. In terms of GDP, Brazil is one of the ten largest countries in the world. The peculiarity of the Brazilian economy is its focus on satisfaction domestic market. Currently, Brazilian industry meets 80% of the country's needs for various equipment, 95% for means of transport and more than 50% for computer science.
The mining industry, despite the richness and diversity of its resource base, occupies a modest place in industrial production. The mining of iron (1st place in the world), manganese ores, bauxite, ores of other metals, as well as diamonds is developed.
The manufacturing industry occupies a leading place in the structure of industrial production with its pronounced concentration in coastal zone in the southeast of the country.
Electricity production is more than 400 billion kWh (1st place in the region and 9th place in the world) and is based mainly on hydroelectric power plants, which generate more than 90% of all electricity in the country. Brazil is home to the world's largest hydroelectric power station, Itaipu.
The country's metallurgy is developing rapidly: Brazil is among the top ten in steel production, and in the top five of the world's largest producers in aluminum production. The main metallurgical centers of Brazil are Volta Redonda, Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro (steel), Sorocaba and Ouro Preto (primary aluminum).
Mechanical engineering is a leading branch of the manufacturing industry, accounting for about 1/3 of the country's industrial production. Particularly noteworthy are transport engineering - the production of cars (more than 1 million units), ships, locomotives and carriages; electrical industry and machine tool industry. The electronics, aviation and defense industries are developing rapidly. The main engineering centers of Brazil are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The chemical industry is developing dynamically, especially the production of acids and mineral fertilizers, petrochemistry, the production of ethyl alcohol (used as automobile fuel), the chemistry of organic synthesis and polymers. The most important centers of the country's chemical industry are Sao Paulo, Cubatan, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Salvador and Recife.
Brazil has traditionally developed timber (Manaus), light, especially cotton and footwear (Sao Paulo), as well as food industry, among which the sugar, meat, oil and tobacco industries are important.
Agriculture in Brazil employs about 30% of the working population, but it produces only 8% Country's GDP.
The structure of agriculture is dominated by crop production, which produces 60% of agricultural products. Brazilian crop production is characterized by a pronounced export, plantation orientation. The country's main export crops are coffee, bananas, oranges and sugar cane (1st place in the world), cocoa (2nd place), soybeans (3rd place in the world), and cotton. The main grain crops are corn (3rd place in the world), wheat, rice and barley.
Livestock farming is extensive and unproductive. The most important industries in Brazil are beef cattle and pork.
Vodka In terms of cattle population, Brazil is second only to India, and pigs - to China and the USA.
Brazil is characterized by a weak transport network, and it has a pronounced colonial configuration, that is, roads go from mineral deposits or plantations to ports of export. In general, the regions of the country are poorly connected with each other. Despite the rather large overall length highways(almost 2 million km) only 8% of them have a hard surface. Great value for the interior regions of the country there is river transport, especially since ocean-going ships reach the port of Manaus, located in the middle of the Amazon. External communications are carried out mainly by air and sea transport. The most important seaports in Brazil are Santos, Ithaca and Tubaran.
Brazil's main economic partners are the United States, Western European and Latin American countries.
Despite the increased share of finished products, including engineering products, raw materials, semi-finished products and agricultural products still occupy a significant place in Brazil's exports, and, as a result, Brazil has a negative foreign trade balance. Brazil's main export commodities are iron ore, bauxite, steel, automobiles, light aircraft, electrical equipment, timber, soybeans, flour milling products, coffee, cocoa, sugar, orange juice, and its main imported commodities are oil, coal, machinery and equipment, and grain. and non-ferrous metals.
A serious economic and political problem for the country is its huge external debt - almost 200 billion dollars.
Brazil can be quite easily divided into two economic macro-regions: the Atlantic coast and the Amazon.
The Atlantic coast, occupying only 1/3 of the territory, concentrates 90% of the population and 95% of the country's industrial and agricultural products. All the most important economic centers of Brazil are located here.
The Amazon is a typical area of new development, located entirely in the zone of humid equatorial forests and represented only by the mining industry (iron, manganese, aluminum and tin ores) and logging. Agriculture is represented by the cultivation of Hevea and small areas of farming and grazing. A huge problem in the region is deforestation - a catastrophic decline as a result of deforestation of the Amazon forest. Capital: Brasilia.
Geography: The largest state in South America, occupying almost half of the continent, an area of 8.5 million square meters. km. In the north it borders with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, in the south - with Uruguay, in the west with Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, in the northwest - with Colombia. In the north and east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Major cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Recife, Porto Alegre, Manaus.
Major seaports: Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Tubaran, San Sebastian.
Time: The country is located in four time zones. The time is 5 to 8 hours behind Moscow. Officially, time is calculated according to Brasilia (7 hours behind Moscow).
Natural and climatic conditions: The vast territory of Brazil is divided into two main natural areas: the equatorial forest plains of the Amazon in the north and the mosaic of tropical landscapes of the Brazilian Plateau in the remaining 2/3 of the country.
More than 4,000 species of trees grow in the humid equatorial forests of the Amazonian lowland (Amazonian jungle) (every fourth tree in the world grows in the Amazon basin). These forests are considered the lungs of the planet. Their accelerated deforestation causes legitimate concern among environmentalists around the world. The forests are rich in fauna: broad-nosed monkeys, sloth, anteater, opossum, jaguar, puma, ocelot, peccary pigs, tapir, capybara. Snakes, reptiles, and birds are numerous. The Amazonian lowland lies in the region of equatorial and subequatorial climate. The temperature all year round is 24 - 28 °C, precipitation falls from 3000 to 3500 mm per year, in the subequatorial climate zone there is a relatively dry period - from August to October.
The Amazon River provides about 15% of the total annual flow of all rivers on the globe. Together with its tributaries, it forms a gigantic water system more than 25 thousand km long. The main channel of the Amazon is navigable for 4,300 km, and ocean-going ships rise 1,690 km from the mouth to Manaus.
To the east, the selva gradually gives way to rocky open forest (caatinga). Prickly and stinging subshrubs and all kinds of cacti are characteristic; dry-loving shrubs and trees, columnar cacti and tree-like euphorbias rise above them. Bottle trees are a landmark of Caatinga. During the winter-spring dry period, less than 10 mm of precipitation falls here per month at average temperatures of 26–28 °C. In autumn, heavy downpours bring 300 mm or more in one month, with an annual precipitation of 700–1000 mm. Precipitation is extremely uneven not only throughout the year, but also from year to year. Out of 100 years, 50 are characterized by either extreme drought or catastrophic floods, when rivers flood fields and buildings and remove the already thin layer of soil. The main river of the Caatinga is the San Francisco. In the very center of the Brazilian plateau is the kingdom of shrubby and small-tree savannas and woodlands (campos cerrados). This is the main pastoral area of the country.
To the west, south of 17–18° south latitude, stretch the vast plains of the upper Paraná - the Paraná plateau. There are optimal conditions for growing coffee here: the average temperature of the coldest month is not lower than 14 °C, precipitation is about 1500 mm per year, and the dry period necessary for drying the beans is well defined, but not too sharp. Humus-rich lilac-red soils (“terra rocha”) are especially favorable for the coffee bush. To the south of 24° south latitude, extensive lava plateaus come directly to the surface. The ledges of hardened lava make all the left tributaries of the Parana “jump” down, as if on steps, forming numerous rapids and waterfalls. Iguazu Falls is especially famous.
A very special natural region of Brazil - the Pantanal (translated from Portuguese as “swampy area”) - is located in the upper reaches of the Paraguay River, almost in the center of South America. This is a vast tectonic basin lying only 50–70 m above sea level. From the north, east and southeast it is sharply limited by the cliffs of the Brazilian Plateau. For many months, the Pantanal turns into a kind of lake-swamp. And in the winter drought it is a patchy landscape of never-drying, half-overgrown marshes, lakes and barely discernible wandering river beds, salt marshes, sandbanks and grassy areas. Birds are found here in abundance: storks, herons, ibises, cormorants, ducks, roseate spoonbill. Many people fly here for the winter from the northern hemisphere. 38% of the country's territory is under forest. St. 20 nat. parks (Araguaia, Jau, Iguazu, Pico da Neblina, Tapajos, Xingu, etc.); nature reserves, sanctuaries.
Government system: Presidential Federal Republic. A federation consisting of 26 states and the Federal (Capital) District. The head of state and government is the president. The legislative body is the bicameral National Congress. Consists of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Administrative division: Brazil is divided into 26 states and 1 federal (capital) district.
Population: St. 95% of us. - Brazilians, a nation formed as a result of the mixing of Portuguese and other European settlers with the aborigines - Indians (Tupi-Guarani, etc.) and with those exported in the 16-19 centuries. from Africa by black slaves (Yoruba, Bantu, Ewe, etc.). The ethnic composition is 54% white, 38.5% mulatto and 6% black. Indians (over 1 million people) inhabit mainly the interior regions of the river basin. Amazon. Average. population density 21.4 people/km2. In the northeast, southeast and south of the country (40% of the territory) St. lives. 90% of the population, including approx. 50% of the population lives on a narrow strip of the Atlantic coast, which makes up 8% of the country's territory. Urban population 78% (1995).
More than half of the country's population are young people under the age of 20. People over 50 make up only 10%.
Language: The official language is Portuguese, French, German, and Italian are used.
Religion: The majority of the population is Catholic, but many residents of African descent are Macumba.
Economy: Space power. The largest country in South America in terms of economic potential. In terms of GDP, it is among the top ten countries in the world. GNP per capita. $3,640 (1995). Share in GDP (1995, %): industry 23 (including manufacturing 22), villages. economy 12.2, trade, finance and services 43.3. In the mining industry, a significant place is occupied by the extraction of iron (180 million tons in 1996, one of the leading places in the world; states of Minas Gerais, Carajas, Para) and manganese (approx. 2 million tons in 1995, states of Amapa, Para, Minas -Gerais) ores; just St. 90% of the production of these ores in Latin America, approx. 80% is exported. Bauxite (approx. 10 million tons per year), tin (Rondonia state; one of the leading places in the world), copper, lead, zinc, and nickel are mined. Brazil is a major supplier of strategic raw materials to the world market: niobium and beryllium ores (over 1/2 of world production), tantalum, zirconium, mica, and crystalline quartz. The production of radioactive minerals (containing uranium and thorium), monazite sands, gold (about 80 tons per year), diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones (aquamarines, topazes, sapphires, etc.) is growing. Oil production (38.7 million tons in 1996) and coal (over 5 million tons per year) does not satisfy the country's needs, therefore the policy of replacing oil with alternative fuels is being implemented, Ch. arr. ethyl alcohol(90% of the country’s total vehicle fleet operates on it). Hydroelectric power is developed (there are 18 hydroelectric power stations in total, including the Brazilian-Paraguayan Itaipu hydroelectric power station, one of the largest in the world). In terms of smelting of iron (24 million tons in 1996) and steel (25.2 million tons), Brazil is among the top ten countries in the world. The main centers of ferrous metallurgy are the cities. Volta Redonda, Tubaran, Sabara, João Monlevadi, Belo Horizonte. In non-ferrous metallurgy - the smelting of aluminum (in the southeast of the country and in the state of Pará), copper, nickel, tin, cobalt (the main states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais). The leading branches of the manufacturing industry are mechanical engineering, chemical and petrochemical, food and beverage, light, pulp and paper and construction materials industries. The most developed transport engineering industry, incl. automotive industry (about 2/3 of total production in Latin America; automobile factories are mainly concentrated in a small area between the city of Sao Paulo and the port of Santos), shipbuilding (the main shipyard is in Guanabara Bay) and aircraft manufacturing (production of passenger aircraft, Santos). Jose dos Campos). Machine tool manufacturing, electrical engineering and electronics (production of computer equipment, microcircuits, semiconductors, etc.; main center - Campinas) industry are also developed. Production is developing very dynamically computer equipment and its components. Brazil is a major arms manufacturer and exporter. A variety of chemical and petrochemical industries (production of chemical fibers, synthetic rubber, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, dyes, etc.; states of Sao Paulo, Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul). In the building materials industry, cement production is especially prominent (states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo). The pulp and paper industry is based on the eucalyptus crop (in the southeast and in the state of Paraná) and the fast-growing softwood of the Amazon. Production of paper and cardboard (the largest newsprint plant is in Monte Alegre, Paraná state), particle boards and fiberboards, veneer of valuable tree species, etc. Among the light industries, textiles stand out (2/3 of its products are cotton fabrics, mainly in export; the production of artificial fiber fabrics and leather and footwear is developing. The food-flavoring industry includes traditional industries - sugar, meat, oil, and tobacco. Brazil ranks 1st in the world in the production and export of concentrated and frozen orange juice and 2nd in the world in exports of processed poultry meat.
Agriculture is an important sector of the country's economy; it has a pronounced export orientation (provides about 2/5 of the value of exports). 6.0% of the country's territory is used, meadows and pastures occupy 21.9%, forests account for 57.7% (Brazil ranks 1st in the world in reserves of valuable wood species). Large-scale landownership predominates (about 1.5% of landowners-latifundists own about 1/2 of the cultivated land; over 80% of those employed in agriculture do not have land). The leading industry is crop production (provides about 60% of the value of agricultural products). Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of coffee and sugar cane, and one of the world's leading producers and exporters of cocoa beans, soybeans, oranges and bananas; significant production and export of cotton. Main food crops (occupy about 1/2 of all sown areas): corn, rice, brown beans, cassava. Wheat, barley, oats, and tobacco are also cultivated. Fruit and vegetable growing is developed. Livestock farming is predominantly pasture, meat production. Horse breeding is developed. Sea and river fishing. In the forests - collection of latex from wild rubber plants, carnauba wax, Brazil nuts, palm fruits, Paraguayan tea (yerba mate), harvesting of coniferous wood (mainly araucaria).
Main attractions:
A country of exotic nature, almost 8 thousand km. picturesque beaches, cheerful people, ancient Indian traditions and colorful colonial architecture, in addition, one of the most developed countries on the continent, Brazil attracts the attention of millions of tourists. There are almost all the conditions for a wide variety of recreation, but the most attention, of course, is attracted by the famous jungle of the Amazon and the pampas of the south, glorified in numerous novels, Iguazu Falls and mountainous areas, as well as, undoubtedly, the noisy and eternally dancing Rio with its famous Carnival.
Rio de Janeiro ("January River") is the former capital and most visited city in Brazil. Noisy, cospolitan and always seething, Rio amazes with its combination of ultra-modern architecture and poverty of favelas, luxurious beaches and hotels with the stunning temperament of local residents and the phlegmatic nature of law enforcement officers, an abundance of greenery on the streets and a huge number of exotic flowers planted wherever possible.
The visiting card of the city is the huge statue of Christ the Savior (arm span - 30 m) on Mount Corcovado (part national park Tijuca, which occupies an area of more than 3 thousand hectares), as if extending its arms over the city in a protective gesture. At the entrance to Guanabara Bay stands another symbol of the city - the rock Pau di Azucar ("Sugar Loaf", 395 m) with a cable car going to its top. Old town filled with buildings in a colorful colonial style - Customs House, docks, Arsenal, Stock Exchange, Largo di Boticariu square, National Academy of Arts, City Hall, cobbled streets of the Santa Teresa quarter, Arces di Lapa aqueduct (1732), palace- Museum of Emperor João VI (XVIII century) in Quinta Boa Vista, the Imperial Palace on the XV November Square (now a cultural center), Tiradentes Palace (now the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro) and other picturesque old buildings.
This is also where most of Rio's museums are located - Museum contemporary art, Carmen Miranda Museum, Museum folk art and the Museum of the Second World War in Flamengo Park, the Museum of the History of the City in the former residence of the Marquis of San Vincent, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Indian Museum, the History and Art Museums, the National Museum in the former imperial palace of Quinta Boa Vista, the Museum of the Republic in the old building the Presidential Palace, the Museum of Stones, the Shakara do Seu Museum in a picturesque building with turrets, the National Library, the Botanical Museum and the library on the territory of the Botanical Garden, the cultural center of Banco do Brasil, etc., as well as almost all the theaters of the city. In the so-called "New Town" the Mint, the old prison, the Main Station and the Invalides are of interest.
Numerous colonial churches and monasteries of the city attract attention - Sao Bento (1617-1693), San Antonio (XVIII century), the monastery of the Capuchin Order (formerly the imperial residence), the Church of Our Lady of Lampedosa (1929), the Church of Glory of the Lord (1714) with the Museum of Religious Art, the Church of St. Lucia (1732) with a unique natural fountain, the water of which is considered healing, the Archbishop's Cathedral (1808) on the XV November Square, where coronation ceremonies took place, the monastery and Carmelite Church (XVI century) nearby, Baroque Church of the Franciscan Order (XVIII century), Church of the Passion, Church of Santa Cruz do Militares (XVIII-XIX centuries), etc.
The city's real fame came from its famous beaches - Copacabana, Ipanema and Lebnon, each of which is a real center of resort and public life, as well as lesser-known Botafogo, Leme, Arpoador, Vidigal, Pepino San Conrado, Barra di Tijuca, Recreau dos Bandeirantes, Grumari and others, most of which are in no way inferior to the famous Copacabana ( total length beaches more than 90 km.).
Interesting to visit Botanical Garden(1808) with its famous palm alley, which contains more than 7,000 plants from all over the world, the Zoo, one of the largest stadiums in the world - "Maracana" (1950), the famous Rio Bridge, a modern business center, or view it from above the surrounding hills of the unusually beautiful Guanabara Bay, take a ride on the old Bondinhos trams and mini-trains of the late 19th century, connecting the most popular points of the city. Well, the nightlife of Rio de Janeiro is a separate matter. Hundreds and thousands of nightclubs and bars, numerous shows, discos and restaurants, located right on the edge of the beaches, charrascarius kebab houses and small eateries (despite their size, most of them have their own shows) are located in literally every house on the coast. And, of course, samba schools and the famous Carnival, for which the city prepares all year.
In the vicinity of Rio there is a huge concentration of interesting places. It is worth visiting the summer residence of Emperor Pedro I and the Imperial Museum in Petropolis (65 km from Rio de Janeiro), colonial-style inns and a large resort center in Buzios (170 km north of Rio de Janeiro), the beautiful ocean coast and about 200 islands in the Angra dos Reyes area, a magnificent coastline and many colorful recreation centers in the monument city of Paraty (286 km south of Rio de Janeiro), the city of Diamantina (included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity list), as well as magnificent slopes of the surrounding mountains, overgrown with exotic vegetation, which conceal many interesting places.
The capital of the state and an independent federal district, Brasilia, is one of the most unusual cities on the continent. Located at an altitude of 1172 m above sea level, the city was built practically from scratch in 4 years. Architects Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer designed the city in the form of a bird, in the “body” of which there is a district of administrative and public buildings, in the “wings” - residential areas, and in the “nose” - the Square of the Three Powers, around which the presidential residence - the Aurora Palace - is located , domed buildings of the National Assembly and Senate, palaces of the Supreme Court and Congress. From the square, the buildings of the ministries of original architecture stretch in two rows, and behind them are the pyramidal Cathedral and the National Theater, whose architecture is generally difficult to attribute to any style. The National Research Council building follows the shape of the Temple of Ramses II. An ultra-modern transport artery runs along the axis of the capital, a characteristic feature of which is the almost complete absence of intersections.
The architecture of the residential areas is no less original - huge windows, original layout of the buildings themselves, uniquely planned green spaces and huge open spaces. And the rather dry and hot climate of the plateau on which the city is built gives this entire futuristic landscape a special “transparency”. Thanks to the dam, which blocked the channels of four rivers, even an artificial lake was created! Even the addresses here are not ordinary, but are alphanumeric abbreviations.
Among the attractions of the new capital are the Botanical Garden, the Zoo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the black tower of the Central Bank, the Kubitschek Memorial, the "blue church" of Don Bosco (San Juan Bosco), the City Park with swimming pools filled mineral water, one of the largest shopping centers in South America - Conjunto Nacional, Ministerial Complex - a whole series buildings of ultra-modern architecture, the Arched Palace with hanging gardens (the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located here), the Meteor statue and other unusual structures.
The capital of the state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, is the first city in the country that was created “from scratch,” thereby paving the way for the modern capital. It is the fourth largest city in Brazil and one of the country's largest industrial and commercial centers. Interesting places here are the Abilio Bareto Historical Museum, the Liberty Palace, the Casino, and the Brazilian religious center of Congonhas do Campo, 80 km away. from the city with the famous "road of the cross" of 78 statues, the Church of Our Lady of O and the Gold Museum in Sabara (25 km from Belo Horizonte), the city museum of Sant Joan del Rey, the village museum of Tiradentes, etc.
No less interesting is Ouro Preto ("Black Gold") - the capital of gold miners, prospectors and treasure hunters, currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The churches of St. Francis (1766-1794), the Conception of the Mother of God (1727) with the tomb and museum of the great architect Aleijadinho, Our Lady of Pilar (1711), Carmo (1766), Santa Ifigenia - attract attention here. dos Pretos (1733), Merces de Sima, Town Hall (19th century), Municipal Theatre, Itakolomi, Cachoeira do Falkau, Tripui and Estrada Real parks with a whole cascade of ponds and waterfalls, as well as numerous museums - Mineralogy, Resistance, etc.
Sao Paulo is the largest industrial center of the country, and of all of Latin America. The third largest metropolis in the world leaves an ambivalent impression of itself - on the one hand, the city is quite gray and cannot boast of any special beauties. On the other hand, such a mixture of everything and everyone surrounded by urban landscapes, perhaps, cannot be found anywhere else in America. “Hispanic Chicago,” as it is often called, is built up with steel and glass skyscrapers, factories, offices, fairly old residential neighborhoods and is populated by almost 13 million residents. There is a colossal mixture of races and peoples, cultures and religions, customs and morals from all over the world.
Interesting are the Museum of Contemporary Art (one of the largest in the world), the famous Pacaembu stadium, the Museum of Painting, the State Art Gallery, the Impiraña Museum, the Museum of Brazilian History in Independence Park, the Jacques Ardiez Gallery, the Church of Nossa Dama Brasil, the Ibirapuera Park with an area of more than thousands of hectares, the Japanese quarter and the Tea Bridge, a Zoo with a unique collection of tropical birds, a reptile reserve and at the same time the unique Butanta Medical Research Center, the “green areas” of Alameda-Santos and Morumbi, etc.
Not far from the town are the resort areas of Ubatuba and Ilya-Bela.
Salvador, which was the capital of Brazil until 1763, is famous for the wealth of churches and the beauty of its historical buildings, crazy festivals, special romance and rich history. The city's attractions include the historical quarter of Pelourinho, the old port of Barra (Vila Velha), the Afro-Brazilian Museum, the Carlos Costa Pinto Museum, the Museum of the Carmelite Order, the Medical Memorial, the Abelardo Rodrigues Museum, the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, the Numismatics Museum, the Terreiro Cathedral di Jesus (1657), St. Peter's Cathedral (XVIII century), Baroque Church of the Rosario (XVIII century), Church of the Dominican Order (XVIII century), Church of Do Carmo (1700), Church of the Señor Do Bonfin (XVIII century), Church of the Carmelite Order (XVI century), Church of St. Francis (1703) with a huge old globe, Church of Santissimo Sacramento (XVIII century), Archbishop's Palace (1715) with a monument to the first Archbishop of Brazil Don Pedro Fernandez Sardinha, the Church of Santa Casa de Misericordia (XVII century), the monastery and church of St. Teresa (1697), the Church of Nossa Senhora Graça (XVI century, the oldest church in Brazil ), Jorge Amado's house, Goethe Art Institute, Fort São Pedro, City Square and City Hall (former headquarters of the colonial troops), Rio Branco Palace (1919), Palace of Justice, Plaza Da Se (1933), Modelo Market, Lacerda funicular (1930), numerous capoeira schools (the country's national martial art), Belvedere yacht club, etc.
In the vicinity of the city, interesting are the island of Itaparina, the small town of Cachoeira (120 km west of Salvador) - the center of the Baroque in Brazil with many churches, beaches in the Flamengo and Itapau area (in Salvador itself the beaches are quite narrow and littered), as well as numerous craft communes in Ilha di Mare, Gequie and Rio di Contas.
835 km. north of Salvador lies Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco, which is often compared to Venice. 7 km. from Recife is the city of Olinda - one of the best preserved colonial cities in Brazil, famous for its “old quarter”, which is under UNESCO protection. Natal (300 km north of Recife) is famous for its beaches, stretching for 100 km, as well as the “Fortress of the Magi” at the mouth of the river. Potengi and Zhenipabu resort. 85 km. To the south of Natal are the fishing villages of Pipa and Ponta Negra, which over the years have turned into some of the best resorts in the country. Around Fortaleza (the capital of the state of Ceara, 800 km north of Recife) stretches a whole series of magnificent dunes and beaches - Iracema, Diarus, Meireles, Macuripe, Future, Morro Branco Praia das Fontes, Coqueiros, Cumbuco, Taiba, Fleixeras, etc. .
Belem is the gateway to the Amazon, just beyond the bridges over the river. The impenetrable delta forests begin in Guam. Founded back in the 16th century, it has preserved traces of history in its many old houses of absolutely incredible architecture (mostly dilapidated). Interesting building General Staff, Baroque Se Cathedral (1748), Ver-U-Pezu market (the largest in the country), Di Nazare Basilica (1908, famous pilgrimage center), Castelo fortress (XVI century), city cathedral (1748 .), the church of Igreia de Merces (1640), numerous museums in the Emilio Goeldi park, etc.
In the vicinity of the city there are many first-class beaches - Oteiro, Farol, Urubira, Aribamba, São Francisco, Bahia de Sol, as well as many river and sea islands, the most famous of which are Marajo (wholly occupied by an ecological reserve), Oteiro and Mosqueiro. San Luis, located 800 km. from Belem, famous for its Lion Palace and the ghost town of Alcantara.
The capital of the Amazon state is Manaus, located on the coast great river(its width, together with its channels, reaches several tens of kilometers here), on average its course is 3400 km. from Brasilia. The city's population is 80% Indian, and all surrounding settlements are also inhabited by them, which gives the city a unique charm.
In Manaus, interesting are the Museum of the Indians, the city theater (1896), the colossal Palacio Negro palace, the Church of San Sebastian, the Museum of Man, the Numismatics Museum, the Teatro Amazonas opera house (1896), numerous floating markets, as well as many magnificent houses decorated with blue Azulejos ceramics (mostly in disrepair). 12 km. from Manaus there is a unique natural phenomenon- the confluence of the Solimoes and Rio Negro rivers, whose waters do not mix with each other at all, but flow side by side in multi-colored ribbons for hundreds of kilometers. But the main thing why people come to Manaus is the “Great Amazon”.
The Amazon is a mysterious region that makes up a third of the territory of all of Brazil. The Amazon is called the “lungs of the planet” because almost 50% of all the oxygen on our planet is produced in the Amazon tropical rain forest. It is home to flora only 30% studied by scientists, 25% of all pharmaceuticals in the world are extracted from plants in the Amazon forest, 1,800 different species of birds (7.5 times more than in Europe), 250 species of mammals and 1,500 different breeds of fish live here. , many of which have not yet been classified. About two hundred Indian tribes live in this area, many of which have not had contact with “civilization” for years. The Amazon River and its tributaries contain about 20% of all fresh water globe.
Here you can take part in piranha fishing, take a boat ride to Rio Negro or Parum, hunt alligators, spend several hours (or days) on the islands of the delta or in the depths of the forest, receive training in rural survival techniques from local residents, ride on motorized canoe along the numerous branches of the river, visit the unique Anavillanas archipelago or get acquainted with the customs and life of the local residents.
Historical sketch:
Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral. In 1533, the Portuguese colonization of Brazil began, the coast of which was divided into 15 captaincys. In 1549, the Portuguese possessions in Brazil were directly subject to the King of Portugal. The captain general, whose residence was in El Salvador, became the viceroy of the Portuguese king. In 1574, a decree was passed prohibiting the conversion of local Indians into slaves. This led to the massive importation of black slaves from Africa. In 1640, the first Viceroy of Brazil was appointed Marquis de Montalvão. 1763 - Rio de Janeiro becomes the capital of Brazil. Portuguese King João VI fled to Brazil from Napoleon. After his father's return to Portugal in 1821, his son Pedro remained in Brazil as regent, and on September 7, 1822, he declared independence from the mother country and declared himself Emperor of the Brazilian Empire under the name Pedro I. He was succeeded by his son, Pedro II, who ruled until 1889, when a republic was proclaimed. The year before, in 1888, slavery was abolished in Brazil. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Brazil attracted more than 5 million European and Japanese immigrants.
In 1930-1934 and in 1937-1945, the Vargas dictatorship. In 1964, a military coup was carried out in the country, as a result of which Marshal Castelo Branco came to power. This was the third dictatorship in the history of Brazil. It existed until 1985. In 1999, the country was gripped by a financial crisis.
2006, May 11-16 - a wave of violence in the industrial city of Sao Paulo. Clashes between criminal gangs and police led to the death of 150 people, including 40 police officers. The rebels (First Capital Team) set fire to buses, attacked banks and police stations, and staged shootouts at metro stations.
National domain: .BR
Entry rules: The usual time frame for processing documents at the embassy is 4 - 7 working days. A foreign passport, 1 application form with a photo and an invitation (tourist, private or official), and a copy of the air ticket are required. Traveling with children on a business invitation is difficult. Regardless of the type of invitation, the embassy issues a multiple visa for a specific period. Consular fee for tourist and private visas is $50, for business visas - $60. When leaving for Sheremetyevo-2, you must present a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. Russian citizens who have received temporary visas from the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow are subject to mandatory registration with the federal police within 30 days and payment of a fee. Traveling around the country for Russian citizens unlimited. Pre-vaccination against hepatitis A and B and malaria is recommended. Tap water should not be drunk. Insurance is required. Be sure to take sunscreen with you. The airport tax is approximately 18 USD and is payable before departure.
Customs rules: The import of foreign currency is not limited (declared), while the import of national currency is limited. The export of imported foreign currency is allowed, minus expenses in the country, national currency - under a license from the Central Bank of Brazil. Imported video, film, and audio equipment of non-Brazilian origin are subject to tax. You are allowed to import one of the following items duty free: radio, player, video camera, business notebook with computer memory. The import and export of drugs, firearms, ammunition, medicines, and radioactive materials is prohibited. An attempt to export any wild animals from the country without the appropriate permission from numerous authorities, approvals and quarantines is considered a crime in Brazil. Indian tribes are allowed to make traditional jewelry from the feathers of exotic birds of the Amazon, jaguar claws, armadillo shells, etc., but Indians can sell them “outside” only under special state licenses and only to cultural institutions, for example, ethnographic museums.
Brief information about the country
Independence Date
Official language
Portuguese
Form of government
Federal Republic
Territory
8,514,877 km² (5th in the world)
Population
201,009,622 people (5th in the world)
Brasilia
Time zones
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia
$2.181 trillion (7th in the world)
Internet domain
– one of the most attractive countries on the South American continent from a tourism point of view. Luxurious beaches with the purest golden sand and clear ocean water, the impenetrable wilds of the mysterious Amazon, the roar of waterfalls, the world-famous Brazilian carnival - hardly any other country can boast of such a set of wonders. And if you add to this list the subtle aroma of local coffee and imagine a passionate Brazilian woman performing samba, it becomes clear why every year millions of guests from all over the world strive to visit these amazing places.
Video: Brazil
Cities of Brazil
All cities in Brazil
Highlights
Brazil – largest state in South America. In terms of area, the republic occupies about 5.7% of the entire land surface on the planet, and in terms of population it is in the top five in the world. The capital is the city of Brasilia. And although many people associate this country exclusively with national entertainment - the grandiose carnival that precedes Lent, the flow of travelers does not dry out all year round.
"Let me go, elder." Fishing in the Amazon Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
Nature lovers in Brazil have the opportunity to see the Amazon rainforest, Iguazu Falls, wetlands and dunes in the Northeast region. Fans of a relatively new trend, agritourism, strive to visit plantations where coffee, sugar cane, tobacco and citrus fruits are grown. Both will have a great time on the beaches of Santa Catarina and will be able to visit the “crystal childhood dream” of the great schemer Ostap Bender - the crowded and unique Rio de Janeiro. You will definitely not be left indifferent by the original culture and vibrant national cuisine, which were formed under the influence of Indian traditions and characteristics brought to their new homeland by immigrants from Europe and Africa.
Located in the center of South America, Brazil has common boundaries with all the countries of this continent, with the exception of Ecuador and Chile. An interesting fact is that the length of the territory both from north to south and from west to east is almost the same - 4320 km versus 4328 km. The length of the coastline is almost 7.5 thousand kilometers. In addition to continental lands, Brazil owns several archipelagos in the South Atlantic.
Organized on a federal basis, the state includes 26 states plus the capital district. Each of the administrative units of Brazil is endowed with fairly broad powers in both the legislative and executive fields. In addition, there is a division into larger territorial units - regions, of which there are five.
190 million Brazilians today speak 175 languages. Yes, yes, this is the correct number, and just a few centuries ago there were a good hundred more of them, imagine! How do the descendants of immigrants and natives communicate with each other? Brazil, for historical reasons, is the only state in the Americas where Portuguese has become the official language: it is spoken in schools, various institutions, on radio and television. The main religion in the country is Catholicism. In July 2013, it even hosted a Christian meeting from all over the world, and in honor of World Youth Day, a visit was made by Pope Francis (by the way, he himself is from neighboring Argentina).
The national character of the Brazilian can be characterized as follows: sentimentality, warmth, poetry, delicacy. But if you do not show due respect and attention to your new friend, for example, refuse to sit with him in a restaurant for the sole reason that you have an important business meeting, you will lose his friendship. The law on the unconditional abolition of slavery in Brazil was adopted just over 100 years ago, in 1888. To this day, Brazilians are always ready to remind: “This is not a colony for you!” – demanding to be treated with respect.
History of Brazil
The navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral, who discovered these territories in 1500, initially called them the Land of the True Cross, after some time the name was transformed into the Land of the Holy Cross. Much later, modern Terra do Brasil (Brazil) appeared. Of course, over the years it is impossible to find out what exactly caused the name change, but historians have an idea. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, huge tracts of special forest were discovered, which began to be actively exported to the metropolis. The material's properties were very similar to the famous red wood, which was delivered to local markets by Arab traders. It was called pau brazil in Portugal. This tree was used to produce expensive furniture, musical instruments and even paints.
The colonialists believed that they had managed to find exactly the place where the merchants took such a valuable product. And although the conclusion was erroneous (Brazil actually grows in Southeast Asia), the word has firmly entered into everyday use. Other researchers tend to associate the emergence of the modern name with the “Isle of the Blessed” Brazil, which is mentioned in Irish mythology and was even depicted on geographical maps in the Early Middle Ages. This place, which according to legend served as a haven for monks and other people marked by God's grace, was hidden from prying eyes by thick fog, but numerous sailors attempted to discover the mysterious land.
Be that as it may, almost from the moment of its discovery to the Old World until 1822, Brazil was a colony of Portugal, which regularly supplied valuable timber, coffee, sugar cane and gold to the metropolis. From outside, mainly African slaves were brought here, whose descendants today make up a significant part of the population. Slavery in the then independent republic was abolished only in 1888. Around the same time, a stream of immigrants from Europe poured onto the shores of South America, looking for an opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their children on land overseas. It is significant that newcomers from a particular country tried to settle compactly, on the same territory, and these communities are still quite clearly different from each other.
Relief and climate of Brazil
The relief is heterogeneous. The lowland in the basin of the largest and most abundant river on the planet - the Amazon - occupies a significant part of northern Brazil. By the way, this territory has the status of the largest lowland in the world and at the same time is considered the least populated and least developed land by humans. The south and east of the country consists of highlands: the vast Brazilian and the Guiana, separated from the main massif by the Amazon. The narrow Atlantic Plain, where it meets the ocean, forms beaches, lagoons and natural harbors.
The climate of Brazil can easily be classified as hot. It varies significantly in different regions, since the territory of the state covers several zones at once: equatorial, semi-arid, subtropical and tropical. Within the framework of the latter, the tropical, tropical Atlantic and tropical high zones are additionally distinguished. From January to May, temperatures are moderately high (up to 18-20ºC at night and 27-30ºC during the day), and precipitation is frequent (up to 17 rainy days per month). But from June to December it gets hotter (up to +32-34 degrees during the day), and the weather is dry. Of course, in mountainous areas the indicators are much lower, frosts are possible closer to the peaks, but in general Brazil is favorable for travel at any time of the year.
“Carnival is the most Brazilian thing in all of Brazil,” wrote V. Bobrov in the book “1001 days in Rio de Janeiro.” And indeed - crazy fun, a riot of colors, extraordinary people, their spectacular clothes, songs and dances delight.
Every year at the end of February, the whole of Brazil, captivated by the continuous thunder of drums beating the rhythm of an incendiary samba, is immersed in the noisiest, brightest and most cheerful holiday, the grandest show on the planet - carnival. Its origins lie in the ritual dances of Black Africa, the pulsating rhythms of which, coinciding with the beats of the heart, were brought to Brazil along with millions of black male and female slaves. And now samba penetrates the blood of all participants and guests of the carnival for five days; for five days Brazil becomes an African country.
In the epicenter of the Brazilian carnival - Rio de Janeiro and Salvador - planes daily bring thousands of tourists from the USA, Argentina, European countries... Salvador usually receives 600-700 thousand foreigners, Rio - about a million. The hotels are overcrowded, despite the sky-high prices - reservations must be made in advance.
Colors of the Brazilian carnival
The carnival usually begins far from Rio de Janeiro, in the town of Olinda, where the parade of the oldest dance school of “virgins” takes place. These are 250 men dressed in women's dress. Their performance goes on non-stop for 10 hours. And yet the main event of the carnival is the parade of samba schools in Rio. “Inflate your bean prices, but let me dance the samba freely!” goes the carnival song. Square-toed shoes with silver buckles, white stockings, slouchy trousers, brocade jackets, plumed hats; ladies in skirts with hoops, low necklines to the extreme - the royal courts of Europe march to the rhythm of samba. And under the brocade and gold suits - dark bodies, curly dark hair - Africa.
At the same time, ritual dances of Indians gather hundreds of thousands of spectators in Recife, in Olinda there is a traditional parade of huge wax models, in Ouru Preto there are “medieval” student festivities... A huge number of beauty contests, masquerade balls, and costume competitions take place everywhere. And all this is the Brazilian carnival. Five days in which only surgeons and their patients, babies and women in labor remain uninvolved in the madness of the holiday.
What to see in Brazil
Aunt Charlie from the Soviet film "Hello, I'm your aunt!" She was clearly disingenuous, remembering Brazil only as a country where there are many, many wild monkeys. The luxurious nature, the wealth of national, cultural and sports traditions have made these places extremely interesting for tourists.
The most popular destinations among guests include the following:
Amazon Tours
A cruise on this legendary river will leave a lot of unforgettable impressions. You will be able to get acquainted with the unique flora and fauna of the region, catch a bloodthirsty piranha using bait made from raw meat, see the heroine of many chilling horror films - the anaconda, observe the behavior of bloodthirsty caimans, and night walks with a guide in a canoe will not leave lovers of extreme recreation indifferent. Arriving in, the capital of the state of Amazonas, you can feel like a pioneer, observing the life and peculiarities of life of the aborigines. The pristine jungle at the confluence of the Black River (Rio Negro) and the Amazon will remain in your memory for a long time. It will be interesting to visit the Palassio Negro Palace, the museums of Indians and numismatics, and the Church of San Sebastian. Only here, just a few kilometers from the city, can you observe a unique phenomenon - the confluence of the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers, the waters of which, due to differences in density, do not mix at all and for many kilometers flow side by side in two multi-colored streams.
Unique climatic conditions, warm Atlantic currents passing near the coast and the proximity of the equator have made these places a real pearl of sea tourism. One of the longest beaches in the world - Copacabana, whose golden sands stretch for six kilometers, luxurious Ipanema or elite Leblon will give anyone, even the most demanding tourist, an unforgettable holiday and leave the warmest memories. For Gatherers interesting facts It will be interesting to know that it was in Copacabana that two-piece bikini swimsuits first appeared, which to this day are considered the hallmark of this place. Next to one of the most prestigious areas of the city is Ipanema Beach. This is a favorite vacation spot for both guests of Rio de Janeiro and local residents. On weekends, the road running along the beach is closed to vehicles and is given over to numerous fans of roller skating, bicycles and skateboards. Volleyball, sand football and other outdoor games are also popular here.
Leblon, which belongs to the city district of the same name, has become a beach for successful businessmen and the so-called “golden” youth.
All sights of Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
One of the most visited cities in Brazil by tourists is Rio de Janeiro. This is explained by both the well-developed infrastructure and the huge number of attractions.
What to bring from Brazil?
If you want to buy a souvenir to remember Brazil or bring a gift to friends and relatives, then pay attention to the possible options:
- Coffee. Among the wide variety of varieties, experts recommend paying attention to Rio, Parana, Santos, Minas and Victoria. They are grown in different states of Brazil, each with a unique aroma and taste.
- Cachasa. A special vodka made from sugar cane, aged for at least one year in special wooden barrels. Produced both in small family haciendas and in large enterprises. In the first case, the price of the drink will be significantly higher for objective reasons.
- Jewelry made from semi-precious stones. When buying such a gift, be careful. It is better to purchase products made from precious stones in large shopping centers or stores with a solid reputation. The price will be higher, but the risk of getting an ordinary colored piece of glass for your money will be reduced to zero. It is much easier with semi-precious stones - you can safely buy them in small shops; it is simply unprofitable to counterfeit such products.
- Bottles with colorful sand. One of the most popular souvenirs, because it is made right before your eyes: within a few minutes, the master creates amazing images inside a transparent container using only a wooden stick.
- Hammock. This invention of the Indians has firmly entered the list of must-have souvenirs. You can purchase both wicker and woven products. If you plan to use it for its intended purpose, then give preference to the second option - it is stronger, more convenient and safer.
Tourists often purchase various wooden figurines skillfully carved by local craftsmen as a souvenir of Brazil. No less popular is lace, the weaving of which is a traditional form of applied art for these places. Leather products are of high quality: bags, belts, wallets and purses, shoes.
Remembering that trips to Brazil are unlikely to become regular for you, do not skimp on gifts for yourself and your loved ones.
What you need to know when going to Brazil
Brazil is a fabulous country. The only negative for Russian tourists is its remoteness. It is this fact that leads to the fact that tours here are quite expensive - the cost of the transatlantic flight affects it. In addition, the amount of your expenses may be affected by what goals are included in the voyage. If you just want to lie on the beach, then an independent trip with advance purchase of air tickets and hotel reservations will be quite justified, for which you can use the services of our website. If you want to travel around the country, you should give preference to vacationing as part of a tourist group. This is not only economically beneficial, but will also save you from organizational difficulties.
Brazilians are very hospitable and open people, ready to help a foreigner get comfortable in a foreign country. This applies to small cities, but in Brasilia or Sao Paulo, for example, be prepared to sometimes encounter impoliteness, rudeness and isolation of the local residents.
Visa
If your stay in Brazil does not exceed three months, you will not need a visa.
There are several types of Brazilian visas: transit (types A, B), short-term (type C) and national (type D). Citizens of the Russian Federation can obtain a visa at the consular section of the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow, which is located at: 121069, Moscow, st. Nikitskaya, 54. Contact phone number +7 095 290 28 30.
When visiting the country without a visa, a person does not have the right to immigrate to Brazil and engage in business activities there. When entering the country, the traveler must have sufficient funds, and must also have confirmation of a hotel reservation. All this may be required when crossing the border.
The amount of foreign currency allowed to a tourist is not regulated, but if you have more than 1000 US dollars on you, you must indicate this in the declaration. Certain restrictions have been introduced on the import of national currency, and you can export it only with a license from the Brazilian Central Bank. Without paying a fee, you can take with you a video camera, a player, a radio and a notepad with electronic memory - all of which are not more than one unit.
Naturally, weapons, drugs and many medicines are prohibited from being imported. It is strictly forbidden to export any animals, as well as products made from skins, shells, claws or feathers. Attempts at such smuggling are punished very severely.
Transport
The main mode of transport in the country is automobile. Brazil is surrounded by almost 2 million kilometers of roads, most of which are located along the country's coastline. All major highways and highways are in excellent condition, but the roads in the north of the country leave much to be desired.
It is better to travel long distances on local airlines. The number of flights and their branching make it possible to cope perfectly with passenger flows. Choosing as vehicle intercity bus, it makes sense to choose the most expensive and comfortable option, which is called leito. Instead of armchairs, special beds are installed in the cabins, so you can spend your time on the road comfortably. It is better to book a seat on such a sleeping bus in advance, at least a day or two in advance. Only on the route from the capital to Sao Paulo there will be no problems, since transport departs every half hour.
To travel around the city, it is best to use a taxi. Prices are comparable to European ones, but the distances here are much longer. If you decide to take a taxi, remember: the newer the car, the more expensive the trip will be. Plus, there is a separate charge for operating the air conditioner in the car. Municipal transport is also well developed in cities, and there is a metro in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Many domestic transportations, including passenger ones, are carried out by water transport.
Port in El SalvadorRule one is to never drink tap water. The consequences of such a rash act can be the most unpleasant. Swim with caution - coastal ocean currents can be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers. Local authorities do not put forward any special requirements for vaccination when visiting Brazil, but if you are planning a trip to the Amazon, it makes sense to purchase anti-malaria tablets and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Before going outside, you should definitely use sunscreen, because the sun is “hot” here, and foreigners who are not used to such heat should choose cosmetics with the most high level protection from burns.
When it comes to swimming in the ocean, you need to be careful in Brazil, even if you are an excellent swimmer. The fact is that strong ocean currents that run along the coastline dominate here. For this reason, so-called “standing” waves arise, capable of creating a powerful surf zone.
Safety
A definite problem in Brazilian cities are local hooligans. In order not to risk your health and existing valuables, do not take solo walks in unfamiliar areas, do not carry original documents and a lot of cash with you. Trips and excursions as part of a tourist group are much safer.
We do not recommend counting on the help of street law enforcement officers. Here the police are particularly phlegmatic. It will be useful to write down or remember emergency numbers: 192 - ambulance; 193 - fire service; 199 - police. By the way, there are separate telephone numbers for the tourist police: 511-51-12 and 511-57-67.
The classification of hotels in Brazil is the same as in Europe. Service in a three-star hotel in most cases is at a very decent level; there are also a number of first-class hotels with the five-star category. Service usually leaves a positive impression on tourists, if you do not take into account the habit of many employees in not being in too much of a hurry to complete orders at the agreed time. The voltage in the electrical network differs from the traditional 220 V in Russia, but this should not bother guests - the receptionist will definitely offer an AC adapter.
Money
The country's currency is the Brazilian real. The currency is rare for exchange offices of Russian banks, so our compatriots take with them the dollar they have tested during their travels. There will be no problem exchanging it for national money; it is best to use the banking service for this. They usually work on a five-day week from 10 a.m. to four p.m. The same services are provided to travelers in large shopping centers, travel agencies, and hotels. The specificity of exchange in hotels is that only American currency will be accepted here.
Credit cards are used everywhere to pay for services and purchases in shopping malls and hotels. When going to a restaurant, it is better to take reals with you - not all establishments accept US dollars and checks. It is important to know that the exchange rate for travel checks is noticeably lower than that of cash currency. In Brazil, as in many other countries, you need to tip service staff. In restaurants they usually amount to up to 10% of the amount indicated on the bill; in simpler establishments you can get by with one or two reais, but on the beach it is generally not accepted to reward with money. When calculating for a taxi ride, meter readings are usually rounded up; you will have to pay separately if you ask to turn on the air conditioning in the car. Don't forget to tip your hairdresser and gas station attendant if you use their services.
Brazilian cuisine
Due to the prevailing national and historical conditions, Brazilian cuisine is quite eclectic. The fusion of African, European and Native American traditions has shaped local culinary traditions. Portugal's influence is reflected today in one-pot goulash, grilled meats and egg-based sweet desserts, cheese-making skills and meat-smoking skills, and the use of ingredients such as salt cod, garlic, olives, quince and almonds.
The culinary traditions of the American Indians, the original inhabitants of the continent, are observed in the customs of preparing foods characteristic of South America. African slaves brought to Brazil in the 17th century to work the sugar plantations brought with them palm oil, coconut, dried shrimp, plantain, okra and original African recipes. Later, the gold rush and the rubber and coffee booms contributed to the influx of immigrants from Italy, Germany, China and Japan and their culinary traditions. In addition, the cuisine of each region of Brazil has its own characteristics, shaped by history and geographical location.
The most interesting dishes include an assortment of special black beans, meat, flour and vegetables with spices, fried “sarapatel” liver in various sauces, and sun-dried meat. Tourists are also amazed by the huge variety of tropical fruits. You can try delicious soft drinks prepared from them, and beer lovers will be pleased with the excellent quality of the local products.
This can be done on Air France or Iberia flights. Having made a flight along the Moscow-Rio route, with a connection in one of the European cities (Paris, Madrid, London or Amsterdam), in 17-20 hours you will find yourself in South America. You can fly to Sao Paulo by airliners of the same companies. Lufthansa and Swiss Air also have regular flights to this city.
Calendar of low prices for air tickets to Brazil
VKontakte facebook twitter
