The vast territory of South America is Brazil, washed from the east by the Atlantic Ocean. This country is the fifth largest in the world by area. It spread out over the plains and lowlands, mountains and hills, attracting tourists with its exotic nature, history and original culture.
Portuguese is the official language of this federal state. Most of the population by religion are Christians. The country is divided into 26 states. Brazil has many beautiful cities. Each of them is interesting and unique in its own way, and is famous for its special history and sights.
States
Once this country was a Portuguese colony, then it gained self-government, but until the end of the XIX century it was headed by emperors. The United States of Brazil is a power that emerged on the world map in 1889 through the liquidation of the monarchy, political and social reforms. A federal republic (such status was assigned to the state in 1967) has a turbulent history full of wars, coups, crises and upheavals, the struggle for power, economic and political independence.
According to the now adopted constitution, the states of the country have sovereignty, have their own laws and state authorities. They are able to split up and unite, as well as split up in accordance with the decision of the legislative assemblies. Although federal relations "from above" are strictly regulated.
A list of Brazilian states is presented below.
The capital of country
The modern city of Brasilia, whose name is consonant with the name of the country, arose recently. Only in 1957 was its first stone laid. The construction of this village in the desert by the architect Lusio Costa, the developer of Latin American modern styles, has become an economic and social need for local residents related to the decision to make productive use of the little developed territory.
The city of Brasilia is located in the center of the country near the Deshkobertu and Preto rivers. It was built in just three years. Its population today amounts to 2.5 million inhabitants. This is a federal district, the residence of the government of the country and its president. In the capital and the surrounding area, some of the states of Brazil have their own municipalities.
The main architectural style of buildings and other structures of the city is considered modernism, causing a feeling of plasticity, sensuality, straightforwardness, even fantastic. Now it is the fourth largest city in the country, which has everything: clinics, schools, cafes and restaurants, retail outlets, churches, cinemas, car parks.
Rio de Janeiro
For travelers, this city at first glance at it is admired. Rio de Janeiro is considered the pearl of Brazil - the most beautiful place that stretches along the bay of Guanabara. There are more than six million people in it today. Until 1960, this fantastic city was the capital of the country, but now it is considered its cultural and intellectual center, a place of concentration of creative bohemia.
However, in addition to the beautiful buildings, there are enough shabby buildings made of bamboo, cardboard, old boards - these are favelas (Brazilian slums). But the city is famous for its wonderful beaches. Among them are Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogu.
The names of the states of Brazil in some cases are consonant with their capitals. Rio de Janeiro is one of them. The state itself is located, like the city, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. On its territory 16.5 million people live. Locals call themselves "fluminance."
Sao paulo
Another state whose name coincides with the name of the capital is São Paulo. Among his brothers, he is rightfully considered the most economically developed and populated (with 41.5 million inhabitants). This is the southeastern state of the country with access to the Atlantic Ocean. As in neighboring Rio de Janeiro, the population in these parts is the most motley and multinational.
After all, the ancestors of the inhabitants, Portuguese colonists and immigrants from other European countries, at one time mixed up here by blood with local Indians, as well as forcibly brought here by the Africans during the slave trade.
The capital of São Paulo is considered a city of skyscrapers, but at the same time, like the large cities of many other states of Brazil, it is a city of contrasts. Here, fashionable areas and favelas coexist.
Amazonas
This state got its name from the name of the largest river in terms of full flow, not only of this continent, but of the whole world. The length of the Amazon is about 6.5 thousand kilometers. The river is officially recognized as one of the natural wonders of our planet and is navigable. Moreover, all the major cities of this state are located along this most important river transport highway in the state.
In addition, Amazonas, by its area, is the largest state of Brazil, occupying almost a fifth of the entire country. It is located in its northwest, crossed by the equator, divided into two parts located in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Equatorial forests are considered the least developed territory of the state. The landscape of another significant part of the terrain is a swampy plain.
Manaus is the capital of this state. It was founded in 1669 and at first it was only a fort on the lands of Manoa, a warlike tribe of Indians. This city became world famous during the period of the so-called rubber fever - a very economically successful era in this country. The city is also famous for its wonderful opera house, opened in 1896.
Couple
The states of Brazil have in their composition one, which is usually called golden. It is adjacent to Amazonas and is located east of it. This is a couple. The city of Belen is the state capital, almost located on the equator line.
This area is called East Amazonia. The territory itself is mainly a plain and in the rainy season is flooded with the waters of the great Amazon. After 1964, two huge roads ran through it - Belen-Brasilia and Transamazonika. Measures to develop this region have yielded results. Here were found the largest reserves of iron ore in the world, and most importantly - gold deposits.
This made it possible to talk about the so-called “miracle of Para”, that is, about significant opportunities and wealth that unexpectedly collapsed on this edge. But sudden happiness gave rise to its own problems. The barbaric exploitation and greed of the visitors who poured into the area floods, threatens to destroy the bowels of the region and the ancient Indian culture.