History

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America and the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas.Brazil is a federation composed of twenty-six States, one federal district (which contains the capital city, Brasília) and municipalities. Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.

Geography

Brazil occupies a large area along the eastern coast of South America and includes much of the continent's interior; it shares a border with every country in South America except for Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, with a total area of 8,514,876.599 square kilometers (3,287,612 sq mi).,Brazilian topography is also diverse and includes hills, mountains, plains, highlands, and scrublands. The highest point in Brazil is the Pico da Neblina at 3,014 metres (9,890 ft). Brazil has a dense and complex system of rivers, one of the world's most extensive, all of which drain into the Atlantic. The most prominent river is the Amazon (the world's second-longest river and the largest in terms of volume of water).

Climate

The climate of Brazil comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rainforests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate coniferous forests in the south and tropical savannas in central Brazil. Temperatures average 25 °C (77 °F), with more significant temperature variation between night and day than between seasons.

Population

The population of Brazil as recorded in 2009 was approximately 190 million with a ratio of men to women of 0.95:1, and 83.75% of the population defined as urban. The population is heavily concentrated in the Southeastern (79.8 million inhabitants) and Northeastern (53.5 million inhabitants) regions, while the two most geographically extensive regions, the Center-West and the North, which together make up 64.12% of Brazil’s territory, have only 29.1 million inhabitants.

Economics

Brazil has the largest national economy in Latin America, the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates, and the ninth largest in purchasing power parity (PPP), according to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Its GDP per capita is $10,200, putting Brazil in the 64th position according to World Bank data. It has a large and developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors, as well as a large labor pool. Brazilian exports are booming, creating a new generation of tycoons. Major export products include aircraft, electrical equipment, automobiles, ethanol, textiles, footwear, iron ore, steel, orange juice, soybeans, corned beef, and, of course, coffee.