Brazil

Rio 2016 - Summer Olympics

Sao Paulo is Brazil's commercial and industrial centre and one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. A mod­ern road system serves the busy central area.

Coffee is Brazil's most valuable export. The country produces about 30 per cent of the world's coffee crop each year. Coffee is made from the beans of the coffee tree.

The Brazilian flag bears the motto "Order and Progress." The green and golden-yellow colours symbolize forests and minerals. Blue and white are Portugal's historic colours.

Brazil's coat of arms com­memorates the birth of the re­public on Nov. 15,1889. Branches of coffee and to­bacco, two important crops, surround the central emblem.

A crowd in Rio de Janeiro reflects the many backgrounds of Brazil s people. The nation's chief groups are people of Euro­pean descent, blacks, and people of mixed ancestry.

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It spreads over almost half the continent and borders 10 other countries.

Indians make up less than 1 per cent of Brazil's people. Most Brazilian Indians, such as the Bororos, live in the forests of the Amazon Region and speak traditional languages.

Population density

The population of Brazil is distributed unevenly. The vast major­ity of the people live along the Atlantic coast, but the interior of the country is thinly populated.

The colourful carnival festival in Rio de Janeiro features cos­tumed street dancers and lively parades. It is held each year dur­ing the four days before the Christian observance of Lent.

Government buildings in

Brasilia, Brazil's capital, are noted for their modem archi­tecture. The senators and deputies of the Brazilian na­tional legislature have offices in striking twin towers. The Senate meets in a domed structure and the Cham­ber of Deputies meets in a bowl-shaped building.

Population density

The population of Brazil is distributed unevenly. The vast major­ity of the people live along the Atlantic coast, but the interior of the country is thinly populated.

Farm workers prepare to load bags of maize on a boat for de­livery to market. Most Brazilians in rural areas work for low wages on farms and plantations.

A hillside slum, called a favela, contrasts sharply with modern high-rise apartment buildings in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's big cities face such problems as overcrowding, poverty, and slums.

A food stand in Bahia shows the African influence in Brazilian cooking. Bean cakes and crabs, foreground, are often served with spicy sauces.

A church procession takes place in the town of Ouro Preto. About 85 per cent of Brazil’s people are Roman Catholics. Brazil is more Catholics than any other country.

Brazilian students study science in a modern secondary school in Sao Paulo. Most of the country's secondary schools are private, and many are run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Bold murals by Brazilian painters, such as this one by Candido Portinari, often deal with major developments in Brazilian history.

Sao Francisco Church in Salvador features the decorated architecture popular in colonial time.

Sculpture, such as this work by Antonio Lisboa, dates from the 1700’s.

Modern Brazilian architecture is famous for its decorative shapes. Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil's best-known architect.

The Northeast Region of Brazil consists of the area that bulges into the Atlantic Ocean. The region's interior called the sertao, has poor soil for farming and often suffers from severe droughts.

Average yearly precipitation

Rainfall in Brazil is heaviest in the Ama­zon Region. The driest area of the coun­try is the Northeast. The rest of Brazil re­ceives moderate annual rainfall.

Average January temperatures

January is Brazil's hottest month of the year. The average temperature in most of the country ranges from about 21 ° to 27° C

Average July temperatures

Winter temperatures in Brazil do not vary greatly from those of summer because all but the southernmost part of the country lies in the tropics.

The muddy-brown Amazon River flows through the Amazon Region in northern Brazil. This region occupies over half the country and consists chiefly of low plains covered by forests.

The magnificent Iguagu Falls, which forms part of the border between Brazil and Argentina, is about 3 kilometres wide. The Iguau waters plunge 72 metres.

Car manufacturing is a major industrial activity in Brazil, one of the world's leading car producers. This factory in Sao Paulo has helped make the city a great industrial centre.

Brazil's gross domestic product (CDP) was 405,800,000,000 U.S. dollars in 1990. The CDP is the total value of goods and services produced within a country in a year. Services include commu­nity, government, and personal services; finance, insurance, property, and business services; transportation and communica­tion; utilities; and wholesale and retail trade. Industry includes construction, manufacturing, and mining. Agriculture includes agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

Brazil land use. The major uses of land in Brazil. Agricul­ture is important in the south­ern and eastern areas of the country. Grazing lands for livestock lie on the Central and Southern Plateaus. See Brazil's valuable forest lands and off­shore fishing areas.

An opencast iron mine spreads across a huge area in the state of Minas Gerais. Bra­zil has the largest iron ore de­posits in the world and ranks among the leading countries in the production of this min­eral.

The Itaipu Dam power plant, on the Parana River, has a gen­erating capacity of about 12| million kilowatts. It is one of the world's most powerful hydroelectric plants.

Important dates in Brazil

1500 The Portuguese fleet commander Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in Brazil and claimed it for his country.

1630 The Dutch invaded Brazil. The Portuguese drove them out in 1654.

1750 Portugal and Spain signed a treaty fixing areas of rule in South America.

1808-1821 The Portuguese royal family ruled Portugal and Brazil from Rio de Janeiro.

1822 Brazil declared its independence from Portugal.

1888 Slavery was abolished in Brazil.

1889 Brazil proclaimed itself a republic.

1917 Brazil declared war on Germany in World War I.

1930 Military officials made Getulio Vargas president.

1942 Brazil declared war on the Axis in World War II.

1945 Brazil joined the United Nations.

1946 A new constitution restored individual rights.

1960 Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to the new­ly built city of Brasilia.

1964 Military leaders took control of the government.

1985 Brazil s government was returned to civilian rule.

1988 A new constitution provided for direct election of the president for the first time since 1960.

A typical plantation in Brazil

during the 1800's included a large number of African slaves. Most of the slaves hap vested sugar cane and other" crops. Other slaves worked as servants in the house of the plantation owner.

Brazil's territorial growth. Portugal gradually expanded colo­nial Brazil beyond the 1494 Line of Demarcation that divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal. Portuguese settlers moved into the interior during the 1600's and 1700's and drove Dutch settlers from the northeast coast in 1654. In 1750, Spain recognized Portugal's claim to nearly all of what is now Brazil. Other areas were acquired by Brazil in later treaties.

Brazil's independence from Portugal was declared by Pedro I, on Sept. 7, 1822. Pedro, the son of King john of Portugal, achieved Brazil's freedom without bloodshed. Portugal officially recognized Brazil's independ­ence in 1825.

Facts in brief about Brazil

Capital: Brasilia.

Official language: Portuguese.

Form of government: Federal republic; 26 states, 1 federal dis­trict. Head of state— President (4-year term).

Official name: Republica Federativa do Brasil (Federative Re­public of Brazil).

Area: 8,511,965 km². Greatest distances—north-south, 4,319 km; east-west, 4,328 km. Coastline—9,687 km.

Elevation: Highest— Pico da Neblina, 3,014 m above sea level. Lowest—sen level.

Population: Estimated 1996population—163,577,000; density,

19 people per km²; distribution, 74 per cent urban, 26 per cent rural. 1990 census—146,148,502. Estimated 200! population— 174,885,000.

Chief products: Agriculture- bananas/cacao beans, cattle, cof­fee, maize, oranges, rice, soybeans, sugar cane. Manufactur­ing and processing— cars, cement, chemicals, electrical equipment, food products, machinery, paper, rubber, steel, textiles, trucks. Mining— bauxite, beryllium, chrome, dia­monds, gold, iron ore, magnesite, manganese, mica, petro­leum, quartz crystals, tin, titanium. Forest products— Brazil nuts, carnauba wax, latex, timber.

National holiday: Independence Day, September 7.

Money: Currency unit— cruzeiro real. One real = 100 centavos.

Brazil is the largest country in South America in terms of both area and population. It occupies almost half the _area of the continent and has more people than all the other South American countries combined. Brazil ranks fifth in both area and population among the countries of the world.

Brazil has a varied landscape. The world's largest tropical rainforest sprawls across much of the northern part of the country. The mighty Amazon and other enor­mous rivers wind their way through this vast green area of towering trees and steamy jungles. Cloud-capped mountains rise to the north of the forests and border the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast. Dry plains extend across parts of northeastern Brazil. The low plateaus of central and southern Brazil have fertile farmlands and lush graz­ing areas. Broad white beaches line glistening seashores along the country's long Atlantic coast.

The forests, rivers, and mountains of Brazil have re­stricted inland travel, and the country's vast interior re­mains little developed. About 80 per cent of all Brazil­ians live within about 300 kilometres of the Atlantic coast. Nearly all of Brazil's big cities and towns lie on or near the coast. One of the largest cities in Brazil's inte­rior is Brasilia, the nation's capital. The city was built about 1,000 kilometres from the coast to help draw Bra­zilians inland.

Approximately three-quarters of Brazil's people live in urban areas. About 10 metropolitan areas have popula­tions of more than a million. Sao Paulo and Rio de Ja­neiro are Brazil's two largest cities. Sao Paulo has about 11 million people and is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world. This modern, fast-paced city is Brazil's chief commercial and industrial centre. It covers more than 1,500 square kilometres, which makes it three times bigger than Paris. Rio de Janeiro has about 6 million people and is one of the most heavily populated cities in South America. A major tourist attraction, Rio de Janeiro is known throughout the world for its breath­taking coastline, exciting nightclubs, and colourful festi­vals. For 125 years it was the nation's capital, until de­prived of that honour, in 1960, when the government moved to the ultra-modern city of Brasilia.

Brazil's people come from many backgrounds. About 60 per cent of the country's population are of European ancestry—mostly German, Italian, Portuguese, and Span­ish. Blacks make up about 7 per cent of the population. Indians, the original Brazilians, form less than 1 per cent of Brazil's people. Most other Brazilians have mixed an­cestry.

Rich natural resources have helped make Brazil a growing economic power. The country is the world's largest "coffeepot," producing about 30 per cent of the total coffee crop each year. Brazil ranks among the world's leading countries in the production of a wide va­riety of agricultural items, including bananas, cacao beans, cattle, cotton, horses, lemons, maize, oranges, pineapples, rice, sheep, soybeans, sugar cane, and to­bacco. Huge supplies of nuts, timber, and other prod­ucts come from its forests, and power plants on its riv­ers generate a great amount of electricity. Brazil produces large quantities of iron ore, manganese, and many other minerals needed by industry.

Rapid industrial growth during the mid-1900s helped Brazil become one of the world's top manufacturing countries. Brazil has the largest steel plant in Latin Amer­ica, and the manufacture of metal products is the na­tion's chief industrial activity. In addition, Brazil ranks among the world's leading countries in the manufacture of cars.

In spite of Brazil's productive economy, the great wealth of some Brazilians contrasts sharply with the great poverty of others. A small number of landowners, executives, and government leaders live in luxury. A small but fast-growing group of middle-class Brazilians, including business managers, government workers, and teachers, live comfortably. But most Brazilians are very poor. Many live in rural areas continually troubled by drought and floods. Many others live in crowded city slums.

Brazil shares many traditions with Portugal. It was a Portuguese colony from 1500 to 1822 and is the only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America. The early Portuguese colonists also brought Roman Catholicism to Brazil. Today, Brazil has more Catholics than any other nation.

Brazil has been a republic since 1889. It has had peri­ods of dictatorial rule, as well as many years of repre­sentative government.

Brazil is a republic with a strong national government. It has 26 states and 1 federal district. The federal district consists of Brasilia, the capital.

Brazil's federal government has three branches. They are (1) an executive branch headed by a president, (2) a legislative branch called the Congress, and (3) a judicial branch, or court system.

Military leaders have played an important role in the government of Brazil. Army officers have headed the government at various times. At other times, freely elected civilians backed by military officers have headed the government. In 1964, a group of military officers seized power from the elected government and began a period of military rule. This ended in 1985, when a civil­ian government headed by an elected president re­turned to power.

Except for recruits in the armed forces, all Brazilian adults who can read and write are eligible to vote in elections. The minimum voting age is 16. For 16- and 17- year-olds, voting is optional. The law requires all quali­fied voters aged 18 to 70 to vote. Voting is optional for qualified voters over 70.

National government. The president and vice presi­dent are elected by the people to four-year terms. Nei­ther the president nor the vice president may be elected to two terms in a row.

The 1988 Constitution abolished the president's pow­ers to make laws by decree. Brazil's new legal frame­work also transferred substantial powers from the presi­dent to the legislative Congress.

Brazil's Congress consists of an 81-member Senate and a 503-member Chamber of Deputies. Brazil's 26 states and the federal district elect 3 senators each. Sen­ators serve eight years. The number of deputies from

each state and from the federal district varies, depend­ing on population, but none has fewer than 3 deputies. Deputies serve four-year terms. Senators and deputies may be reelected to any number of terms.

Local government. Each state has a governor and legislature elected by the people. The states are divided into districts called municipios. An elected mayor and lawmaking body govern each municipios. A governor ad­ministers the federal district.

Politics. Brazil has several political parties. The larg­est parties are the moderate Brazilian Democratic Move­ment Party and the moderate Social Democratic Party, which works in coalition with the conservative Liberal Front Party. When Brazil was under military rule, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party called for a return to civilian government. The Social Democratic Party backed the military leaders who controlled the govern­ment. The liberal Workers' Party is a significant opposi­tion party. The National Reconstruction Party supports conservative economic policies, including the sale of government-owned companies to private interests. In addition, smaller parties represent the special interests of business, labour, and other groups. Several are cen­tred on popular leaders rather than particular issues.

Courts. The Supreme Federal Court is Brazil's highest court. It has 11 justices. The president appoints them for life terms with the Senate's approval. The states and the federal district all have lower federal courts. Each state also has local courts.

Armed forces. Brazil has the largest military force in Latin America. The army has about 180,000 members, and the air force and navy about 50,000 each. Brazilian men between 18 and 45 years of age may be con­scripted for 12 months of service.

Population. Brazil is one of the world's largest coun­tries in terms of population. For Brazil's total population, see the Facts in brief table with this article. For a com­parison of Brazil's population with other countries, see World (table: Independent countries of the world). About half the people of South America live in Brazil.

Brazil's annual population growth rate declined from about 3 per cent in the early 1960's to about 2 per cent in the early 1990's. Since 1940, the country's population has nearly quadrupled. About 35 per cent of Brazil's people are under 15 years of age.

The population of Brazil is unevenly distributed. About 80 per cent of Brazil's people live within 320 kilo­metres of the Atlantic coast. By contrast, only about 7 per cent live in the Amazon Region in northwestern and north-central Brazil. Thick forests cover most of this re­gion.

Various economic developments have influenced pat­terns of settlement in Brazil. During the mid-1500's, many Portuguese colonists came to the Northeast Re­gion and established large sugar cane plantations. The discovery of gold and diamonds in east-central Brazil in the 1690's and early 1700s drew settlers to that region.

During the 1800's, the production of coffee in south­eastern Brazil offered the chief hope for people seeking rapid riches in Brazil, and large numbers of Brazilians and European immigrants rushed there. In the late 1800's, many Japanese immigrants began to come to that area to grow coffee, cotton, and tea. About 1870, a rubber boom in the Amazon Region drew a wave of fortune-seeking Brazilians and foreigners. After World War II ended in 1945, fast-growing industries in the southeastern coastal cities attracted great numbers of Brazilians from rural areas.

The coastal cities, however, could not provide jobs for many of the newcomers. Unemployment, over­crowding, and other problems developed. As a result, the Brazilian government has tried to attract people from the crowded coastal cities to the underpopulated interior. In 1960, it moved the nation's capital from Rio de Janeiro, on the coast, to Brasilia, about 970 kilo­metres inland on the central plateau. The development of agricultural and mineral resources attracted many new settlers to the Amazon Region during the mid- 1900's. In the 1970's, the government began to offer free land to people who were willing to settle in the Amazon Region.

Ancestry. Brazil has three main ethnic groups— whites, blacks, and people of mixed ancestry. Most of the whites are of European descent. The mixed groups include caboclos (people of mixed white and Indian an­cestry) and mulattoes (people of mixed black and white descent). According to the Brazilian government, whites make up about 60 per cent of the country's population, and people of mixed ancestry form about 30 per cent. However, the government counts many light-skinned people of mixed ancestry as white. Blacks make up about 7 per cent of the population, and Asians 3 per cent. Indians account for less than 1 per cent.

The Tupi-Guarani and other Indian groups lived in what is now Brazil long before Europeans arrived. The country had between 1 million and 5 million Indians when the first Portuguese came. The early Portuguese colonists tried to make the Indians work on plantations. But these efforts failed, and so black slaves were brought from Africa to replace the Indians. By the early 1800's, Brazil had about 900,000 whites, 2 million blacks, and 1 million Indians and people of mixed ancestry.

Brazil declared itself independent in 1822, and immi­grants began to arrive from many European countries. The main groups included Germans, Italians, and Span­iards, as well as Portuguese. Most of the immigrants came to work in the rapidly growing coffee industry in southeastern Brazil. About half settled in what is now the state of Sao Paulo.

Today, Brazil has immigrants from more than 30 countries. The largest groups include Italians, Portu­guese, Spaniards, Japanese, Germans, Poles, and people from the Middle East. Most Brazilians of European de­scent live in the southern part of the country. Blacks, caboclos, and mulattoes form the major groups in the coastal cities and towns north of Rio de Janeiro, particu­larly in the northeast. Brazil's Indian population totals only about 200,000. Most of the Indians live in the Ama­zon Region.

Brazil's ethnic groups generally get along well with one another. Ethnic discrimination in Brazil is far less widespread than that in many other countries with peo­ple of several ethnic groups. But Brazilians of European descent have had better educational opportunities. As a result, they hold most of the higher jobs in government and industry. Many non-Europeans, particularly blacks, have excelled in the arts, entertainment, and sports.

Almost all of Brazil's people speak Portuguese, the nation's official language. Indian groups in the Amazon area still use their own languages.

Life styles in Brazil s urban areas differ greatly from those in its rural areas. In the large cities, life moves at a fast pace, and a variety of modern amenities and gov­ernment services are available. Although many Brazilian city dwellers live in miserable poverty, there are a grow­ing number of skilled, educated Brazilians who have good jobs and enjoy a decent standard of living in the cities. In the rural areas, the slow pace of life has changed little over the years. Large numbers of un­skilled labourers continue to work long hours for low wages, and life remains hard. In general, the people in rich, industrialized southern Brazil have a higher stand­ard of living than the people in the more rural Northeast and the largely undeveloped Amazon forest area.

City life. About three-quarters of Brazil's people live in urban areas. The nation's two largest cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, have more people than any other cit­ies in South America. Sao Paulo, with about 11 million people, is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. Rio de Janeiro has about 6 million people. Brazil has about 10 metropolitan areas with populations of more than a million.

Brazil's big cities look much like those in most West­ern countries. Rows of impressive skyscrapers tower above busy streets, and streams of cars and trucks jam wide motorways at rush hours. Elegant shops and res­taurants attract crowds of customers. Sleek, new high- rise apartment buildings stand on broad avenues and contrast sharply with the older houses that line narrow winding streets.

Large numbers of city dwellers work in banks, facto­ries, hotels, office buildings, and shops. Many own busi­nesses. Others hold government or professional jobs. Many middle-class city dwellers live in modern apart­ments. Some other middle-class Brazilians live in small suburban houses. Most executives and other wealthy Brazilians live in luxurious apartments or mansions.

Like most large cities, Brazil's big cities face such problems as overcrowding, poverty, and the clearance of slums. Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most densely populated cities. It has an average of about 4,200 people per square kilometre. Poverty is wide­spread in most Brazilian cities. The poor include mil­lions of unskilled and uneducated Brazilians who have moved from rural areas. Most of them have low in­comes, and many others are unemployed.

Most poor city dwellers live in slums, called favelas.

In some Brazilian cities, up to 30 per cent of the people live in slums. Rio de Janeiro has nearly 300 favelas. Slum families crowd together in shabby shacks made of card­board, metal, or wood. The favelas lack sewers and run­ning water. Many people suffer from disease and mal­nutrition. The crime rate is high. Many poverty-stricken parents abandon their children because they cannot feed or clothe them. Every day, millions of children in Brazilian cities must beg, steal, or work long hours at various jobs to get enough money to survive. Many of these children have no homes. They sleep in doorways, on benches, or under trees.

The Brazilian government has torn down a number of favelas and replaced them with low-cost public housing. Many abandoned children have been taken into state care. But poverty remains a major problem.

Rural life. About one-fourth of Brazil's people live in rural areas. Most of these people work on large planta­tions or ranches. Some others have their own small farms. Most rural Brazilians earn little money and can barely feed their families. Malnutrition and poverty are especially widespread in the dry interior of the North­east.

Most rural families live in small one- or two-room houses made of stone or adobe, with roofs of red or or­ange clay tiles. Some of the early colonial houses are decorated with painted tiles brought from Portugal. In the Amazon Region, most houses are made of wood or wild cane plants. They have roofs of palm leaves. Dwel­lings built near rivers of the region stand on stilts to avoid flooding. Most rural houses are simply furnished. Many country people sleep in hammocks.

The percentage of Brazilians living in rural areas has dropped sharply since the mid-1900's. The chief reason for the decline is that many farm workers have moved to the cities in hope of finding well-paid factory jobs.

Clothing in Brazil is similar to that worn in most Western countries on warm days. Some regional styles are distinctive. For example, black women of the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, are known for their colour­ful long skirts, bright blouses, and many bracelets and necklaces. The gauchos (cowboys) of southern Brazil wear ponchos and baggy trousers called bombachas. Wide-brimmed felt hats protect the gauchos from the sun.

Food and drink. Brazilians who live in cities enjoy a much wider choice of food than people in the rural areas. Cola beverages, hamburgers, and wheat bread have become increasingly popular in Brazil's larger cit­ies. The diet of wealthy city dwellers includes a variety ₀f meats. In the rural areas and in poor sections of the cities, the chief foods are beans, a starchy root called cassava (or manioc), and rice. Feijoada, Brazil's national dish, combines black beans, dried beef, and pork.

Brazilian food shows a strong African influence in Bahia, where many people prepare dishes with bananas, coconuts, fish, palm oil, and hot peppers. Southern Brazil is known for churrasco, a selection of charcoal- grilled meats. Coffee is Brazil's chief drink. Brazilians also like batidas (sweet fruit beverages made with rum) and a tealike drink called mate.

Recreation. Brazil has about 9,700 kilometres of coastline, and thousands of people flock to broad white beaches at weekends. Many Brazilians enjoy fishing, skin diving, swimming, and boating.

Soccer is Brazil's favourite sport. Some games attract as many as 200,000 spectators to Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, the world's largest stadium. Many Brazilian soccer stars have become famous. One of them, Pele, came to be regarded as the world's greatest soccer player during the 1960s (see Pele). Other popular sports include car racing, basketball, and horse racing.

A number of colourful festivals also brighten life in Brazil. The best known is Carnival, celebrated each year during the four days before the Christian observance of Lent. In the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, thousands of richly costumed Brazilians ride magnificent floats that compete for prizes in dazzling parades. Energetic danc­ers, their bodies swaying to the rhythms of the samba, crowd the streets. Joyful singers and lively musicians add to the fun.

Religion. The early Portuguese colonists brought the Christian religion to Brazil. Today, Brazil has about 110 million Roman Catholics, though many of them do not j actively practise their religion. Catholics form about 85 percent of the population. Brazil has more Catholics than any other country.

About 10 per cent of Brazil's people, mostly blacks and people of mixed ancestry, practise such local reli­gions as macumba and candomble. These religions combine African spiritual beliefs and Catholicism. Prot­estants make up about 5 per cent of Brazil's population. Lutherans form the largest Protestant group. Brazil has about 400,000 Buddhists and 150,000 Jews.

Education. About 75 per cent of Brazil's adults can read and write. But educational levels vary widely throughout the nation. In general, they are highest in southern Brazil and lowest in the Northeast.

Brazil has a free state primary school system. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 must attend school. Many children leave school after completing the requirement and begin work. Most of these children are from poor rural families. Many rural areas of Brazil lack schools and teachers. In some of these areas, the government broadcasts instruction over the radio. University student volunteers teach in some other areas. Government pro­grammes to teach adults how to read and write are widespread.

State secondary schools are free. But most of Brazil's secondary schools are private and charge for tuition.

The Catholic Church runs many secondary schools. Bra­zil has about 65 colleges and universities. The largest, the University of Sao Paulo, has about 45,000 students.

Brazil has many fine libraries, museums, and research centres. The National Library in Rio de Janeiro, the larg­est library in South America, has about 3 million books. The Municipal Public Library of Sao Paulo is known for its collection of children's books. The National Museum in Rio de Janeiro ranks among the best natural history museums in South America. The National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio and the Sao Paulo Museum of Modern Art have notable collections of Brazilian and European paintings. The Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro specializes in medical research. Rio de Janeiro also has one of the world's largest botanical gardens. At the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo, lifesaving snakebite serums are prepared and sent to countries around the world.

Traditional Indian handicraft items—such as baskets, pottery, and jewellery—were the earliest expressions of art in Brazil. Sculptures by Antonio Lisboa rank among the earliest and best-known examples of Brazil's colonial art. During the late 1700's and early 1800's, Lisboa cre­ated many beautiful religious figures for churches in the state of Minas Gerais.

Brazilian literature has long been known for its reveal­ing descriptions of the country's people (see Latin- American literature). In the mid-1800's, Brazil's Indians and slaves appeared as themes in many notable works, including poems by Antonio Gonsalves Dias and Anto­nio de Castro Alves, and the book O Guarani MSI) by Jose de Alencar. In the early 1900's, the novelists Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis and Euclides da Cunha won fame for realistic portrayals of Brazil's changing society. Assis' best-known novel, Dom Casmurro (1900), was translated into many languages. Cunha's famous novel Os Sertdes (1902) described an actual peasant rebellion of the 1890's.

After 1920, Brazilian literature began to show a strong regional influence. Famous novels dealing with the struggles of people in the Northeast and Minas Gerais were Jubiaba (1935) by Jorge Amado and The Devil to Pay in the Backlands (1956) by Joao Guimaraes Rosa.

During the 1900's, several Brazilians won fame for their distinctive styles in other arts. Architect Oscar Nie­meyer created striking designs for the public buildings in Brasilia. Painter Candido Portinari produced bold mu­rals that now hang in the United Nations General Assem­bly Building in New York City and in the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington, D.C Composer Heitor Villa- Lobos beautifully combined classical and Brazilian music in his Bachianas Brasileiras symphony. Sergio Mendes composed many popular tunes based on Bra­zil's lively bossa nova and samba dance styles. Brazilian films and plays have gained world-wide attention be­cause of the work of filmmakers Carlos Diegues, Nelson Pereira dos Santos, and Glauber Rocha, and playwrights Dias Gomes and Nelson Rodrigues.

Land and Climate

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in area. It covers 8,511,999 square kilometres, or nearly half of South America. Low mountains and broad plateaus oc­cupy two-thirds of Brazil. Forested lowlands cover most Jofthe rest. Brazil has more than 1,000 rivers. The largest Include the Amazon, Parana, Sao Francisco, Tapajos, and Xingu.

All but the southernmost part of Brazil lies in the trop­ics, arid most of the country has a warm to hot climate all year round. The mountains and plateaus are cooler than the lowlands. Sea breezes cool some coastal areas. Rain falls heavily in much of Brazil, and the country's warm, wet climate has helped make it one of the leading crop-growing countries in the world. But some parts of the Northeast suffer severe droughts.

Brazil has three main land regions: (1) the Amazon Re­gion, (2) the Northeast Region, and (3) the Central and Southern Plateaus.

The Amazon Region extends across most of north­ern Brazil. It occupies over half the country and consists chiefly of lowlands covered by jungle and tropical rain forest called selva. The region has two mountain areas, the Guiana Highlands in the far north and the Brazilian Highlands in the south. Pico da Neblina, Brazil's highest mountain, rises 3,014 metres near the Brazilian-Venezuelan border.

Manaus, the largest city in the central Amazon, has an average annual temperature of 27° C. Rain falls through­out the year in the Amazon Region and is especially heavy from December to May. The western part of the region is always hot and humid. It gets over 400 centi­metres of rain a year. The eastern part averages from about 100 to 200 centimetres. The Amazon Region is lit­tle developed and thinly populated because of its un­favourable terrain and climate. Only about 7 per cent of Brazil's people live there. The region's name comes from the Amazon River, which has its source in Peru. The muddy-brown Amazon flows 3,158 kilometres through Brazil's rainforests. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Amazon is the world's second longest river. Only the Nile is longer. Oceangoing ships can travel on the Amazon's entire length within Brazil.

Brazil's rainforests have over 40,000 varieties of plants.

More species of trees grow in these forests than in any other area in the world. Scientists have found more than 3,000 kinds of trees in 2.6 square kilometres. These trees include the giant Brazil-nut tree, which grows 64 metres tall. Other major kinds include cannon-ball, cedrela, cordia, kapok, mahogany, purpleheart, rosewood, and rubber trees. The forests yield drugs, fruit, latex, nuts, and timber.

The Amazon Region also has a great variety of ani­mals. More than 1,500 kinds of birds live in the forests. They include parakeets, parrots, toucans, and other beautiful, rainbow-coloured birds that sing and squawk ^ from the high branches. Many kinds of screeching, howling monkeys jump from tree to tree and add to the chorus. Anacondas up to 9 metres long, wide-jawed boa constrictors, and other snakes dwell in the branches and near the rivers. Ants, beetles, butterflies, mosquitoes, and other insects live throughout the region. Other Am­azon animals include anteaters, jaguars, sloths, tapirs, caymans (alligator like reptiles), and capybaras. Capybaras are the world's largest rodents and may weigh as much as 45 kilograms.

The Northeast Region consists of the part of Brazil that bulges into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends south­wards from the state of Maranhao through Bahia. The region occupies less than a fifth of Brazil’s area. About 30% of the country’s people live there.

The Northeast has two subregions—the coastal plain and the sertao, or interior backlands. The coastal plain lies along the Atlantic and has large areas of fertile red soil. Farmers there grow cacao beans, sugar cane, and tobacco. Several big cities stand along the coast. They include Fortaleza, Recife, and Salvador.

The sertao consists of thinly populated plateaus and hilly portions of the Brazilian Highlands. Farmers in the sertao mainly raise cattle. They also grow beans, cas­sava, cotton and maize. But good grazing lands are scarce, and most of the soil is poor. As a result, agricul­tural production is generally low. Two main rivers cross the interior, the Parnaiba and the Sao Francisco.

The Northeast Region has a wide range of tempera­tures. Temperatures in the interior vary widely from 12° to 42° C during the year. But in Recife, on the coast, the temperature remains much the same throughout the year, averaging about 27° C.

Annual rainfall in the Northeast varies from about 170 centimetres in some coastal areas to only about 25 centimetres in parts of the interior. Almost all the rain in the interior falls from December to April. Heavy rains often cause rivers to flood farmland. The interior also suffers from frequent droughts. Some severe droughts have lasted up to two years and have made the area as dry as a desert.

Most Nordestinos, as the people of the Northeast are called, have a hard life. In the interior, many live in clay huts with earth floors. Because of the droughts, floods, and poor soil, they must struggle to make a living from farming. Much of the land is used mainly for subsis­tence agriculture—that is, for growing food crops only for the farmer's own use. Life is also harsh in the North­east's cities. There are few large industries, and unemployment is high. Millions of people suffer from mal­nutrition and sickness. Life expectancy at birth in the Northeast is only 49 years, which is well below the national average.

The Central and Southern Plateaus Region lies to the south of the Amazon and Northeast regions. This area covers about 25 per cent of Brazil and includes most of the Brazilian Highlands. The highlands rise be­tween 300 and 900 metres above sea level. The highest elevations are near the coast. A steep slope called the Great Escarpment runs along the coast on the southeast­ern edge of the highlands. It has prevented easy access to the interior and furthered the growth of coastal cities.

More than half of Brazil's people live in the plateaus region. Much of the population is concentrated in and around Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The region, known as Brazil's economic heartland, also has the country's most fertile farms, finest cattle ranches, and some of its richest mines. Farmers in the plateaus region grow cof­fee—Brazil's top farm export—on large plantations called fazendas. Farmers also grow cotton, grapes, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sugar cane, and wheat. The region has large deposits of gold, iron ore, manganese, and other minerals.

The Parana River is the chief river in the plateaus re­gion. Brazil's biggest hydroelectric power project, the Itaipu Dam plant, lies on the Parana. Nearby, on the Iguagu River at the border between Brazil and Argen­tina, the majestic Iguagu Falls drops 72 metres.

The plateaus region has a cooler climate than the Am­azon Region and the Northeast. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average about 23 °C in January and about 16 °C in July. Winter frosts often occur in the state of Parana, and light snow sometimes falls in the state of Santa Catarina. Rainfall averages about 130 centimetres a year in the plateaus region. The rainy season lasts from November to May.

Along the Paraguay River, where Brazil borders Bo­livia and Paraguay, lies a vast swampy area called the Pantanal. Only a few people, mostly cattle ranchers, in­habit the Pantanal. The area has huge flocks of water birds and many other animals.

Brazil's farms, forests, and mines have long produced an enormous amount of valuable exports. But today, factories and service industries contribute the most to Brazil ‘s gross domestic product (GDP). The GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. Brazil's GDP is the highest in Latin America and one of the highest in the world.

Brazil's economy is based on private enterprise. But the government controls many basic industries, including the oil, petrochemical, and steel industries. Heavy foreign investment in industry during and after World War II (1939-1945) helped bring about a tremendous in crease in manufacturing. Brazil doubled its economic output during the 1960's and 1970's.

However, Brazil also faces major economic problems including inflation and unemployment. In the late 1980's the inflation rate reached 600 per cent a year.

Service industries have become increasingly impor­tant to Brazil s economy. The percentage of Brazilian workers employed by service industries rose from 20 per cent in 1940 to 40 per cent in 1980. This trend is continuing. Today, service industries account for about 55 per cent of employment in Brazil.

The most important group of service industries con­sists of community, government, and personal services This group of services includes education, health care, and many other activities. Community, government, ant personal services employ nearly a third of Brazil’s workers. Other types of service industries are finance, insur­ance, property, and business services; transportation, communication, and utilities; and wholesale and retail trade.

Manufacturing has grown rapidly in Brazil. Between 1948 and 1976, industrial production increased by an av­erage rate of 9 per cent a year. Inflation has helped slow the industrial growth by contributing to rising business costs. But in 1977, for the first time, manufactured prod­ucts accounted for over half the value of Brazil s exports Today, Brazil is one of the world's leading industrial nations.

Manufacturing accounts for about 27 per cent of Brazil's gross national product. Factories employ about 7 per cent of the country's workers. The state of Sao Paulo is Brazil's chief industrial region.

Brazil ranks among the world's major car producers. Latin America's largest iron and steel plant is at Volta Redonda, near Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is the world's top pro­ducer of raw sugar. It also ranks as one of the world's top textil^e producers and is a leading publishing centre in South America. Other chief Brazilian industries make aeroplanes, cement, chemicals, electrical equipment, food products, machinery, paper, pharmaceuticals, and transportation equipment.

Agriculture accounts for about 9 per cent of Brazil's economic output. Brazil is a world leader in the produc­tion of crops and livestock, and only the United States exports more farm products. About 26 per cent of Bra­zil's workers are employed in agriculture. Most of them work on big farms and ranches owned by corporations and wealthy Brazilians.

Brazil grows about 30 per cent of the world's coffee crop. Brazil also leads all countries in growing cassava, oranges, papayas, and sugar cane. It is one of the world's top producers of bananas, cacao beans, cash­ews, cotton, lemons, maize, pineapples, rice, soybeans, and tobacco. Brazil is a world leader in raising cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, and sheep. In addition, it is Latin America's top producer of meat, milk, and eggs. Brazil's chief farming and grazing areas are in the south.

Mining. Brazil is rich in minerals. It is the world's only source of high-quality quartz crystals. It ranks among the world's top producers of amethysts, bauxite, beryllium, chrome, diamonds, gold, graphite, iron ore, magne­sium, manganese, mica, and tin. Brazilian mines also yield agates, barite, clays, copper, lead, lime, nickel, phosphates, topaz, tungsten, and uranium. Wells along the coast produce petroleum and natural gas. Brazil has the largest iron ore deposits in the world. Most of the country's iron ore and other minerals come from the state of Minas Cerais. During the early 1980's, vast min­eral deposits were discovered in the Amazon Reqion of Brazil.

Forestry. Brazil ranks as one of the world's leading producers of forest products. The chief forest product is timber from an araucaria tree called the Parana pine, which grows in southern Brazil. Much timber is made into charcoal, an important source of fuel in rural areas of Brazil and in the country's iron and steel industry. Be­sides timber, the forests yield carnauba wax, fibres, gums and resins, medicines, nuts, oils, and rubber.

Fishing. Brazilians fish along the coast of the Atlantic and in the rivers of the Amazon Basin. Fish including croakers and sardinellas, shrimp, and lobsters are caught in the ocean. The rivers yield tropical fish such as characins.

Energy sources. Hydroelectric power stations pro­duce nearly all of Brazil's electricity. Large power plants operate on the Parana, Sao Francisco, and Tocantins riv­ers. In 1975, Brazil and Paraguay began construction of the Itaipu Dam power plant on the Parana River. The plant began generating electricity in 1984 and was com­pleted in 1991 at a cost of 18 billion U.S. dollars. Itaipu has a generating capacity of about 12 million kilowatts, making it one of the most powerful hydroelectric plants in the world.

Brazil produces about 50 per cent of the oil it needs each year. It buys most of the rest from the Middle East Coal and charcoal provide some energy in Brazil.

In the mid-1970's, the high cost of imported oil led Brazil to develop a programme that substitutes alcohol for fuels made from petroleum. In this way, Brazilian farmers "grow" fuel—that is, they raise sugar cane that distilleries make into alcohol for fuel. Brazil leads all countries in the production of alcohol for fuel and in the manufacture of alcohol-fuelled cars. Most new cars made in Brazil rely entirely on alcohol for their fuel.

Foreign trade. Coffee ranks as Brazil s most valuable export. It provides about a fifth of the country's export income. Other major Brazilian exports include cars and trucks, iron ore, iron and steel, oranges and orange juice, shoes, soybeans and soy meal, and sugar. Petro­leum ranks as Brazil's main import. Other leading im­ports include chemicals, fertilizer, machinery, and wheat.

The United States is Brazil's chief trading partner.

Other important trading partners include Argentina, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Transportation. Brazil has a good road network in the Central and Southern Plateaus. The Trans-Amazon Highway, which was begun in the 1970's, links some of Brazil's isolated western areas to the rest of the country. Rivers serve as the chief transportation routes in the Amazon Region. A few roads, mostly unpaved, connect the Amazon Region with the Atlantic Coast and the pla­teaus. Brazil has an average of about 1 car for every 15 people. Most Brazilians travel by bus. In remote areas, some people travel on horseback. Brazil's main railway connects Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Santos and Rio de Janeiro are the largest seaports.

Brazil leads Latin America in commercial aviation. The largest Brazilian airline, Varig, flies to five continents, as well as within Brazil. The Sao Paulo area has three air­ports and the Rio de Janeiro area has two. More than 90 cities have regularly scheduled passenger flights.

Communication. Almost all Brazilian families own one or more radios, and about half have a television set. More than 300 daily newspapers are published in Brazil. Most are privately owned, and they represent a variety °f political opinions. The best-known newspapers in­clude Folha de Sao Paulo, Jornal da Tarde, and O Estado de Sao Paulo of Sao Paulo, and O Dia and Jornal do Brasil of Rio de Janeiro.

Early days. Indians lived in what is now Brazil long before the first Europeans arrived. Major Indian groups in the country included the Guarani and Tupinamba. The Indians hunted and fished for much of their food. They also gathered fruit from the forests and grew crops. Cas­sava was their most important crop.

Some Indian groups lived in villages with from two to six long thatched houses. Each family had its own sec­tion in one house. The Brazilian Indians believed in many gods and enjoyed religious festivals. They made baskets, pottery, and other handicraft items.

Portuguese rule. In 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal (see Line of Demarcation). Portugal gained the right to claim land in what is now eastern Brazil. Portugal claimed pos­session of Brazil on April 22,1500, when the Portuguese fleet commander Pedro Alvares Cabral landed on the coast. The Portuguese called certain trees that they found there brazilwoods because their wood had the colour of a glowing ember, called brasa in Portuguese. They named the country after the trees.

Portuguese colonists began to settle Brazil during the 1530's. The most successful early settlements developed at Recife and Salvador in the Northeast and at Sao Vi­cente in southern Brazil. The colonists in the Northeast soon established large sugar cane plantations. Brazilian sugar sold in Europe brought wealth to Portugal. Cattle hides, cotton, and tobacco also were exported.

The colonists enslaved local Indians to work on the plantations. Large numbers of Indians died from Euro­pean diseases. Many others fought the Portuguese and were killed. To replace the Indians, Portugal began to bring thousands of black African slaves to Brazil.

In 1630, Dutch settlers gained control of what is now the state of Pernambuco. The Portuguese drove the Dutch out of Brazil in 1654. In the 1690s and early 1700's, adventurers from Sao Paulo discovered diamonds and gold in what are now the states of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. These discoveries attracted thousands of Portuguese to the interior and further enriched Portugal.

During the early 1700's, fortune seekers and settlers moved westward into land that the Treaty of Tordesillas had identified as Spanish territory. In 1750, Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Madrid, which recognized Portugal's claim to almost all of what is now Brazil. Dur­ing the mid-1700's, Rio de Janeiro became a major sea­port. Miners sent loads of diamonds and gold to Rio, and ships there took the treasure to Portugal. In 1763, the capital of Brazil was moved from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro. By about 1800, more than 3} million colonists and slaves lived in Brazil. The slaves made up more than half the population. Most of the colonists lived in small farming settlements. Rio de Janeiro, with a population of about 100,000, was the largest town.

Portugal profited tremendously from Brazil's farm products and mineral wealth. However, it limited the country's economic growth by discouraging the devel­opment of manufacturing. Portugal wanted Brazilians to buy Portuguese manufactured goods, rather than to make these products themselves.

Independence. In 1807, France invaded Portugal be­cause the Portuguese had supported Great Britain in a war between the French and British. Prince John, Portu­gal's ruler, fled to Rio de Janeiro with his family. In 1808, Rio became capital of the Portuguese Empire. In 1815, the prince raised Brazil to the status of a kingdom. The royal family returned to Portugal in 1821. John left his son Pedro to rule Brazil.

On Sept. 7,1822, Pedro declared Brazil independent A few months later, he was crowned emperor as Pedro I. He granted Brazil a constitution in 1824. But Pedro ruled harshly and became unpopular. In 1828, Brazil lost a war against Argentina and gave up the territory that is now the nation of Uruguay. In 1831, Pedro was forced to resign. He left his throne to his 5-year-old son, Pedro II.

The age of Pedro II. Pedro II officially took office as emperor of Brazil in 1841, at the age of 15. He helped bring about a period of great progress. New railways connected coastal cities and inland areas, and new tele­graph lines improved communications. A modern bank­ing system developed, and a textile industry grew. In ad­dition, many new schools opened, including schools for agriculture and mining.

During the mid-1800's, thousands of immigrants from Germany, Italy, and other European countries started to settle in southern Brazil. Coffee growing spread rapidly in this region. A great worldwide demand for rubber products led to the development of the Amazon Re­gion's vast natural rubber resources.

in the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-1870), Brazil joined Argentina and Uruguay in defeating Paraguay. The war resulted in the establishment of Brazil's present boundary with Paraguay. See Paraguay (History).

In 1888, a law abolished slavery in Brazil and freed about 750,000 slaves. Most of them had worked on plan­tations, and Brazil's slave owners became angry with Pedro when they were not paid for their slaves. In 1889, Brazilian military officers supported by the plantation owners forced Pedro to give up his throne. He died in Paris two years later. In 1922, his body was brought back to Brazil. Brazilians still honour Pedro II as a national hero.

Birth of the republic. Brazil became a republic on Nov. 15,1889. In 1891, the people adopted a constitution modelled on the Constitution of the United States. Gen­eral Manoel Deodoro da Fonseca won election as Bra­zil's first president. He and some of Brazil's other early presidents ruled as dictators. The presidency soon began to alternate between political leaders from Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, the two most powerful states.

During the early 1900's, new rubber supplies from Asia ended the great demand for Brazilian rubber. But coffee grew in importance and brought great wealth to Brazil. World War I (1914-1918) led to major industrial expansion in the country. Many of Brazil's trading part­ners fought in the war and could no longer supply in­dustrial goods to Brazil. As a result, Brazilian factories started to make many of these products and sell them in both domestic and foreign markets. In 1917, Brazil joined the Allies in the war. Brazilian ships watched for German vessels in the South Atlantic Ocean.

After the war ended, foreign demand for Brazil's products dropped sharply. Brazilian cities suffered high unemployment and labour unrest during the 1920s. At the same time, the price of coffee fell rapidly, and thou­sands of plantation workers also lost jobs.

Political unrest also increased. The practice of alter­nating presidents from Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais led to a crisis in the election of 1930. The retiring president, Washington Luis Pereira da Sousa, favoured a friend from Sao Paulo, Julio Prestes, as his successor instead of a candidate from Minas Gerais. Prestes won the election. But a group of military officers supported by political leaders from Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and other smaller states overthrew the republic. They gave the presidency to Getulio Vargas, governor of Rio Grande do Sul.

The Vargas dictatorship. In 1934, Vargas wrote a new constitution that helped make him a national hero. The constitution increased wages, shortened working hours, and gave trade unions many powers. It also gave the right to vote to all citizens over the age of 18 who could read and write. This provision allowed Brazilian women to vote for the first time.

Like most other countries, Brazil suffered a major eco­nomic slump during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Vargas gradually became convinced that he lacked the authority to deal effectively with Brazil's economic prob­lems. In 1937, he prepared a new constitution that per­mitted him to rule Brazil as a dictator. Then he censored the press, banned political parties, and took over Brazil's trade unions. Brazilians lost most of their constitutional freedoms. Vargas created a variety of public works proj­ects to give jobs to the unemployed. His government built many airports, roads, hydroelectric power plants, and schools. It also developed a national radio network and built the Volta Redonda steel plant.

World War II (1939-1945) brought another great surge in demand for Brazilian industrial goods. Brazil declared war on Germany and the other Axis powers in 1942. About 25,000 Brazilian troops fought with Allied forces in Italy.

Return to constitutional government. In October 1945, military leaders forced Vargas to resign as head of the government. Eurico Gaspar Dutra, an army officer, was elected president. In 1946, a new constitution re­stored individual rights and gave an elected legislature the authority to make the country's laws.

Vargas was elected president again in 1950. His gov­ernment faced tough economic problems, including se­vere inflation. Brazil's economy improved little under Vargas. In 1954, military officers again took over the gov­ernment. When Vargas learned of the officers' action, he killed himself.

In 1955, Juscelino Kubitschek was elected president. He built a new capital, Brasilia, about 1,000 kilometres from the Atlantic coast. He hoped that the new city would help develop Brazil's interior. The government moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960.

Manufacturing in Brazil began to thrive in the mid- 1950s. Big foreign investments helped bring about rapid growth in the car, chemical, and steel industries. During the 1960s, millions of Brazilians moved from rural areas to urban centres to seek jobs in the new factories. As a result, Sao Paulo became the major industrial centre of South America.

Political tension increased in Brazil after Janio Qua­dras was elected president in 1960. Quadras believed Brazil had to trade with all nations, and he worked to in­crease trade between Brazil and Communist countries. But the Brazilian legislature opposed many of his eco­nomic plans. About seven months after taking office, Quadras resigned.

Vice President Joao Goulart succeeded Quadras. Bra­zilian military leaders feared that Coulart s economic policies would open the way for a Communist take-over of Brazil. In 1964, troops led by General Humberto Cas- telo Branco forced Goulart from office. The general be­came head of the government.

Under military rule. Military officers gave Castelo Branco many powers, including authority to suspend the rights of citizens. The people continued to elect a Congress, but the military controlled the elections.

Brazil s economy flourished during the late 1960's. The opening of new factories in the cities continued to at­tract rural farm workers. By 1970, for the first time, more Brazilians lived in urban areas than in rural areas. During the mid-1970's, a worldwide business slump helped slow Brazil's economic growth.

In 1974, General Ernesto Geisel became president. Geisel also faced congressional opposition to military government. In 1977, he proposed legislation to reform the court system. But opponents in Congress blocked the legislation. Geisel temporarily closed Congress, ar­rested some of his chief critics in the legislature, and barred others from politics.

In 1979, General Joao Baptista Figueiredo succeeded Geisel. High inflation rates and labour unrest challenged his administration. As a result of soaring prices, many city workers demanded pay rises. Figueiredo allowed unions to strike for higher wages, and about 300 of them staged strikes in 1979. Figueiredo also allowed new political parties to form.

Brazil today is continuing to grow from a develop­ing to an industrial country. It now exports a wide range of manufactured goods in addition to many farm prod­ucts and minerals. Brazil's middle class is steadily ex­panding. New factories, hydroelectric power plants, and mines offer hope for further economic progress. De­spite protests from conservationists, Brazil is clearing large areas of Amazon rainforest for development.

Military rule ended in Brazil in 1985. The electoral col­lege elected a civilian president, Tancredo de Almeida Neves. The college consisted of all the members of Con­gress and representatives of the state legislatures. Neves became too ill to take office, and died in April. Jose Sarney, who had been elected vice president, was named president. A 1985 constitutional amendment pro­vided for the direct election of future presidents by the people, rather than by the electoral college. In Novem­ber 1986, Brazilians elected a new Congress and state legislatures.

A new constitution came into effect in 1988. In De­cember 1989, Fernando Collor de Mello was elected president by the people. In 1992, Collor was accused of corruption. A congressional investigation found that Collor had received improper economic benefits. In De­cember, Collor resigned after he had been impeached (accused of misconduct). Brazil's vice president, Itamar Augusto Franco, became president. In October 1994, the voters elected Fernando Henrique Cardoso president, Collor still faced a charge of corruption in civil court, but the Supreme Court acquitted him in December 1994.

Outline

Government

National, government, Local government, Politics, Courts, Armed Forces.

People

Population, Ancestry

Way of life

City life, Rural life, Clothing, Food and drink, Recreation, Religion, Education

Arts

Land and climate

The Amazon Region, The Northeast Region

Economy

Service industries, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Mining, and Forestry 
History

Questions

How does Brazil rank in area among all countries?

What are the three main land regions of Brazil?

What are some of the problems in Brazil's favelas?

Where was the city of Brasilia built? Why?

Why did Portugal bring African slaves to Brazil?

How much of the world coffee crop comes from Brazil? What is the most popular sport in Brazil?

Why did Brazilian slave owners become angry with Pedro II? What is Brazil's official language?

How do Brazilian farmers "grow" fuel?