Brief information
Brazil is famous for its luxurious numerous beaches, which stretch for hundreds of kilometers along the east coast of the country. However, every year millions of tourists from all over the world come to Brazil not only for the sake of excellent beach resorts. Tourists are also interested in the sights and culture of this country, which gave the world samba, capoeira and Brazilian football.
Geography of Brazil
Brazil is located in South America. Brazil is bordered to the north by Suriname, Venezuela, Guyana and French Guiana, to the northwest by Colombia, to the west by Peru and Bolivia, to the south by Uruguay, and to the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay. In the east, the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of this state is 8,514,877 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 14,691 km.
The territory of Brazil is very diverse – there are lowlands, plains, hills, mountains. In the north is the Amazonian lowland, passing into the Guiana Plateau, and in the south – the Brazilian Plateau. The highest local peak is Neblin Peak, whose height reaches 2,994 meters.
The main Brazilian rivers are the Amazon, the Parana (and its main tributary the Iguazu), the Negro, the San Francisco and the Madeira.
Capital of Brazil
According to simplyyellowpages.com, Brasilia is the capital of Brazil. The population of this city is now more than 2.6 million people. Brasilia was built in the late 1950s.
Official language
The official language is Portuguese.
Religion
About 86% of the inhabitants are Christians (more than 84% of them are Catholics, and more than 22% are Protestants).
State structure of Brazil
According to the 1988 Constitution, Brazil is a federal republic. Its head is the President, who is elected for 4 years. Executive power belongs to the President, Vice President and the Cabinet of Ministers, consisting of 15 ministers with a chairman.
The bicameral Brazilian parliament is called the National Congress, it consists of the Senate (81 senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (513 deputies).
According to diseaseslearning.com, the main political parties are the Workers’ Party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, the Brazilian Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, the Progressive Party and the Republican Party.
Administratively, the country is divided into 26 states and one federal district with the center in Brasilia.
Climate and weather
The climate is diverse, ranging from tropical to subequatorial. In the Amazon basin, the climate is tropical with an average annual air temperature of +27C.
The best time to visit Brazil is from December to March. At this time, the weather is sunny enough to sunbathe on the beaches and swim in the ocean. In addition, you need to remember about the Brazilian Carnival in February.
In general, you can relax in this South American country all year round. But keep in mind that in the northeast the rainy season falls on April-July, and in the Rio de Janeiro region – in October-January.
Ocean off the coast of Brazil
In the east, Brazil is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coastline is 7,491 km. The average sea temperature near the coast from January to March is + 25C, and from July to September – + 23C.
Rivers and lakes
Brazil has a large number of rivers. The largest of these are the Amazon, the Paraná (and its main tributary the Iguazu), the Negro, San Francisco and Madeira.
In the state of Parana, on the border with Argentina, there are the famous Iguazu Falls, consisting of 270 individual waterfalls.
History of Brazil
The modern history of Brazil began in 1500, when the Portuguese fleet headed by Pedro Alvares Cabral sailed to the shores of this country. The first Portuguese settlement in Brazil appeared in 1532, and the colonization of this country actually began in 1534, when the Portuguese king divided it into 12 colonies.
In 1549, the colonies were iced into a single Brazilian government-general. By the middle of the 16th century, Brazil had become the world’s largest supplier of sugar. To grow sugar cane, black slaves from Angola and Mozambique began to be imported there in large quantities.
In 1640, the Marquis de Montalvan became the first Viceroy of Brazil. By the end of the 17th century, sugar exports from this South American state declined markedly. However, nothing threatened the Brazilian economy, because. large reserves of gold were found in the country.
In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal – the Brazilian Empire was formed, headed by Emperor Pedro I.
Slavery in Brazil was only abolished in 1888. A year later, in 1889, the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed.
In 1930, Getulio Vargas became president of Brazil, who then introduced personal rule in the country – a dictatorship. In 1954, the highest officers of the Brazilian army carried out a political armed coup, and Marshal Humberto Castelo Branco actually came to power.
Brazil is now the political and economic leader in South America.
Culture
Modern Brazilian society was formed as a result of the merging of representatives of many cultures. That is why Brazilian culture is so diverse and interesting.
Capoeira, one of the most beautiful martial arts in the world, was born in Brazil. Capoeira emerged among the black slaves as a response to the brutality of the white planters.
Another characteristic feature of Brazilian culture is the samba dance. This dance remains the most popular form of folk music for many Brazilians today.
Also, do not forget about football, which for the vast majority of Brazilians has already become a real religion. Is it possible to imagine Brazilian culture without football?
Every year at the end of February, before Lent, many Brazilian cities hold the Carnival, which today has already become the most grandiose show in the world. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and El Salvador are especially famous for their parades, the organizers of which spend several months every year preparing.
Brazilian Cuisine
Brazilian cuisine has been influenced by the culinary traditions of local Indians, Portuguese, Italians, Germans, Africans, and even Japanese and Arabs. The staple foods for many Brazilians are rice, black beans and cassava.
Some experts say that as such there is no single Brazilian cuisine, but there are separate regional culinary traditions.
Tourists in Brazil are recommended to try “feijoada” (rice, beans with tomatoes and meat), “charrasco” kebabs, “tutu” (mashed beans and meat), “embalaya” (meat stew with vegetables and tomatoes), “xinxim” (chicken with tomatoes and shrimp), “acaraje” (fried beans), “calderada” vegetable soup, shrimp with vegetables and spicy “caruru” sauce, Brazilian “hoo” “mokicha”, etc.
Traditional soft drinks are fruit juices, coconut juice, and, of course, coffee.
Traditional alcoholic drinks are “cachaca” (strong national alcoholic drink), beer and rum.
Attractions in Brazil
In Brazil, tourists are waiting not only for excellent picturesque beaches, but also for very interesting sights. Near the border with Argentina and Paraguay on the Iguazu River are the famous Iguazu Falls, which are visited annually by about 1 million tourists.
The most important Brazilian attraction is a huge 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro.
65 km from Rio de Janeiro in Petropolis is the Imperial Museum, as well as a very interesting summer residence of Emperor Pedro I.
Tourists are advised to visit the city of Salvador, which once upon a time became the first settlement of the Portuguese in Brazil. In this city, a large number of medieval churches, monasteries and palaces have survived to this day.
We also recommend paying attention to the Brazilian reserves and national parks, of which there are more than twenty in this country. These are, first of all, the Iguazu National Park, whose area is 17 thousand hectares and the Pantanal Reserve, with an area of 150 thousand square meters. km.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Manaus, and, of course, Sao Paulo.
Brazil is world famous for its beaches. Some of them are among the best in the world. Every seaside Brazilian city can be called a beach resort. Naturally, the beach infrastructure is well developed there. The top ten Brazilian beaches, in our opinion, include the following:
- Sancho Bay (Fernando de Noronha)
- Lopes Mendes Beach (Ilha Grande)
- Bay of Pigs (Fernando de Noronha)
- Carneiros Beach (Porto de Galinhas)
- Dolphins Bay (Piper Beach)
- Ipanema Beach (Rio de Janeiro)
- Blue Lagoon (Ilha Grande)
- Arpoador Beach (Rio de Janeiro)
- Muro Alto Beach (Porto de Galinhas)
- Gunga Beach (Maceio)
Souvenirs/Shopping
As souvenirs, various handicrafts, leather goods, wallets and purses, handmade jewelry, football souvenirs, small figurines of Christ the Redeemer, women’s kanga scarves, and the Brazilian traditional alcoholic drink cachaca are brought from Brazil as souvenirs.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 10:00 -16: 00
Shops:
Mon-Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Visa
Ukrainians need a visa to visit Brazil.
Brazilian currency
Real is the official currency in Brazil. Its international designation is BRL. One real = 100 centavos. Most hotels, restaurants, upmarket shops accept credit cards.
Customs restrictions
Cash amounts over 10,000 reais (or equivalent) must be declared upon entry into the country.
It is forbidden to import drugs, firearms and cold weapons, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and fish products, dairy products (including milk, eggs and cheese), plants, birds, pornographic materials, counterfeit goods.
The import of meat, fish, flowers, plants requires permission from the relevant Brazilian authorities. An international veterinary certificate is required for the import of dogs and cats.
It is forbidden to export antiques and art, as well as wild animals.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Embassy of Brazil in Ukraine:
Index: 01010, Kiev, st. Borichev Tok 22-A
T: (044) 280-63-01
Email. mail: [email protected]
Embassy of Ukraine in Brazil:
SHIS, QІ-06, Conjunto-04
Casa-02, LAGO SUL, CEP 71615-040 Brasilia-DF
BRASIL
Т: (8 10 5561) 3365 1457
Email. mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
190 – Police
192 – Ambulance
193 – Fire brigade
Time
Behind Kyiv for 6 hours. Those. if, for example, in Kyiv 13:00, then in Brasilia – 07:00.
Tips
Tips are usually 10% of the bill. Porters are given $1 per bag.
Medicine
Doctors recommend that tourists before traveling to Brazil get preventive vaccinations against typhoid fever, dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, rabies, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Security
Brazil has a reputation for not being a very safe country. In some ways, of course, this reputation is well-deserved. However, if you take reasonable precautions, then the rest in this South American country will pass without any problems. Be careful everywhere, but especially in Rio, Salvador, Sao Paulo and Recife.
