Brazil is a large and vibrant country with a rich and colourful history. Located in South America, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the largest country in South America. It is well known for its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture, and diverse people. From the Amazon rainforest to the white sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast, Brazil has something to offer every traveler. With a population of over 210 million, Brazil is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and religions. From its vibrant cities to its vast countryside, Brazil is a country full of culture and diversity.
1. Brazil is the largest country in South America.
Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country and has the sixth most people living there of any country in the world.
Over 211 million people live in Brazil.
2. Brazil has 4 time zones.
The reason Brazil has 4 time zones is because it is so big there is a big difference in when the sun sets across the country.
3. The Capital City is Brasilia.
Lots of people think Rio de Janeiro is the Capital but it’s actually Brasilia. Other big cities include Sao Paulo, Salvador and Fortaleza.
4. Around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is in Brazil.
Most of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil. The rainforest is full of animals and is often called ‘the lungs of the Earth’ — though that nickname isn’t quite right. The trees do make oxygen, but the forest uses up almost as much as it makes. What it really does is soak up carbon dioxide and lock it away in its wood, and that is why it matters so much to the climate.
Unfortunately Brazilian rainforest is being cut and burnt down to graze cattle and grow palm oil. This is making climate change worse. You can find out more about what is causing climate change and how we can stop it here.
5. In Brazil people speak Portuguese.
The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. To say hello you say ‘Olรก’.
It is the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese – other South American countries mainly speak Spanish.
6. Brazil is home to the 2nd longest river in the world.
The Amazon river flows through Brazil and is the 2nd longest river in the world (the Nile is the longest).
It is home to lots of animals including the Amazon river dolphin, electric eel and the green anaconda snake.
7. The Brazilian flag has 27 stars on it.
The Brazilian flag is green with a yellow diamond in the center filled with a blue globe.
In the blue globe are 27 stars and a white banner with the country’s slogan, ‘Ordem e Progresso’, which means Order and Progress.
8. One of the most popular things to eat is feijoada.
Feijoada is often considered a national dish in Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro.
It is made from black beans, pork and beef stewed together.
9. Brazilians love football.
Brazilians are crazy about football!
Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup finals five times, more than any other nation.
They have produced some of the worlds best football players including Pelรฉ, Ronaldinho and Neymar.
10. Brazil has the biggest carnival in the world.
The Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro sees 2 million people take to the streets to enjoy dancing, music and parades in incredible carnival outfits.
Inside the rainforest
The Amazon isnโt one big tangle of trees โ it has floors, like a building. At the very top are the emergent trees, poking out above everything else. Below them is the canopy, a thick roof of leaves where most of the animals live. Then comes the dark, shady understory, and finally the forest floor, where hardly any sunlight reaches.
The forest is full of partnerships. Brazil nut trees depend on a small rodent called the agouti, one of the only animals with teeth strong enough to crack open their hard seed pods. It buries the seeds to eat later, forgets some of them โ and those grow into new trees.
๐ Words to know
- Tropical rainforest
- A thick, steamy forest near the Equator, where it is warm and rains a lot.
- Canopy
- The roof of leaves high up in a rainforest, where most of its animals live.
- Biodiversity
- How many different kinds of living things there are in a place. The Amazon has more than almost anywhere.
- Deforestation
- Cutting down a forest and not letting it grow back.
โ ๏ธ Watch out!
How much do you know about Brazil?
Which animal helps plant new Brazil nut trees?
- The agouti
- A monkey
- A parrot
- A jaguar
Where do most people in the Amazon rainforest live?
- In a few cities along big rivers
- In tree houses
- Only in tiny villages
- Nobody lives there
What is the capital of Brazil?
- Brasรญlia
- Rio de Janeiro
- Sรฃo Paulo
- Manaus
Where in the world?
Brazil is in South America โ the continent with the Amazon rainforest running through it.
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