• The Federative Republic of Brazil is a nation located in South America, bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil shares land borders with every nation in South America except Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by geographic area, and the fifth most populous.

• 1. Capital: Brasilia
  2. Motto: Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress)
  3. Government: Presidential Federal Republic
  4. President: Luiz Inacio "Lula" Da SilvaBBC News: Brazil President
  5. Population: 196,342,592 (July 2008)The CIA World Factbook: Brazil
  6. Currency: Brazilian real (BRL)
  7. Official Language: Portuguese
  8. Major cities: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
  9. Country code: +55The CIA World Factbook: Brazil
  10. Time zone: BST (UTC -3)
  11. Climate: Tropical

• Brief History

  Prior to European contact, Brazil was home to a large and diverse population of Amerindian tribes. In 1500, Portuguese explorer Pedro Cabral claimed the area that is now Brazil for Portugal. In 1825, Brazil became an independent nation. Until 1889, Brazil was a monarchy, and was ruled by Emperor Pedro I and Pedro II. In the 20th century, Brazil endured decades of military rule until a peaceful transition of power in 1985.

• Culture

  Brazil is a highly diverse nation, with a large mixed-race population formed from the intermarriage of the ancestors of former African slaves and whites. The Amazon River basin, which flows through Brazil, contains significant populations of indigenous Amerindians, such as the Yanomamo.

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