Brazil Facts: Interesting Facts About Brazil

When we first think of Brazil, we think soccer. And why not, considering that the national soccer team of Brazil has won the coveted FIFA World Cup a record 5 times. But besides soccer, there is a lot more to this South American country. Officially known as 'Brasil' or 'Republica Federtiva do Brasil', it is not only the most populous country in Latin America, but also among the biggest countries in the world. In this article we have tried to surprise you with some interesting facts about Brazil, that many of you might not know.
Basic Facts About Brazil

Official Name	Federative Republic of Brazil	Flag
Commonly Known As	Brazil
Capital	Brasilia
Population	About 200 million
Official Language	Portuguese
Largest City	Sao Paulo

Brazil is the eastern most country of the Americas, and falls between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela and the department of French Guiana to the north, and Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to the south. To the west, Brazil shares its border with Peru and Bolivia, while to the northwest it is bordered by Colombia. Ecuador and Chile are the only South American countries which do not share their boundaries with Brazil.
	Brazil is the largest country in Latin America. It is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of area as well as population. It has a total territory of about 8,514,876.599 square kilometers. The coastline of the country is about 7367 km. Other than these, many archipelagos - cluster of islands - come under the territory of Brazil. Chief among these are Penedosde Sao Pedro e Sa Paulo, Trindade e Martim Vaz, Atol das Rocas and Fernando de Noronha.
The main land characteristic of Brazil is the extensive Amazon rain forest in the north, and the hilly and low mountainous region in the south. Brazil contains almost 60% of the Amazon rain forest. The south of Brazil has most of the agricultural population of Brazil, as well as the agricultural base.
	The highest peak is Pico da Neblina, at 9735 feet in Guiana's highlands. The entire Atlantic coast is home to several mountain ranges, some reaching up to 9500 feet in height. The chief rivers in Brazil are the Amazon, Parana, Igacu and the Negro, Xingu, Madeira, Tapajos and Sao Francisco rivers.
The motto of Brazil is 'Order and Progress'. Brazil consists of 26 states and one federal district. The Government of a state is headed by a Governor who is elected by popular vote. Each state has municipalities with a legislative council and a mayor in place. Brazil has been a Colony, an Empire, a Republic and under the Military rule. Today it is a democratic nation. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia. It is a presidential representative democratic republic according to the constitution of 1988.

Fun Facts About Brazil

• An astounding 4 million species of plants and animals exist in Brazil, and not only that, there are even more species being discovered every day.
• Thanks to its huge exports of coffee, cars, textiles, iron ore, and aircraft, Brazil ranks tenth in the economies of the world.
• As everyone must be knowing, Brazil is famous for its soccer team. In fact, Brazil is the only country that has won the prestigious FIFA World Cup 5 times, their latest victory coming in 2002. Brazil is also the host for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• Soccer is also the favorite sport of Brazilians, and every city in Brazil has a soccer stadium.
• Voting in the elections is compulsory in Brazil, and everyone between the ages of 18 and 65 has to vote.
• The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, and Brazil is the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world.
• With over 8000 airports, Brazil has the second highest number of airports in the world, behind the United States of America, who have over 15000.
• Spanning over 2800 miles from north to south, Brazil earns the honor of being the longest country in the world.
• Brazil also has many billionaires, and is ranked 9th in world for the country with the most number of billionaires.
• Brazil is also the producer of the world's best and most delicious coffee, that is exported all over the world.
• This South American country is also home to one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, the Christ the Redeemer Statue, which overlooks Rio de Janeiro.
• There is no official religion in Brazil, though over 75% of the population are Roman Catholics.

Brazil is also a hot spot for tourism, and its second largest city, Rio de Janeiro, is one of its most preferred tourist spots. Rio de Janeiro is full of pristine beaches, and has an amazing night life as well. It ranks high on the list of most popular tourist destinations, and has special parties for ushering in the new year. Today, Brazil is considered to have the fastest growing economy, and is in the top ten of the most powerful nations in the world, economy wise. Visiting Brazil can never be a bad idea, and these Brazil facts will surely help you plan your trip well.