Brazil is the largest country in South America, bordering every other South American nation except Chile and Ecuador. It is renowned for the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, which covers much of its interior. Brazil is also celebrated for its vibrant culture, including samba music, Carnival, and a passionate football tradition.
- Capital
- Brasília
- Continent
- Americas
- Region
- South America
- Area
- 8,515,767 km²
- Coordinates
- 10° S, 55° W
Country facts
- Brazil was colonized by Portugal and declared independence in 1822, making Portuguese its official language.
- The Amazon River, which flows through northern Brazil, carries more water than any other river on Earth.
- Brazil is the only country in South America where Portuguese, not Spanish, is the official language.
- The country is one of the world's most biodiverse nations, home to roughly 10% of all species on Earth.
- Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup a record five times, more than any other nation.
Capital facts
- Brasília was purpose-built as the nation's capital and officially inaugurated on April 21, 1960.
- The city was designed by urban planner Lúcio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer in a distinctive modernist style.
- Brasília's layout is shaped like an airplane or a bird when viewed from above.
- The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, just 27 years after its founding.
- The striking National Congress building features twin towers flanked by two contrasting dome shapes representing the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.