Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest country in the world overall in both area and population. Brazil covers a vast area of the South American continent, bordering Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. In fact, Brazil shares a border with every South American country apart from Ecuador and Chile. The name Brazil derives from pau-brasil (brazilwood), a tree with highly valued timber. Brazil posses both extensive agricultural lands and vast rain forests. Enjoying vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil is South America's leading economic power and regional leader. As a former Portuguese colony, Portuguese is Brazil's official language.
Brazil has been inhabited for around 10,000 years by semi-nomadic populations. The first Portuguese colonists arrived in 1500, and over the next three centuries exploited the land for brazilwood, sugarcane, coffee and gold production. The colony's initial source of manpower was enslaved indigenous Indians and, from 1550, African slaves. In 1808, the Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon's army and relocated to Brazil. Salvador, Brazil's third largest city, was the country's capital until 1763.
Brazil attracted over 5 million European and Japanese immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period which also saw Brazil industrialise and develop its interior. Brazilian democracy was interrupted by dictatorships three times (1930–1934,1937–1945,1964–1985). Brazil has been a presidential democracy since 1985. A characteristic feature of contemporary Brazilian democracy is the existence of a vibrant and participatory civil society championing human rights, gender equality and economic justice.
Brazil consists of five regions (North, Northeast, Center-West, Southeast and South) divided into 26 states and 1 federal district:
North Region: Roraima, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Acre, Rondônia
Northeast Region: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia
Central-West Region: Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal (Brasília), Mato Grosso do Sul
Southeast Region: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
South Region: Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil is characterized by the enormous Amazon Rainforest to the north and a more open hilly terrain to the south, where the majority of the Brazilian population reside. Several mountain ranges are found along the Atlantic coast, and Brazil's highest mountain Pico da Neblina reaches over 3,000 metres. Major rivers of course include the Amazon, the largest river in the world in tems of water volume and the second longest in the world, the Paraná and its major tributary, the Iguaçu River, where the impressive Iguaçu falls are located, and the Negro, São Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and the Tapajós rivers.
A predominantly tropical country, Brazil's climate exhibits little seasonal variation. In southern Brazil, however, where the climate is subtropical temperate, occasional frost and snow is experienced in higher areass. Precipitation is abundant in the humid Amazon Basin, but more arid areas also exist in the northeast.
The North region of Brazil covers over 45% of Brazil's landmass and is the least densely populated region. It is a relatively unindustrialized and undeveloped region which is home to the largest forest in the world, the Amazon, and many indigenous tribes.
The Northeast region of Brazil is home to 30% of Brazil's population. The region is culturally diverse, with roots combining Portuguese, Afro-Brazilian and some Brazilian Indian influences. It is also the poorest region of Brazil, with long periods of dry climate. The Northeast is famous for the beauty of its coastline.
The Central-West region of Brazil is the country's second largest region, has a relatively low population, and is home to the Brazilian capital, Brasília. The region is also home to the Pantanal, the world’s largest marshland, and part of the Amazon rainforest in the northwestern. Most of the region is covered by the Cerrado, the largest savanna in the world, which has two distinct seasons: a rainy season (from October to April) and a dry season (from May to September). The Central-West of Brazil is also the most important agricultural area in the country.
The Southeast region is Brazil's richest and most densely populated region. It is home to more inhabitants than any other South American country, and to two of the largest cities in the world, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The region is very diverse, including the major business centre of São Paulo, the historical cities of Minas Gerais, the world famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro, and the famous coastline of Espírito Santo.
The South region is Brazil's wealthiest region (per capita), with the highest standard of living in the country. It is also Brazil's coldest region, with occasional frost and snow at higher altitudes. Settled predominantly by European immigrants of German, Italian, and Slavic origin, this region exhibits clear influences from these cultures.