For hundreds of years, Brazil has symbolised the great escape into a primordial, tropical paradise, igniting the Western imagination like no other South American country. From the mad passion of Carnaval to the immensity of the dark Amazon, it is a country of mythic proportions.

Perhaps it's not quite the Eden of popular imagination, but it's still a land of staggering beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with pristine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. And there are the people themselves, who delight the visitor with their energy and joy.

After 40 years of internal migration and population growth, Brazil is a thoroughly urban country; more than two out of every three Brazilians live in a city. São Paulo is the world's second most populous city.

 

Full country name: República Federativa do Brasil
Area: 8.51 million sq km
Population: 175 million
Capital City: Brasília
People: 55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% African descent, 1% other. (In reality, these figures are skewed by whiteness being equated with social stature in Brazil.)
Language: Portuguese
Religion: 70% Roman Catholic; also a significant proportion who either belong to various cults or practice Indian animism
Government: federative republic
Head of State: President Luíz Inácio 'Lula' da Silva

GDP: US$650 billion
GDP per capita: US$7,600
Inflation: 8%
Major Industries: Textiles, shoes, chemicals, timber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, arms, soya beans, orange juice, beef, chicken, coffee and sugar
Major Trading Partners: EU, Central and South America, Asia, USA

   
  Copyright 2004 Lonely Planet Publications, all rights reserved, used with permission