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Brazil: The Facts Written by Anna Mracek
Located on the eastern bulge of South America, bordered by French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay (counter-clockwise starting in the north), Brazil is the largest country in South America. It shares borders with every country in South America except Chile and Ecuador. It is only slightly smaller than the US, covering over 8,500,000 square kilometers. Its capital is Brasilia, located in the southeast, about 300 km north of the Rio Parana. Brazil is mainly composed of flat plains and small hills. There are also mountains (highest point is Pico de Neblina at 3,014 m) and a narrow coastal belt that runs along its 7,491 km of Atlantic coastline. Perhaps the most noticeable geographic feature is the Amazon River, which runs across the states of Amazonas and Parį in the northern part of the country. Although deforestation is a serious ecological concern, fully 58% of the country is covered by trees, with only 6% devoted to agriculture. Other problems faced by Brazil’s environment include water pollution and land degradation caused by strip mining and clear-cutting rain forests. Over half of the Brazilian people are Caucasian (Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish), 38% are of interracial backgrounds, with the remaining population being of African, Japanese, Arab or Amerindian heritage. Almost ¾ of the population is Roman Catholic and 83% of all Brazilians over the age of fifteen are literate. Officially known as the Federative Republic of Brazil (Republica Federativa do Brasil), Brazil is a federal republic divided into 26 states and one federal district similar to the construction of the US. Having gained independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822, its constitution was ratified only one month later. Both this constitution and the country’s legal codes are based on Roman law. Teen-agers between the ages of 16 and 18 and senior citizens over the age of 70 can choose whether or not they want to vote, but suffrage is mandatory for all citizens between the ages of 18 and 70 years. The current President is Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The Judicial Branch consists of a tribunal of judges that are appointed for life by the President. The Legislative Branch, the bicameral National Congress, is divided into the Federal Senate—with three representatives from each state—and the 513-chair Chamber of Deputies—representation dependant on population.
The flag has a yellow diamond on a green background. There is a blue celestial globe containing 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same way that the stars are seen in the night sky over Brazil. The motto across the equatorial band reads "Ordem E Progresso," Order and Progress. Brazil’s economics dominate in South America due to its well-developed farming, mining, manufacturing, and consumer services industries. Some of its natural resources include bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower (energy obtained from moving water), and timber. Industries include textiles, shoes, chemicals, lumber, metal ore refinement, and the manufacture of parts for airplanes and motor vehicles. It’s most important exports include iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, and motor vehicle parts. Bibliography:
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![[Country flag of Brazil]](br-t.gif){kind=small}
