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Brazil
Brazil is the largest of the Latin American countries. Covering nearly
half (47.3%) of the continent of South America, it occupies an area of
3,286,470 sq. miles (8,511,965 sq. km.). It is the fifth largest country
in the world after the Russian Federation, Canada, China, and the United
States. In continental South America, Ecuador and Chile are the only two
countries that do not share a border with Brazil. The Equator passes
through the north of the country near Macapá, while the Tropic of
Capricorn passes through the south of the country near São Paulo. The
Atlantic Ocean stretches across the eastern side of the country, giving
it a coastline of 4,578 miles (7,367 km).
The seasons in Brazil are the reverse of those in the U.S. and Europe:
Spring = September 22 to December 21
Summer = December 22 to March 21
Autumn = March 22 to June 21
Winter = June 22 to September 21
Mineral Resources
Brazil is known to possess some of the richest mineral deposits in the
world, although the extent of the country's resources has yet to be
surveyed. Brazil has proven and estimated iron ore reserved totaling 48
billion tons. These deposits alone are sufficient to supply the world's
demand for iron (based on current levels and predictable growth) for the
next 500 years
Population
In 1992 the population of Brazil reached 149.8 million, the sixth
largest in the world after those of China, India, the United States,
Indonesia, and the Russian Federation.
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The population of Brazil is predominantly
young, with 62 percent of the people under 29 years of age. Nationwide,
the demographic density is relatively low. The population is
concentrated along the Atlantic coastal areas of the southeastern and
northeastern states.
Languages
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. With the exception of the
Indian tribes on reservations throughout Brazil, Brazilians use
Portuguese as the only language of daily life. There are no regional
dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South
America.
Religion
The Brazilian constitution guarantees absolute freedom of religion. In
1989 almost 90% of the population declared themselves to be Roman
Catholic, but recently, Protestant groups in Brazil have been growing in
number. Today there are sizeable memberships in independent Pentecostal
churches, and numbers are increasing steadily in European- and American-
born denominations such as Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).
Take City Names from : http://www.brazilinfo.net/sky3/usbrazi2/public_html/brazil-cities.html |
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