The largest country in South America is Brazil, where all but two countries, Ecuador and Chile, surround and create a border to it. The Atlantic Ocean borders over 7,367 kilometers of the coastline which is made up of scenic beaches and notable tourist locations. The Amazon River slowly weaves through most of the country along with its tropical rain forest. Brazil is crossed by the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, which permits its tropical climate and diverse flora and fauna. The country offers varied species that are endemic. Brazil was once under a three century rule of the Portuguese king, which later gained independence in early September of 1822.
The capital is Brasilia, which houses the bicameral legislative body, which includes the senate and a chamber of deputies. The executive power lies within the president and vice president that form the Head of State and Government, which represent the federal republic. Sao Paulo is considered the largest city and financial center of the country. The country employs the Real, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1994.
The culture of Brazil is predominated by the Portuguese historical rule. The country depicts a slight division among races of the north, which is multiracial; and the south, which is mostly European. These diverse qualities are also very obvious in the country's cuisine. Nonetheless, racism is strictly outlawed and punishable by imprisonment. The country enjoys five FIFA world cup titles in soccer, making it the most popular sport among the Brazilian population. Overall, Brazil has an intriguing culture.
Quick Facts
Population: 205,716,890
Capital: Brasilia
Per-capita GDP: $ 11900
Size: 8,514,877 km2
Time Zone: (GMT - 03:00 hours) Brasilia
Country information is adapted from public domain resources including the CIA World Fact Book and www.Wikipedia.org.
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