Interesting Facts About Brazil – 15+ Fun Brazil Facts!
Here are some fun and interesting facts about Brazil, the largest country in South America. Brazil is home to a number of points of interest and a wide range of wildlife. It is among the most visited countries worldwide in 2019.
If you are a traveler and love visiting cool and interesting places, Brazil is for you. Before planning your trip, it’s best to have a look at some interesting facts about the place.
Brazilian People – Brazilians
The citizens of Brazil are called Brazilians. The estimated population of the country is 214,599,613 and this is the 5th largest country by population. Every place has some common names, but Brazil is at the top in this case. Around 6% of the total female citizens of the country have the same name, Maria. In the same way, around 4% of male citizens have the same name as well, Jose.
The largest country in South America
There are a total of 12 sovereign countries in South America, but Brazil alone covers one-third of the continent. This makes Brazil the largest country in South America. It covers an area of 3.288 million square miles (5th largest country in the world by area).
Usually, countries have a single time zone but it is not so in the case of Brazil. There are a total of 3 time zones in the country. The large area and population of the country need greater resources as well. Surprisingly, there are a total of 2500 airports in Brazil.
The country is home to a large number of plants and animals. As a matter of fact, it has more biological diversity than any other country. Yes, Brazil stands tall at number one in the world of most biodiverse countries.
Economy of Brazil
The economy of Brazil has improved over the past few years. Some of the major sources of income in the country are
- Natural Resources
- Tourism
- Production of coffee
The Brazilian government is doing great to improve the economy of the country. Natural resources being the major source, provide some flexibility. A fun fact is that Brazil has been the largest coffee producer for the last 150 years.
Tourism also has a big role in the economy of Brazil. As time passes, the country generates more and more revenue from it. Being the beautiful country it is, Brazil attracts tourists in large numbers every year.
What languages do they speak in Brazil?
The official language of Brazil is Portuguese and it’s what most of the citizens speak. However, written Portuguese in Brazil is a bit different from that of other Portuguese speaking countries. The same is followed throughout the country but there are minor differences in some areas of the country. Brazil is in fact the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese.
Flag of Brazil
Verde E Amarela (in Portuguese) is the official name of the flag of Brazil. This means ‘The Green and Yello’ in English. Brazil officially adopted this design on November 19, 1889. Since then, it has been the national flag of the country.
Geography of Brazil
Brazil covers a total area of 3.288 million square miles, which makes it the biggest country in South America. Brazil, being such a big country, shares a border with 10 of the 12 South American countries with an exception of 2 countries. Chile and Ecuador are the only two countries in South America which do not share a border with Brazil.
Some Brazilian points of interest include that it has the world’s second-largest river and the largest rain forest. The Amazon River and forest provide the country with huge diversity in wildlife. To be precise, 60% of the Amazon rain forest is located in brazil. The rest is shared between seven other South American countries.
Snake Island – Ilha da Queimada Grande
Another fun fact about Brazil, there is an island in Brazil that is named as snake island. This is because it is inhabited by snakes. Humans are not allowed to step foot on that island as there is 1 snake per square foot on that island. The official name of Snake Island is Ilha da Queimada Grande.
Popular Cities in Brazil
The capital city of Brazil is Brazilia. However, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of the country before 1960. The city is also known to host Football matches.
Talking about the area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and a major attraction for tourists as well. There are a number of places in the city that are worth visiting but that’s for another post.
If you are looking for a city to visit in Brazil, Salvador and Fortaleza are two places worth visiting. These are some of the most famous cities in Brazil and each one is unique in its own. As a matter of fact, during the 2014 World Cup, a lot of supporters of other nations visited them.
What is Brazil Culture Like?
The culture of Brazil revolves around western traditions but the core culture originates from the culture of Portugal. Consequently, the country presents a mixed culture. Talking about the food, Brazilians have a unique style of cooking and the food is famous around the world. Pihrana soup (Caldo de Piranha), is a delicacy in Brazilian cuisine. However, there is a variety of cuisines in different regions of the country as Brazil is a vast country.
Football is a very famous sport in Brazil and the country is a 5-time world champion. Brazil lifted their first World Cup trophy in 1958 and since then, it has been famous in the country. You can learn more about the passion and love for football in Brazil here. Brazil has been known for a number of world-class football players over the years.
What is Brazil Carnival?
The Carnival of Brazil or the Brazil Carnival is a 6-day festival that takes place every year. It begins around 46 days before the Easter festival. People shut their shops and enjoy the festival of fun and joy. However, the style may vary in different cities as people have different backgrounds. But the best part is that the whole country comes to life during the Brazil Carnival. Rio De Janeiro hosts the best carnival among all the cities of the country.
History of Brazil
Brazil became an independent country in 1822, before that they were under the Portuguese rule. The name of the country has been derived from the Brazilwood tree which in Portuguese is called Pau-Brasil.
The country was earlier called as Ilha de Vera Cruz, which means the ‘Island of the True Cross’. However, Brazil is not an island so it was renamed as Terra de Santa Cruz, which means ‘The Land of the Holy cross’.
Some Fun Facts about Brazil for Kids
- They drive on the right side of the road in Brazil
- Brazil covers around 60% of the Amazon Rain Forest
- There are 2500 airports in Brazil
- It is the largest country in South America
- It is the 5th largest country in the world both in area and population
