Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It covers almost half of the continent and touches the Atlantic Ocean along its east coast. Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world by land area. About 215 million people live there, making it the seventh most populated country on Earth. Its capital is Brasília, but its most famous city is Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil was once a colony of Portugal. Portuguese sailors arrived in the year 1500, and Portugal ruled the land for more than 300 years. Because of this history, Portuguese is the national language. Brazil is the only country in the Americas where most people speak Portuguese. It became independent in 1822.

Most of northern Brazil is covered by the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. It is home to more kinds of plants and animals than any other place on Earth. Scientists think it contains about one in ten of all the species on the planet. Jaguars, sloths, toucans, poison dart frogs, and pink river dolphins all live there. New species are still being discovered every year.

The Amazon River runs through this forest. It is the second-longest river in the world, after the Nile. But by the amount of water it carries, the Amazon is by far the largest river on Earth. It pours more water into the ocean than the next seven biggest rivers combined.

Brazil has big cities, huge farms, and busy factories. Farmers there grow more coffee, sugar cane, and oranges than farmers in any other country. Brazil is also a major producer of beef, soybeans, and iron ore. Clearing land for farms and ranches has been a serious problem, because it destroys parts of the rainforest. Scientists and activists around the world watch Brazil closely, since the Amazon helps control the climate of the whole planet.

Brazilians love soccer, which they call futebol. Brazil has won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. Another famous Brazilian tradition is Carnival, a huge festival held every year before the Christian season of Lent. During Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, samba dancers in bright costumes parade through the streets for days. Millions of visitors come to watch.

Above the city of Rio stands one of Brazil's most famous landmarks, the Christ the Redeemer statue. It is 98 feet tall and has watched over the city from the top of Corcovado Mountain since 1931.