15 Amazing Facts about Brazil

The new financial center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.Author NunysBR. WIKIMEDIA

15 Amazing Facts about Brazil

Brazil is a peaceful, sizable, energetic nation with an illustrious past.  It is the biggest in South America. It is highly known for its stunning landscapes, lively culture, and varied population.

Brazil is one of the most populous countries in the world.  Brazil is home to more than 211 million people. Study shows that human settlement in Brazil began over 30,000 years ago. This is one of the earliest examples of human beings in the Americas.

 Previously it was believed that the Clovis people, who probably crossed into the Americas via the Bering land bridge, were the first humans to step foot on the continents. Scientists discovered burnt wood and what appear to be stone tools dating back around 50,000 years within the Pedra Furada rock shelter in Brazil’s Serra da Capivara National Park.

Interestingly, Every traveler may find something to enjoy in Brazil, from the Amazon rainforest to the Caribbean coast’s white sand beaches. Brazil is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and faiths with more than 210 million people. Brazil is a country rich in culture and diversity, from its thriving cities to its wide countryside.

check out the 10 Most Famous Historical events that happened in Brazil

Let’s learn more about this tranquil nation

1. Around 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil

This is a map location of the Amazon Basin. Author Pfly – NASA. WIKIMEDIA

Amazon rainforest also called Amazon jungle or Amazonia is a moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 km2, of which 5,500,000 km2 is surrounded by the rainforest. The majority of the forest, 60%, is in Brazil.

The rainforest is teeming with creatures, and because of all the trees’ ability to produce oxygen, it is frequently referred to as “the lungs of the Earth”. For the sad purpose of grazing cattle and cultivating palm oil, the Brazilian rainforest is being cleared and burned. This exacerbates the effects of climate change.

2. Brazil’s capital City Looks like an Aeroplane from Above

The National Congress of Brazil in Brasilia.Author Cayambe. WIKIMEDIA

 Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, was planned and developed in 1956,  with Lúcio Costa as the principal urban planner, Oscar Niemeyer as the principal architect, and Roberto Burle Marx as the landscape designer.

Brasilia was initially designated as Brazil’s national capital on April 22, 1960. The central area of the city looks like an airplane or a butterfly when viewed from above. The name of the city is frequently Capital Federal. Due to its architecture, Brasilia is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

The city’s status as a financial and governmental center rather than an industrial one is reflected in the economic prominence of the construction and services industries (government, banking and finance, communications, food production, entertainment, and legal services) in Brasilia’s economy. Important industries include those involved in publishing, printing, and computer software, as well as the building, food manufacturing, and furniture sectors. Numerous national firms and organizations have their headquarters here.

3. Brazilian Prisoners are Permitted to have their Sentences Reduced for Every Book they Read

Prisoner sentences are shortened for those who read while incarcerated. A 4-day reduction is made to the sentence. Brazil is one of the nations in Latin America with the highest crime rates. Brazil’s jails have long been thought to house some of the most dangerous criminals on earth in addition to other issues including overcrowding and drug abuse.

The country’s civic society has long praised the adoption of such a law. Additionally, the authorities put them to the test by having inmates write essays based on the readings, in which the authorities evaluate the proper usage of grammar and language. Due to the government’s initiative, many prisoners now have access to education, which may deter them from committing crimes in the future.

4. Brazil is the world’s Largest Exporter of Coffee

Brazil is by far the largest producer of coffee in the world, contributing around one-third of global production. It became the world’s top producer of the crop by the 1840s, more than 200 years after the crop first arrived there. Since immigrants arrived to work on coffee farms at the beginning of the 19th century, Brazilian coffee has prospered. Production as a share of world coffee output peaked in the 1920s but has declined since the 1950s due to increased global production.

Additionally, Brazil is one of the top 10 global producers of cocoa, cashew, mango, rice, tomato, sorghum, tangerine, avocado, persimmon, and guava, among other fruits and vegetables. Brazil is also the world’s largest producer of sugarcane, soy, and oranges. It is also one of the top 5 producers of maize, cotton, lemon, tobacco, pineapple, banana, beans, coconut, watermelon, and papaya. In terms of livestock, it is among the top 5 producers of beef, hog, chicken meat, and cow’s milk worldwide. 

5. Gender Change Surgeries are Free under Brazil’s Public Health System

According to a ruling issued by Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice on October 17, 2009, changing a person’s legal gender assignment is permitted in Brazil. Patients must have a transgender diagnosis, be at least 18 years old, and be free of personality issues.

Starting at age 16, they must undertake psychological testing with a multidisciplinary team for at least two years. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, 100 procedures are performed yearly on average across the country.

6. Brazil shares a Border with Every South American Country Except Two

The borders of Brazil are the international borders that Brazil shares with neighboring countries. Brazil has terrestrial boundaries with nine countries in South America, and with the French Department of Guiana.

Brazil has borders with every country in South America with the exception of Chile and Ecuador, totaling 16,885 kilometers.  Moreover, Brazil has the world’s third longest land border, behind China and Russia.

7. Brazil has One of the Largest Economies in the World

The new financial center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.Author NunysBR. Wikimedia

In nominal terms, Brazil’s economy has historically been the largest in both Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere. Brazil had the seventh-highest number of billionaires in the world as of 2020, according to Forbes. Brazil participates in a variety of economic associations, including Mercosur and Prosur. It has moved to the status of permanent OECD membership.

The major portion of the gross domestic product (GDP) is made up of the service sector, which accounts for 67.0 percent of the total. 5.5 percent of the GDP is accounted for by agriculture. The number of people employed in Brazil is expected to be 100.77 million, with 10% working in agriculture, 19% in industry, and 71% in services.

8. Brazil was the First Country to Accept Women in their Armed Forces

Brazilian_military unit. Author Ministry of Defence. Wikimedia

Up until the early 1980s, women were not allowed to serve in the Brazilian military. Women were first admitted to the permanent and career ranks of the Brazilian Army, making it the first army in South America to do so.

Women must have earned a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: law, computer science, economics, or accounting in order to start a career in the army. There are no applicants who can be older than 36 in this nationwide competition.

Read more about the15 Most Influential Brazilian Women

9. Brazil is Home to One of the most Dangerous Islands in the World

It is sometimes referred to as Snake Island. Without formal authorization from the Brazilian Navy, it is prohibited to enter the island. The venom of the snakes is extremely strong and can result in necrosis, organ failure, brain hemorrhage, and intestinal bleeding.

On the island, only a select few are allowed. They are researchers looking at snakes and navy engineers maintaining the automated lighthouse annually.

Read more about the 10 Famous Icons and Landmarks to see in Brazil

10. A Democratic Federative Republic with a Presidential System Governs the Country

It has a presidential system and is governed by a democratic federative republic. The president, who serves as the Union’s head of state and government, is chosen by the people for a four-year term. However, with the option of re-election for a second consecutive term. The President appoints the Ministers of State, who assist in government. The Union, the States, the Federal District, and the Municipalities make up the Federative Republic of Brazil’s political and administrative structure.

The “spheres of government” are the Federal District, the States, the Union, and the Municipalities. The federation is founded on five core ideals: sovereignty, citizenship, human dignity, social values of labor and entrepreneurial freedom, and political plurality.

Brazil has had a multi-party system with proportional representation for the majority of its democratic existence. Voting is mandatory for literate people between the ages of 18 and 70 and optional for illiterates, people between the ages of 16 and 18, and anyone above the age of 70.

There are more than 40 active political parties in the nation. Congress has representatives from fifteen political parties. Politicians frequently shift parties, hence the number of seats in Congress held by various parties is always fluctuating.

11. The Armed forces of Brazil are the largest in Latin America

In terms of both active soldiers and military equipment, Brazil’s armed forces are the biggest in Latin America. In 2021, the nation was ranked as the ninth-largest military force in the world.

It comprises the Brazilian Navy (which also includes the Marine Corps and Naval Aviation), the Brazilian Air Force, and the Brazilian Army (which includes the Army Aviation Command). Due to its conscription regime, Brazil has one of the largest militaries in the world, with an estimated 1.6 million reservists per year.

Interestingly, The Brazilian Army has the most armored vehicles in South America. This includes armored transporters and tanks, with close to 236,000 active members.

Additionally, it is distinct from other countries in Latin America due to its powerful, elite troops that specialize in unusual missions, such as the Brazilian Special Operations and the adaptable Strategic Rapid Action Force.

Check out the 10 Most Famous Historical events that happened in Brazil

12. Brazil is the world’s Tenth-largest Energy Consumer

The Itaipu Dam is the largest hydroelectric plant in the world by energy production.  Moreover,  the country also has other sizable plants like Belo Monte and Tucuru.

Brazil is the tenth-largest energy consumer in the world. A large portion of its energy comes from renewable sources, particularly ethanol, and hydroelectricity. The Brazilian energy matrix’s primary feature is that it is far more renewable.

13. Portuguese Culture is the Main Source of Brazil’s Culture

Brazil’s primary cultural influences come from Portugal as a result of its close colonial ties to the Portuguese Empire. Roman Catholicism, the Portuguese language, and colonial architectural forms are only a few of the effects that the Portuguese brought.

Additionally, the culture was greatly affected by indigenous, African, and non-Portuguese European cultures. The contributions of Italian, German, and other European immigrants as well as Japanese, Jewish, and Arab immigrants had an impact on some areas of Brazilian culture. Brazilian native Amerindians had an impact on the country’s language and food, and African immigrants had an impact on the country’s music, dance, and religion.

14. Brazilian Cuisine Varies Greatly by Region

Sfihas made in S.Paulo, Brazil. Author Mauro Cateb. WIKIMEDIA

Regional differences in Brazilian cuisine are a result of the country’s complex mix of indigenous and immigrant communities. As a result, regional flavors have been preserved in the nation’s food. Examples include Feijoada, which is regarded as the nation’s national dish, and regional dishes such as acarajé, baijiu, Feijoo tropeiro, vatapá, and moqueca (from African cuisine).

The main ingredients of a traditional dinner are rice and beans with beef, salad, french fries, and a fried egg.  Frequently, it is blended with cassava flour (farofa). Coffee is Brazil’s official libation, and cachaça is its indigenous alcoholic beverage. The national cocktail, the Caipirinha, uses cachaça, a sugar cane liqueur, as its primary ingredient.

15. The most Popular Sport in Brazil is football

The Brazilian men’s national team is among the top teams in the world. They have won the World Cup a record five times. Brazil has hosted several high-profile international sporting events. This includes l the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 Copa América, and the 2021 Copa América.

Large crowds are also drawn to sports like volleyball, basketball, motor racing, and martial arts. For instance, the Brazilian men’s national volleyball team presently has the World League, World Grand Champions Cup, World Championship, and World Cup titles.

In addition, the nation has generated noteworthy successes in a variety of other sports, including sailing, swimming, tennis, surfing, skateboarding, MMA, gymnastics, boxing, judo, athletics, and table tennis.

Read more about the Top 21 Brazilian Football (Soccer) players