Welcome to ExploreBrazil360!
Here, you’ll have the chance to explore everything about Brazil – its famous landscapes, language, and culture. Stay informed about the most significant events happening across the country and dive into Brazilian traditions.
Discover all there is to know about this incredible South American nation. You can also learn about everyday expressions, fascinating facts, the latest news, and more.
Overview of Brazil: geography, demographics, and symbols
Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world by both land area and population.
Spanning approximately 8.5 million square kilometers, it covers nearly half of South America and consequently shares borders with almost every other country on the continent.
With a population estimated at around 215 million people, Brazil is divided into five main regions: North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast, and South, each with its own particular characteristics.
The country is known for its rich natural environment, featuring diverse fauna, minerals, and vegetation. This abundance is reflected in the national flag’s colors.
The green rectangle represents the lush fields and forests, while the yellow diamond symbolizes mineral wealth, especially gold, and the blue sphere in the center stands for the night sky and ocean.
Within the sphere, a white banner displays the motto ‘Ordem e Progresso’ (Order and Progress), and 27 white stars represent the federal states and one federal district.
Brazilian Portuguese spelling tip
In Brazil, where Brazilian Portuguese is the official language, the country’s name is spelled with an ‘s’ (B-r-a-s-i-l), not with a ‘z’ as in English.
In fact, all words derived from ‘Brasil,’ such as ‘pau-brasil’, ‘brasileiros,’ and ‘Brasília’, are also spelled with an ‘s’.
Fun facts
In the early 2000s, I lived in the USA for two years and while traveling, going to school, hitting up bars and clubs, and interacting with many people regularly, I noticed that some didn’t know much about Brazil and often mistook Spanish for the country’s official language. Similarly, they would say that Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil.
These confusions partly stem from the fact that Rio was the official capital of Brazil (from 1763 to 1960) and from the general assumption that nearly all Latin American countries speak Spanish.
The reason behind this is that Portugal started colonizing Brazil in the early 16th century, establishing Portuguese as the official language and influencing the culture.
Meanwhile, Spain colonized the rest of Latin America, making Spanish the dominant language there.
Brazilian Portuguese diversity
Even though everyone in Brazil speaks Portuguese and can easily understand each other, each region has its own unique quirks, especially in terms of vocabulary, local expressions, and accents.
Along with its diverse climate, vegetation, and wildlife, these regional differences contribute to Brazil’s rich and varied culture.
Weather and climate conditions in Brazil
There are four seasons in Brazil, but because the country is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is hot in most parts of the country for most of the year, but it can rain a lot in some areas or even snow, as it does the South during winter.
In some places, the weather changes so much that people joke about it, saying you should leave the house dressed for all seasons, that is, wearing a coat and carrying a hat, sunglasses, and an umbrella. São Paulo is a prime example of this.
São Paulo: a city of significance
Located in the Southeast region of the country, São Paulo stands out as one of the largest cities in Latin America. With over 11 million residents, it also ranks as the most populous city in both South America and Brazil.
Furthermore, it serves as a major economic, cultural, and financial hub, situated within the state that shares its name – usually represented as SP.
São Paulo is home to Brazil’s largest airport, São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport commonly known as Guarulhos Airport (GRU) or Cumbica Airport.
Situated in Guarulhos, within the Greater São Paulo area, it’s the country’s main international and domestic hub, handling the most passengers and flights.
When it comes to higher education, the state boasts three of the top ten universities in the country: USP, UNIFESP, and UNICAMP. These institutions are involved in a variety of nationally significant projects across fields such as computer science, software engineering, AI, biomedicine, biotechnology, genetic therapies, nanotechnology, and renewable energy.
Brazil’s rich biodiversity
Brazil is home to one of the planet’s greatest biodiversities, with the highest number of known species of plants, freshwater fish, and mammals. It leads the world in known plant species.
Located in the North region, the Amazon represents over half of the world’s remaining rainforests and is the largest and most species-rich tropical rainforest in existence.
In the state of Amazonas, you’ll find the Amazon River, the largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than that of the next ten largest rivers combined. This highlights the immense importance and scale of Brazil’s biodiversity.
Currency
The significance of this biodiversity is reflected in the country’s currency. The official currency of Brazil is the Brazilian Real, symbolized as R$. Brazilian banknotes feature images of wildlife on the back: sea turtle (R$ 2), heron (R$ 5), macaw (R$ 10), golden lion tamarin (R$ 20), jaguar (R$ 50), grouper (R$ 100), and maned wolf (R$ 200). Each bill also depicts a feminine figure on the front, representing the Republic.
In 2020, the R$ 200 bill was introduced as part of a new series of Brazilian currency notes. Coins are also available in denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, and 1 Real, varying in size and color.
Gastronomy and traditions
Brazil boasts a rich cuisine, influenced by the diverse mix of native peoples present when the Portuguese arrived.
Over time, ingredients and dishes from Africans, Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Poles, Syrians, Lebanese, and Japanese have been incorporated into Brazilian cooking.
Popular dishes include ‘feijoada’ (a black bean stew), ‘picanha’ (a cut of beef), and ‘coxinha’ (chicken croquettes). Popular drinks are ‘cachaça’ (a sugarcane spirit), ‘caipirinha’ (a cocktail made with cachaça), ‘guaraná’ (a fruit soda), and ‘mate’ (a traditional tea).
Brazilian desserts are also renowned, with favorites like ‘brigadeiro’ (chocolate truffles), ‘doce de leite’ (caramelized milk), ‘goiabada’ (guava paste), and ‘pudim de leite condensado’ (condensed milk pudding).
For breakfast, Brazilians typically enjoy ‘pão francês’ (French rolls) with butter and a cup of coffee. Unlike the Continental breakfast common in American hotels, Brazilian breakfasts often feature a wide variety of foods, including different types of bread and cakes, fresh fruits, and traditional dishes like ‘cuscuz’ (cornmeal) and ‘tapioca’, as well as ‘açaí’ (a fruit native to the Amazon).
While dinner is usually the main meal of the day in many parts of the world, in Brazil, lunch holds this status. A traditional Brazilian lunch might consist of rice, beans, meat, French fries, and a green salad (lettuce and tomatoes), known as ‘prato feito’ (ready-made dish).
Family meals are cherished in Brazil, reflecting the national passion for food, soccer, and Carnival. This enthusiasm is captured by the term ‘paixão nacional’ (national passion), highlighting the things Brazilians hold dear.
Culture and festivals
In addition to its remarkable cuisine, Brazil has always made significant impact on the world stage with its soccer achievements, winning the FIFA World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002).
It has produced legendary soccer stars like Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and Neymar. The nation also drew global attention by hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.
Brazil is renowned for its vibrant culture, which is a mix of indigenous, African, and Portuguese influences. This rich heritage is celebrated through colorful festivals, such as Carnival, which features elaborate parades and samba music. Along with bossa nova, it showcases the country’s diverse cultural roots.
As a dance, samba continues to capture international interest, with recent attention also directed towards funk music.
Anitta, a young and popular artist, has gained recognition for her contributions to the genre, winning MTV Video Music Awards in 2022 and 2023.
Embrace the wonders of Brazil
In summary, Brazil’s allure lies in its extraordinary diversity, making it a captivating destination for travelers seeking adventure, culture, and natural beauty.
Remember to visit this page regularly to explore everything about Brazil, stay updated on events, and learn about its vibrant traditions and fascinating facts.
If you’ve been to Brazil, we’d love to hear about your experiences. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Welcome to ExploreBrazil360!