Brazil – A Blast of Color
Brazil is the largest Latin American country, covering almost half of South America. It is the fifth largest country in the world after Canada, the Russian Federation, China and the United States. The Equator cuts across the northern region of the country. Equador and Chile are the only two countries in the South American continent that do not share a border with Brazil. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the entire east coast of the country. You will find Brazil is a country with a wide range of activities and interests.
The greatest biodiversity of the planet lies on two fifths of Latin America.
The Amazon Region of Brazil has a great variety of ecosystems including dry land forests, seasonally flooded forests, meadowlands, swampland and savannahs. The forest holds one fifth of the world’s fresh water and an incalculable patrimony in mineral deposits. Of the 93 existing conservation unites, 10 are eminently suitable for ecotourism.
Ecotourism is an activity that uses natural and cultural heritages in a sustainable way to give incentive to conservation by creating environmental awareness and promoting the well-being of local populations. Brazil has five different biomes spread through its territory where various types of landscapes, vegetation and climate are to be found. In addition to having the largest forest in the world, The Amazon Forest, the country also offers 8.5 square kilometers of Nature Parks, Biosphere Reserves and Areas of Environmental Protection, seven declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO.
One of the most beautiful Ecological Reserves in the world is Iguacu National Park. With 275 waterfalls and 60 meter drops, the park has over 460,000 acres of natural beauty, containing nearly 400 species of birds and as many as 50 species of mammals have been registered there, including jaguar and puma. The 257 species of butterflies are the highlight for any visitor to this area.
The Pantanal spreads over 230 square kilometers in the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. It is the third largest environmental reserve in the world and its ecological importance is immense as it shelters one of the richest ecosystems with its seasonal forests subject to periodic flooding. A part of this ecosystem is protected by the Mato Grosso Pantanal National Park which has an area of approximately 340 thousand acres that forms part of the Pantanal Biosphere Reserve and is considered to be one of the World Natural Heritage sites.
From north to south, the Brazilian coast hosts a display of beaches, sun and blue skies. Some beach areas feature large hotels and restaurants while others are almost deserted. Some appear between sand dunes and huge cliffs while others stretch out as far as the eye can see. The beaches of Fernando de Noronha archipelago feature crystal clear waters and are among the most beautiful in the world. With 21 islands, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is a natural site on the World Heritage list and one of the best places in the world for scuba diving. With visibility of up to 50 meters, its waters are home to fish, rays, sharks, moray eels, turtles, barracudas, dolphins and sponges, in addition to coral reefs, rock formations and wrecks. This area heads the list of places most admired by Brazilian and overseas tourists alike.
Recently has the Marau Peninsula been discovered by tourists from around the world. With coral reefs, natural pools and sandy mersh vegetation, Barra Grande has good inns, bars, restaurants and the biggest mooring point in the region. The Sauipe Coast has one of the best tourism complexes in the whole of Brazil, endowed with inns and hotels administered by international chains featuring a plethora of sporting activities, a golf courses and nautical center.
The city of Rio de Janeiro is most widely known for its delighting people, along with beautiful scenery and architecture, hospitality and infectious cheerfulness. It is famous for its beautiful beaches, curvaceous geography and the way of life of its people, who welcome visitors with open arms.
This wonderful city annually greets the New Year in great style, bringing millions of people together on the Copacabana beach to watch the biggest fireworks show on earth. This is a celebration not to be missed.
The City of Brasilia is a modern urban project that was created by architect lucio Costa and the city is often referenced when the subject of urban planning is discussed. Located here are a number of works by architect Oscar Niemeyer and of landscape designer Robert Burie Marx. The capital of Brazil is the only city in the world constructed in the 20th century to have been declared a World Historical and Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Who has not heard of Carnival in Brazil? It is an explosion of joy for five days prior to Lent when the country transforms itself into a spectacle of light, sounds, rhythms and colors and puts on the greatest party on the planet. The highly amplified sound stages mounted on trucks with live bands enthusiastically playing cultural music, the infectious happiness of the festival can be seen on the streets, in clubs and hotels, on the beaches and in people’s faces from the north to south. Carnival is a unique example of the mixture that makes up the Brazilian culture.
Brazil offers a variety of community experiences rich in culture and history. The city of Sao Luis, Maranhao is an example of the preservation of Latin American colonial architecture dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It contains over 3,500 buildings of unequalled historical and artistic value which portray the way of life of former inhabitants during Brazil’s colonial period.
Ouro Preto, the former capital of the Province of Minas Gerais, contains one of the richest clusters of Baroque architecture in the country. The city attracts people from all over Brazil as well as the rest of the world who are interested in the history and religious art of the Brazilian Baroque period as well as local handicrafts.
Brazil is an exuberant and grandiose country with much to offer. Rarely does one not become a fan once they have traveled there and depending on time constraints you may select from three typical itineraries. Begin your trip in Sao Palo and end in Rio, begin in Rio and end in Salvador or begin in Recife and travel to Rio. Each route includes wonderful beaches, nature and big cities possessing the contagious happiness of the country and the wonderful explosion of color and feeling found among those who live there.
