1. Brazil
World Studies

2. Why study Brazil?
5th largest country in the world, both in terms of population (192 million) and land area.
Fastest growing economy in the world; currently 6th largest.
Home to “mega-cities”: Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo
Host of the 2014 World Cup (soccer) and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
A diverse and unique culture

3. Where in the world?

4. Brazil Physical Map…what do you see?

5. Mega Cities of Brazil Rio de Janiero (12 million)
Sao Paulo (20 million)

6. Geography of Brazil
Brazil is very diverse geographically and ecologically.
Amazon river
Largest river in the world by volume of water
Amazon rainforest
Largest rainforest in the world
Diversity of plant and animal species, many not even discovered yet.
Eastern Atlantic coast
Long coast line, beautiful beaches, location of major cities (Rio de Janiero, Sao Paulo)

7. Amazon River/ Rainforest

8. Brief History of Brazil
Pre 1500: Indigenous people (natives) populate the area of Brazil
: Colonized by Portugal
: 3 million African slaves transported to Brazil (35% of total slaves)
1822: Independence from Portugal
2010: Dilma Rousseff 1st woman elected as president of Brazil.

9. Slave Trade to Brazil
President Dilma Roussef

10. The People of Brazil
The people and culture of Brazil are extremely diverse.
Ethnicity
48% white (European descent), 43% mixed, 8% black, 1% Asian, less that 1% native
Religion
Christian (74% Catholic, 15% Protestant)
Language
Portuguese

11. Ethnic Diversity Brazilian National Soccer Team

12. Current Issue #1: Favelas
Brazil experienced rapid population growth as people moved from rural to urban areas.
As a result, cities such as Rio de Janiero grew very rapidly.
Development of new housing, public services, could not keep up with the rapid population growth.
Slums, called favelas, developed on the outskirts of these cities.
Poverty, violence, crime, lack of services plague the favelas.

13. Favelas in Brazil

14. Current Issue #2: Deforestation in the Amazon
The Amazon rainforest covers much of northern Brazil.
The rainforest is extremely rich in biodiversity and natural resources.
Rare/ unknown plant and animal species.
Possible cures to various diseases
Much of the Amazon is being destroyed to make room for development and cattle grazing.
Efforts are being made to slow the deforestation

15. Deforestation