Brazil

Brazil covers nearly half of south-america, bordering every country on the continent except chile and ecuador. Its territory includes the Amazon rainforest, the savannas of the Cerrado, the wetlands of the Pantanal, coastal mangroves, and long sandy beaches that wrap around more than 7,000 kilometers of Atlantic shoreline. Brasília, a planned capital inaugurated in 1960, sits in the interior, while São Paulo, rio-de-janeiro, Salvador, Manaus, Belém, Recife, and Porto Alegre anchor diverse regional economies.

The amazon-river system carries more water than any other river on earth, supporting Indigenous nations, rubber tappers, and researchers who catalog new plant and animal species each year. Brazil also protects expansive marine reserves and UNESCO sites such as Iguaçu Falls. Farmers cultivate soybeans, corn, sugarcane, oranges, and coffee in the south and center-west, using both high-tech agribusiness and family-run cooperatives. Hydroelectric dams on the Paraná and Madeira Rivers provide most of the nation's electricity, while wind farms and rooftop solar panels grow quickly along the northeast coast.

Centuries of history shape modern Brazil. Portuguese explorers arrived in 1500, and over time enslaved Africans, European immigrants, and migrants from japan, Lebanon, and other countries added to the cultural blend. Brazil declared independence in 1822, shifted from monarchy to republic in 1889, faced periods of dictatorship, and returned to democracy in the 1980s. The federal system now includes 26 states plus the Federal District, each electing governors and legislatures.

Brazil's economy mixes heavy industry, services, and innovation. The aerospace company Embraer builds aircraft for airlines worldwide, Petrobras explores offshore oil, and tech startups in Florianópolis and Recife's "Porto Digital" design fintech and education platforms. Carnival parades, samba schools, bossa nova, Sertanejo music, and film festivals broadcast Brazilian creativity worldwide. The country hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, spurring infrastructure upgrades and public transport expansions.

Challenges remain, including balancing forest conservation with mining and farming, improving access to quality education and healthcare, and preparing coastal cities for climate change. Civil society groups, scientists, and local governments collaborate on reforestation projects, Indigenous land rights, and urban innovations such as bus rapid transit systems. Brazil's leadership in the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization and the G20 keeps it at the center of global environmental and economic discussions.