
Following three centuries
under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation
in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South
America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military
intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial
and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting
vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil is today
South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly
unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem. LOCATION: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean CLIMATE: Mostly tropical,
but temperate in south Borders:Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643
km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru
1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km More...Brazil’s
landscape is as diverse as the people who inhabit it. A rich colonial
history exists, and the town of Parati is an exquisite example
of eighteenth-century Portuguese architecture. The jungles and
rivers of the Amazon, home to lush vegetation and exotic wildlife,
incite notions of exploration amongst the intrepid, while the thundering
Iguacu Falls are simply a spectacular wonder. Brazil’s
massive assortment of people and places renders it ripe for choice.