8 Interesting Facts About Brazil

From the stunning waterfalls and glittering subterranean pools of Chapada Diamantina to the verdant, intricate islands of the Anavilhanas Archipelago, Brazil proves rich in geography and biodiversity. A land of delectable cuisine, impossible architecture, and pristine natural landscapes, you and your kids will fall in love with this warm, welcoming nation.

Ready for some interesting facts about Brazil? Let’s see how many of these you already know.

1. The Fifth Largest Nation in the World

When ranked by both size and population, Brazil holds the title as the fifth largest country in the world. It boasts a population of nearly 210 million people, and it measures 3,287,597 square miles. In other words, it possesses 47 percent of the land on the South American continent. What’s more, it borders every single nation in South America except Chile and Ecuador.

2. The Best Beaches in the World

Let’s face it. Many (if not most) coastal areas claim to have “the best beaches in the world.” But according to TripAdvisor, the beaches of Brazil’s Baia do Sancho are the real deal. What’s so special about these beaches? Located 220 miles off the coast of Brazil on the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, just 500 individuals a day are allowed to visit. Besides the lack of crowds, the waters surrounding the beaches contain an impressive underwater parade of parrotfish, anemones, clownfish, reef and lemon sharks, whales, hawksbill and green turtles, and more.

 

3. The Capital Constructed in Four Years

Rio de Janeiro served as the capital of Brazil for 197 years before Brasilia came on the scene. In just four years, from 1956 to 1960, architects and construction workers labored to build the nation’s new capital. But the remarkable nature of the capital doesn’t stop there. From the air, Brasilia looks reminiscent of an airplane, and it contains equally improbable architecture.

4. Impossible Architecture

Oscar Niemeyer, the chief architect of Brasilia’s public buildings, designed more than 500 structures with a contemporary, otherworldly appeal. Among his most famous? The Cathedral of Brasilia, featuring a 66-foot tall bell tower and 16 stark white columns each weighing 90 tons. The cathedral entrance is accessed via an underground tunnel and inside three angels hang suspended from steel cables.

 

5. An Iconic Statue

The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro has been welcoming visitors with open arms for nearly a century. Constructed between 1922 and 1931, the Art Deco statue of Jesus was officially named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” in 2007. It weighs 700 tons (635 tonnes) and measures 125 feet (38 meters) tall. In 2010, the statue underwent a $4 million renovation project to repair its face and hands, and in 2014, it sustained damage from a lightning strike but has since been repaired.

 

6. The Land of Many Waters

During the wet season, the Amazon River can stretch as wide as 30 miles in places. What’s more, it ranks as the world’s largest river by volume of water discharged. To give you an idea of the river’s epic size, it discharges more water per second than the next seven largest rivers combined. At a rate of 7,380,765 cubic feet (209,000 cubic meters) per second, that’s enough water to entirely fill Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, in about 3.5 years.

7. The Misty Mountain

The highest mountain in Brazil remains so consistently shrouded in clouds that explorers didn’t realize its height until the 1950s. In the context of Brazil’s oldest city, Sao Paulo established in 1532, that means this mountain hid in plain sight for centuries. First ascended in 1965, 12 years after Mount Everest, the mountain is fittingly known as Pico da Neblina (Mist Peak). It stands 9,826 feet (2,995 meters) above sea level and sits on Brazil’s border with Venezuela although its summit lies on the Brazilian side.

8. Uncontacted Tribes

According to Survival International, Brazil is home to at least 100 isolated tribes who do not maintain contact with the outside world. These tribes make the rainforest their home, and many believe they avoid contact because of previous disastrous encounters that brought disease and slavery to their villages. Today, they face new threats from encroachment on their lands and continued vulnerability to disease. Some, like the Awá, live nomadically as hunter-gatherers with the ability to make and break camp within hours. Others, such as the four tribes living in Acre, coexist peacefully in more settled, communal housing.

 

Interesting Facts About Brazil

Did any of these interesting facts about Brazil surprise you? Are you ready for your own Brazil family adventure? Check out our 7-day Brazilian Amazon Cruise, an immersive, authentic way to visit some of the most extraordinary destinations in kid-friendly Brazil.

At Our Whole Village, we create transformational trips for curious families who want to create lasting memories while making a difference. We’re here to help you and your family experience the world, its peoples, and its cultures. Contact us today to learn more about the unforgettable experiences that we handcraft for curious families just like yours.