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Brazil


Brazil [pic]i/brəˈzɪl/ (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil[9][10] (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, [pic] listen (help·info)), isthe largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area andby population with over 192 million people.[11][12] It is the only Portuguese-speakingcountry in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.[11]

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi).[11] It is bordered on the northby Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region ofFrench Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the southby Uruguay. Numerous archipelagosform part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.[11] It borders all other SouthAmerican countries exceptEcuador and Chile.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdomof Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of thePortuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, afterNapoleon invaded Portugal.[13] Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. Thecountry became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the firstconstitution in 1824.[13] Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.[14] The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26States, and...