Fun Fact About Brazil
Brazil is an attractive travel destination, from its breathtaking beaches to its vibrant culture; yet many are unaware of some of the surprising facts about it.
Snake Island or Ilha Queimada Grande is an isolated, yet perilous island filled with Golden Lancehead snakes that are highly poisonous. Unfortunately, access for civilians is strictly restricted.
1. Brazilians are the most sexually active people in the world
Brazilians may be best known for their lively Rio carnival, samba music and beaches; however there are many other interesting and quirky aspects of their vibrant South American country that stand out. Brazil boasts 13 national holidays plus numerous extra ones specific to individual cities or regions such as Saint George’s Day or World Cup football games that celebrate Black Awareness.
Brazil may be known for coffee production and exports, but its natural treasures also include the Amazon rainforest, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls located along its border with Argentina – these waterfalls were recently chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature by visitors and voters to become one of their New Seven Wonders of Nature voted most beautiful by visitors.
The country is also home to many uncontacted indigenous groups that live in the forest without any interaction from outsiders, often being hunted down by ranchers or drug traffickers seeking to claim their lands as property for themselves. One tribe now only has a lone survivor.
Although some of these tribes are now more connected to the outside world, there remain concerns that their isolation could expose them to disease and other issues. Thankfully there are now official protections in place for isolated communities, with one group having recently been featured on a BBC documentary.
Brazilians often express themselves through art, with an impressive collection of modern and classical masterpieces in Brazil’s museums. Recently however, an art museum in Rio caused great outrage after opening an exhibit featuring nudist works by Degas and Picasso alongside portraits of gay men and women by Robert Mapplethorpe.
2. Brazil is the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese stands out among South American nations due to its unique history: following Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World, Portugal and Spain competed to colonize it quickly; to avoid rivalry between them, Pope Clement V established a line of demarcation that divided their claims under the Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 – leading many Brazilians who also speak Spanish proudly identify as Portuguese speakers.
Brazilians take great pride in their language, which is evident through their lifestyle. They have created their own system of phonetics unique to their culture. Furthermore, Brazilian cuisine reflects this rich heritage – including traditional dishes such as Feijoada which features beef stewed with beans and collard greens; another popular selection being Acai fruit which has become the symbol of Brazil.
Brazilians have also invented many useful tools and technologies. Vital Brazil from Minas Gerais created polyvalent anti-ophitic serum in 1903 for treating poisonous snake bites; Jose Braz Araripe from Brazil designed an automatic transmission system for cars; Carlos Chagas discovered Chagas disease in 1909.
Although it might seem strange that only nine countries speak Portuguese today, this makes perfect sense when one considers history. When King Dom Joo VI left Brazil in 1808 to avoid Napoleon’s invasion and started building national identity that has continued up to this day.
3. Brazil is home to the largest emerald ever found
Brazil is one of the largest countries in South America and boasts an intriguing geography. Covering an area slightly larger than that of continental United States, from tropical rain forests to cool uplands; Brazil shares borders with all South American countries save Chile and Ecuador.
Brazil is home to some of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders and stunning man-made marvels alike, such as Ouro Preto – a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Minas Gerais that was the richest town during America’s 18th-century gold rush and now serves as an open air museum.
Emeralds are popular gemstones due to their vibrant hue and hexagonal form, making them highly valued in large sizes. Although carat weight may be an indicator of price for diamonds and gemstones, its actual worth depends on rarity and quality rather than just weight alone. When searching for large emeralds it is important to remember that rarity and quality determine its true worth.
Brazil is home to one of the largest emeralds ever discovered weighing in at over 180,000 carats! Nicknamed the Chipembele Emerald due to its hexagonal shape resembling that of a rhinoceros horn, proceeds from selling this incredible gemstone will help fund conservation efforts of black rhinos in Zambia.
4. Brazil is home to the largest tree in the Amazon rainforest
Nearly every country on the globe boasts one natural landmark it’s particularly proud to display: China boasts the Great Wall; Australia features Great Barrier Reef; while in America Big Ben stands proud. Brazil stands out among them all as home of an enormous tree that rivals any others around the globe.
A giant tree known as an angelim vermelho (Dinizia excelsa) towers as tall as 25-story skyscrapers and spans 9.9 meters around its circumference, as spotted during a 3D mapping project in 2019 in northern Brazil’s Iratapuru River Nature Reserve. Researchers discovered it by satellite images taken during this 3D mapping initiative.
It’s one of the 15 giant trees found in that area, yet this one stands out, towering over all others by miles – possibly becoming the tallest angelim vermelho tree ever in all of Amazonia rainforest!
Scientists don’t yet know for certain how old this tree is; estimates range between 400-500 years old. Thus making it one of the few in existence with such massive heights of growth.
Scientists were able to measure this giant tree due to it being in an off-limits region of the rainforest that’s off limits to loggers and gold miners, yet researchers still had to mount numerous expeditions in order to locate it – including one 10-day trek that led to one team member becoming ill; three more trips took place after this; with the last trip occurring between September 12-25 this year and covering 250 kilometers on water with treacherous rapids as well as 20 kilometers over mountainous jungle terrain on foot.
5. Brazil is home to the largest Sambadrome in the world
Brazil is home to the world’s largest Sambadrome, where samba schools parade during Rio Carnival. More than just spectacle, however, Rio Carnival’s renowned event requires blood, sweat and tears for each year’s float creation – with one winner emerging at its conclusion.
Carnaval brings samba school parades to the Sambadrome that provide an exhilarating spectacle of rhythm and dance that should not be missed. They also show that samba is much more than an entertainment act: for many Brazilians it has become part of their daily lives.
At Samba Schools’ parades, spectators can see their colorful costumes and choreography that blend elements from African, Portuguese and indigenous cultures into intricate performances at Sambadromes across Brazil. However, even without making it to Sambadromes there will still be plenty of cariocas celebrating in street parties known as blocos if they miss going into them altogether.
Oscar Niemeyer, one of Brazil’s renowned architects and a key figure in modern architecture development, designed The Sambadrome (officially Passarela Professor Darcy Ribeiro or Sambodromo in Portuguese). Dubbed as “Samba Stadium”, this venue can hold up to 90,000 people during special group parades at Rio Carnival.
Even when not hosting carnival parades, the Sambadrome is used as a major concert venue. Eric Clapton, Supertramp and Pearl Jam have performed at this unique venue during a variety of events at this iconic location.
Brazil occupies half of South America and boasts both natural marvels and vibrant cultures, from its Amazon rainforests to iconic beaches like Copacabana. Brazil truly is a land of abundance!
Brasilia, Brazil’s capital city was constructed during the 1950s to promote development of its interior. One interesting fact about Brazil is that Queimada Grande island contains over 10,000 snakes!
1. Brazil is the largest country in South America
Brazil is one of South America’s premier travel destinations, from its world-famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema to the Amazon rainforest, this vast nation has something for everyone. Additionally, it ranks fifth globally by landmass size!
Peru shares borders with every South American nation except Chile and Ecuador. Its expansive frontiers stretch deep into the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands – reflecting Peru’s position at the center of South America and colonial-era expeditions connecting it to its neighbors.
When most people think of Brazil, the Amazon rainforest usually comes to mind. This captivating environment is home to exotic wildlife and indigenous tribes as well as being an essential contributor in combatting climate change by producing oxygen. Unfortunately, however, deforestation threatens this ecosystem, so Brazil has set aside large areas as protected sites and reserves.
Brazilians are famous for their warmth and hospitality, which can be found throughout their entire country. Their friendly nature draws so many visitors back time after time – the Brazilians always welcome visitors with open arms while sharing their rich culture with them.
Brazil is famed for its natural attractions, but also boasts an expansive cultural legacy. Samba dance has its origins here as does Tom Jobim’s masterpiece “The Girl from Ipanema.” Additionally, Brazil stands alone among South American countries in having Portuguese as its official language.
Make sure to allow ample time when visiting Brazil to explore its varied culture. From Sao Paulo’s urban sprawl to the lush forest landscapes of Amazonia, Brazil has something to offer everyone. Be sure to try its delectable food, drink delicious coffee and listen to samba music as much as possible while there. You won’t regret it!
2. Brazil is the world’s second-most sexually active country
Brazilians are well-known for their attractive curves and sensuality, so it should come as no surprise that they’re sexually satisfied. A recent NapLab study ranked 45 countries according to factors like average age of losing virginity, number of sexual partners per individual and social attitudes surrounding premarital sex; Brazil placed second overall with an average age to lose virginity of 17 and an overall sexual activity rate of 95.7 percent.
The study also revealed that on average, Brazilians have had sexual relations with nine individuals on average, followed by Turkey with 10.8 people sleeping with each individual and then France followed by five Asian nations.
Brazil’s culture embraces sensuality through music and dance performances as well as provocative clothing worn during Rio Carnival – an annual festival that culminates in Ash Wednesday observances. Soccer is also an integral part of Brazilian life – winning five FIFA World Cup championships over time! Additionally, So Paulo is home to Capoeira (a martial arts/dance combination that originated there).
People often think of Brazil when they think of Amazon Rainforest. Covering over 60% of the country, this majestic oasis hosts exotic wildlife, indigenous tribes and exquisite flora and fauna – including many endangered species that make their home there. Unfortunately, deforestation remains a serious threat to its preservation.
Brazil boasts one of the highest diversitys of animal species among any nation in the world, boasting 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, more than 1,600 bird species and 100,000 types of insects. Jungles provide habitats for most of these animals while many unique ones reside in Pantanal, a vast area with swampy lagoons and islands.
Brazil facts and statistics give an indication of its hope and promise; yet poverty continues to be an issue in Brazil. Child sponsorship through Compassion helps address this by meeting physical and spiritual needs of children living in poverty.
3. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of coffee
Brazil is home to centuries-old history and culture, so it comes as no surprise that they are the world’s top producer and exporter of coffee – they export nearly 8 billion dollars worth of green coffee annually! Vietnam, Germany and Indonesia come close.
Brazil’s history is intimately interwoven with coffee production and trade. Since colonial times, raw products like sugar, gold and coffee were central components of Brazilian economy; their production had significant social and labor consequences as European landowners profited enormously from African, indigenous, mixed race labor (both before slavery ended and post abolition).
Brazilian fazenda estates were established by Portuguese and Portuguese-American planters to produce highly prized arabica coffee, first created on fazendas by Brazilian planters during the early 20th century. Production reached record highs and Brazil became one of the leading coffee producing nations until 1929’s Great Depression reduced demand significantly resulting in collapse of coffee market and destruction of many farms.
Over the decades that followed, many Brazilians suffered as a result of coffee’s volatile price fluctuations and its unstable profits. Recently however, a small but committed crop of quality-focused growers emerged in Brazil; these producers made conscious efforts to procure high-quality beans while building long-term relationships with roasters.
Producers in Brazil have become masters at crafting unique coffees through their diverse terroir and processing techniques, producing specialty cups that stand out in every cup that passes under your nose. Thanks to them, Brazil’s coffee industry has become one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative.
At home, Brazil produces not only coffee but also beef and poultry at an enormous scale, its telecommunications industries being highly competitive as well. Furthermore, Brazil boasts rich biodiversity which includes unique species like giant anacondas and the Afro-Brazilian capybara; lush jungles shelter 600 mammal species and over 1,500 bird and fish species while in the central part of its territory sits the Pantanal region which boasts one of the world’s largest wetland regions filled with unique wildlife such as otters and caimans among others.
4. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of sugarcane
Sugarcane is an extremely versatile crop that yields two key products: sugar and bioethanol. Bioethanol has quickly emerged as an alternative energy source, and is expected to play an increasingly critical role in global energy balance.
Brazil devotes approximately 10 million hectares of land to cultivating sugarcane. Most of this production occurs in the south-central region in states such as Sao Paulo, Goias and Minas Gerais; however there is also significant sugarcane production occurring in Pernambuco and Paraiba states in the northeast of the country.
Sugarcane was traditionally burned for energy production. Recently however, stalks, leaves and fibers from Brazilian sugarcane production have been utilized to create ethanol as an alternative fuel source for automobiles – increasing profitability significantly and thus making its production even more cost-effective.
Ethanol production occurs at several refineries throughout Brazil and accounts for 15% of their renewable energy supply. When oil prices were high during the 1970s, Brazilian government encouraged farmers to produce ethanol by providing subsidies, loans and tax breaks to distillers.
Although Amazonian conditions aren’t ideal for large-scale sugarcane cultivation, Pinto believes selective breeding and changes to environmental conditions could make this possible in the future. He hopes the forest reaches a “tipping point,” where climate shifts from tropical to savanna-like climate zones, thus becoming suitable for this form of cultivation.
Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers of both sugar and ethanol, but still faces challenges when it comes to alleviating poverty and inequality. Compassion International is working to change this, and you can be part of its work by sponsoring a child in Brazil today! Your sponsorship will meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs of your sponsored child while opening up life-changing opportunities. For more information on becoming a sponsor visit our sponsor page!