FREE ESSAY ON BRAZIL

BRAZIL

BRAZIL
Introduction
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the
world.
It represents almost half of South America. It borders every country in South America
except 
Chile and Ecuador. Brazil's immense size and population contribute to a variety of
culture, 
environmental wildlife, ethnic groups, and an abundant of natural resources.
History
The Brazilian Indians were the first inhabitants of Brazil. Historians express that their

were two to five million Indians living in the region before the arrival of the
Portuguese. Today 
there are less than 200,000. [Destination Brazil web site]. 
The first Portuguese explorers arrived in Brazil in 1500. During this period Brazil
became 
the first great plantation society in the Americas. Slaves contributed most of the labor
during the 
first agricultural movement of this era in the production of sugar and coffee
[Encyclopedia 
Encarta web site]. 
On September 7, 1822, Brazil claimed it's independence from Portugal with a
peaceful resolution without bloodshed. The Portuguese royal family ruled as emperors
until 
1889. Since 1889 Brazil has been a republic and have been under two periods of
dictatorship. 
The first reign of dictatorship was during the years 1937 through 1945 and the last
occurring in 
the years 1964 and ending in 1985 [ Encyclopedia Encarta web site]. 
Land and Climate
Forests cover 65 percent of Brazil's territory and includes the world's largest tropical

rain forest in the Amazon River basin. The forest accounts for 30 percent of the world's
total 
woodland and 104,031 varieties of wildlife (mammals, insects, birds, amphibians, fish,
etc.). The 
Amazon Basin also accounts for the world's largest river, the Amazon River [Lamiar web
site].
Brazil has mostly a tropical climate. Northern Brazil has mostly wet atmospheric 
conditions. The average temperature for the region is 77 degrees and it has an average
rainfall of 
90 inches per year. The southern part of Brazil has subtropical climate. The average 
temperature for the region is 68 degrees and it has an average rainfall of 60 inches
annually 
[Encyclopedia Encarta web site].
Land is a significant natural resource for Brazil because it allows the country to
produce 
many different types of crops and livestock The rain forest produces not only timber, but
also 
many other types of products such as rubber, palm oil, charcoal, and Brazil nuts.
Culture
Brazil is the sixth most populous country in the world with a population over171 million

and a growing rate of 1.16 percent annually (1999 est.) [CIA World Factbook web site].
The 
population consist of Native American, European, and African ethnic groups.
Industrialization 
has caused a population shift to urban areas such as Rio De Janeiro, the Federal
District, and Sao 
Paulo. As industrialization increases in Brazil, the population will continue to shift to
urban areas. 
The Roman Catholic religion is the most dominate denomination in Brazil representing 70 
percent of the total population [ CIA World Factbook web site]. Portuguese is the
official 
language of Brazilians although there are some regional variations in pronunciation and
jargon.
The education system in Brazil is very poor. Almost all children between the ages 7 to 14

attend primary school but the number of individuals in secondary school are reduced by
more than 
half. The female gender represent 57 percent of total students in secondary schools.
Continuing 
education mostly depends on the social class with which one is associated [Encarta
Encyclopedia 
web site].
Business
Brazil has the eighth largest economy in the world which dominates the region. It 
accounts for almost half of the continents total output. Brazil is the most
industrialized nation in 
South America and it is the world's largest producer of coffee, oranges, and bananas.
Although 
the economy is unstable, the economy continues to recover from recession and economic
turmoil 
from the past years. 
The Economy 
Brazil own large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service 
areas. The ability to control most of these industries allows the economy of Brazil to
have the 
upper hand in South America and the ability to expand in world markets. Periodic world 
recessions, the oil crises of 1973 and 1979 , the accumulation of high debt, and periods
of rapid 
inflation have contributed to slow the development process in Brazil.
The unstability of Brazil's economy is very important in connection to the U.S. economy.

Experts proclaim if U.S. exports to Brazil decrease, it could end a period of growth in
the 
U.S. economy. In 1994 the government of Brazil designed and implemented a strategic 
economic policy to stabilize the economy. The Real Plan, or Plano Plan, created a new
currency, 
the real, and formed other policies to reduce inflation without wage deductions or price
freezing. 
The Real Plan reduced inflation by 45 to 50 percent every month in early 1994 and a rate
of 1 to 2 
percent over the next two years [ Encyclopedia Encarta web site].
In 1999, Brazil's GDP was $976 billion. The GDP/per capita stood at R$6100 or 
U.S.$3437. The exchange rate is R$1.79 compared to the U.S.$1.00 The unemployment rates 
stand at 7.6 percent (1998 est.) and inflation stands at 8.4 percent (1999 est.) [
Latin-Focus web 
site]. 
Trading Partners
Brazil's exports mostly iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, motor 
parts, and automobiles. Latin America(28%), the United States(20%), and Argentina(12%)
are 
Brazil's major export partners. Brazil imports a variety of different products. It
imports mostly 
crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, food, and coal. The European Union(26%), the

United States(22%), Argentina(13%), and Japan(5%) are its major import partners [CIA
World 
Factbook web site]. 
Trade Restrictions
Brazil prohibits the entry of poultry and poultry products from the United States. Brazil

also will not allow imports of live sheep from the United States because of scrapie, a
viral disease 
derived from sheep. It prevents imports of beef that have been treated with anabolic
hormones 
but it will allow beef imports from the United States on a waiver basis. 
Brazil requires an import license for almost every product. The import license can be 
easily acquired within five days because the licenses are primarily used for statistical
analysis [The 
Economist web site].
The Future
In the last twenty years, Brazilians have been moving and setting up in the savannahs of

Metro Grosso which has been only established for fifteen years and turned the state into
the 
country's largest producer of soya and cotton. Soya products have surpassed coffee to
become 
one of Brazil's most exported crops(5.7 billion in 1997). Dante de Oliveira, the state's
governor, 
hopes that the increase in the production of cotton will attract a textile industry
[Britannica web 
site].
Living conditions of Brazil are also improving due to the breaking down of social
barriers. 
People are now moving from their hometowns to different cites(two out of five Brazilians
have 
moved) and states(one out of five have moved) [Britannica web site].
The reduction of inflation and better trading policies have now caused Brazil to start 
looking for a more valuable and stable economic future.
Tourism
Tourism in Brazil is beginning to increase. The improvement of infrastructure and the 
police force has attracted more tourist. The major tourist attractions are the beaches of
Rio de 
Janeiro, the Amazon rain forest, and the historic cities of Bahia and Minas Gerais. The
Carnaval 
festival is the most popular event that keeps growing every year. 
Tourist beware! Although the crime rate has decreased over the past few years, tourist 
should be aware of heavily populated areas. Rio de Janeiro continues to have high crime
rates. 
The types of crime that occur most frequently in the city are street thefts by the main
beaches. 
Sao Paulo has high crime rate in most every part of the city. Armed robbery of tourist at

stoplights and theft in public facilities are the most frequent offenses. If tourist take
the proper 
precautions and stay alert, the chance of assaults will be greatly reduced [Consular
Information 
web site].
Conclusion
Brazil's large size and population contribute to many factors for it's success . Although

Brazil has suffered economically and politically in the past, it seems it might be on the
proper path 
to becoming one of the worlds most economically successful countries. It has a very
diversified 
culture and geographic regions which provides many attractions for tourist. Brazil is far
from 
becoming an economic superpower, but with time and patience it may surprise it's
critics.
Bibliography
References
Destination Brazil web site, , June 10, 2000.
Encarta Encyclopedia web site, , June
10, 2000.
Lamiar web site, , June 10, 2000
CIA World Factbook web site, , June 10,
2000.
Latin - Focus web site, , June 12, 2000.
The Economist magizine article, , June 14, 2000.
Encyclopedia Britannica web site, , June 20, 2000.
Consular Information web site, , June 20, 2000.
BBC News web site, , June 20, 2000.
The Brazilian Embassy web site, , June 20, 2000.