| Local name: Repùblica Federativa do Brasil |
| Surface :
8,511,965 sq km (3,286,488 sq mi) Brazil
covers almost half of the South American continent and it is bordered
to the north, west and south by all South American countries
except Chile and Ecuador;
to the east is the Atlantic. |
| Population :
167,988,000 inhabitants |
| Electricity: Bahia
(Salvador) and Manaus 127 volts AC, 60Hz; Brasília and Recife 220
volts AC, 60Hz; Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo 110 or 220 volts AC,
60Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type. Most hotels provide 110-volt and
220-volt outlets, transformers and adaptors. |
| Climate: Varies from
arid scrubland in the interior to the impassable tropical rainforests
of the northerly Amazon jungle and the tropical eastern coastal
beaches. The south is more temperate. Rainy seasons occur from January
to April in the north, April to July in the northeast and November to
March in the Rio/São Paulo area. |
| PASSPORTS: Passports
valid for at least 6 months from date of entry required by all except
nationals of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay arriving in Brazil
directly from their own countries and holding a national identity
card. VISAS: Required by all except the
following: nationals mentioned under passport exemptions above;
nationals of EU countries for touristic stays of up to 90 days;
nationals of Andorra, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malaysia,
Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland,
Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Vatican City and Venezuela for
touristic stays of up to 90 days; transit passengers continuing
their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting
flight, provided holding onward documentation and not leaving the
airport. |
| Capital : Brasília
1,737,800 |
| System : Federal
Republic - The present constitution was promulgated in 1988.
Legislative power rests with the bicameral Congresso Nacional. The
lower house has 513 seats and is elected by proportional
representation for four years; members of the 81-strong Senate serve
eight-year terms. The president, who holds executive power and is
elected every four years, appoints and leads a cabinet of ministers. |
| Languages :
Portuguese
(official), Spanish, English, French |
| Religions : There
is no official religion, but approximately 70 per cent of the
population adhere to Roman Catholicism. A number of diverse
evangelical cults are also represented, as are animist beliefs (particularly
spiritism, umbanda and candomblé). |
| Money : real (R$) (plural 'reais') |
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+ 55 |
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Brazil spans several time
zones: Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Sunday
in October to third Saturday in March). Western Standard Time: GMT
- 4 (GMT - 3 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in
March). North East States and East Parà: GMT - 3. Amapa and West
Parà: GMT - 4. Acra State: GMT - 5. Fernando de Noronha
Archipelago: GMT - 2. |
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