Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeirowas founded in January 1567 and was the capital of Brazil until 1960. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its landmarks are the 710 m high Corcovado mountain on which the Christ statue Cristo Redentor stands and the Glockenberg “Sugar Loaf”. The most famous beach in Rio belongs to the Copacabana district of the same name in the southeast of the city. The beach is 5 km long, 100 m wide and consists of fine, white sand. It is not only visited by tourists, the locals also like to spend their free time here. One of the main attractions of the city is the traditional Rio Carnival. The parades with the imaginatively costumed dancers are organized by one of the numerous samba schools. The first parade took place in 1855, today the “Carnival of Río” is the most famous carnival in the world.
Brasilia
The capital of Brazil was designed according to plan and inaugurated on April 21, 1960. The layout of the city is reminiscent of the shape of an airplane. Brasilía was placed in the middle of the Brazilian mountains in order to make better use of this previously undeveloped area and to build up an infrastructure. Over 2.5 million people now live in the city, but most of them in the slums on the outskirts. One of the advantages of the city is the pleasant climate, which attracted many people from Río de Janeiro with its humid and polluted air. Architecturally, the city is a true work of art and an example of the modern in this field. The award-winning architect Oscar Niemeyer created one of his best works here, including the National Congress, several palaces and the world-famous Metropolitana de Brasília Cathedral. Visit justinshoes.net for Brazil samba caimans endless beaches.
São Paulo
São Paulo was founded by Jesuits who taught the Indians. Since then, the city has come a long way, becoming one of the five largest cities in the world and the largest city in the southern hemisphere. Over 10 million people live in the core city, but as with all Brazilian cities, the majority of the population lives in the slums. São Paulo is the center of coffee growing and a city of contrasts. On the one hand Brazil’s economic and financial center, and on the other a laid-back city that hosts the world’s largest gay pride. Most of the sights are concentrated in the catchment area of the city center, where cathedrals from the 17th century, the Catedral Metropolitana, the great market halls of Sao Paulo and the Opera House stand in the shadow of skyscrapers. The megacity even has 30 parks. The largest of them is the central park of Ibirapuera, which, in addition to the natural beauties, also houses the planetarium and the museum of modern art. São Paulo is also known worldwide for its lively nightlife and countless bars. The city can compete with the largest metropolises in the world.
Iguaçu waterfalls
In the borderland between Argentina and Brazil, in the midst of a picturesque landscape, the enormous water masses of the Iguazú flow. These form the largest waterfalls in the world – wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls. About 275 waterfalls fall over a width of 3 km over steps made of basalt rock up to 70 m deep. The waterfalls in the Iguaçu National Park are the most important natural attractions in Brazil. About 3/4 of the waterfalls are on the Argentine side, so you have a bigger overview from the Brazilian side. The waterfalls flow through a national park, in the middle of the jungle. You can admire and explore the flora and fauna. The waterfalls with the associated national park have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1986.
Salvador da Bahia
Salvador da Bahia is the third largest city in Brazil and was the first capital in its history. The historic port is the reason that many people traveled to the city. It has now become an international trade and economic center where the Catholic faith, Western culture and African rites coexist smoothly. The city is influenced by Africa and is famous for music, churches and joie de vivre. The tourist center of the city is Pelourinho – the old town, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The baroque town center offers a unique view over the bay Todos os Santos and is home to numerous baroque churches and squares. The Monastery and São Francisco Cathedral, which are located in the old town of Salvadors are very important colonial monuments in Brazil. Salvador’s north coast is very popular with beach lovers. Many beach bars that offer cold beer, caipirinha and various snacks invite guests to linger. Highlights of the city are, for example, the real Brazilian coffee and the sunset on the Atlantic.
Manaus
The capital of the state of Amazonas lies on the Rio Negro, eleven kilometers from its confluence with the Amazon. The main tourist attraction is the jungle surrounding the city, which is considered to be the region with the greatest biodiversity in the world. Downstream on the Rio Negro is the “Meeting of the Waters”, where the yellow water of the Amazon meets the black water of the Rio Negro united. The largest archipelago in the world, the Anavilhanas, begins 60 km above the city. The Anavilhanas are a completely protected nature reserve, which consists of hundreds of islands and a completely untouched flora and fauna. The city itself is well worth the time: market halls, Art Deco from the time of the rubber barons and the exclusive Amazon Theater – an opera house in the middle of the Amazon.
Pantanal
The most sparsely populated region in Brazil is the Midwest. The climate in most of this area is warm with little rainfall, which is why the predominant landscape consists of grasslands and wide steppes. However, this is also where the Pantanal wetland is located, one of the largest animal and plant reserves in the world. This place is ideal for observing animals in nature. With a little luck you will see storks, ibises, ducks, herons and coots, but also otters, alligators, monkeys, snakes, deer or emus. The Pantanal knows two different seasons: the dry season from July to October, when the birds of the region breed and nest, and the rainy season from December to March, when everything is flooded and comes to life. Temperatures can vary from season to season between 7º and 40º Celsius. The Pantanal is home to many Indian tribes, whose areas have been declared as reservations by the government. Especially in the southern part of the Pantanal numerous activities such as fishing, rafting, snorkeling in the crystal clear water, horse rides, hikes and mountain bike tours are offered. You can also visit the famous Gruta do Lago Azul, a beautiful stalactite cave in which there is a deep blue lake.
