Independência ou Morte! (Portuguese) ("Independence or Death!") | |||||
| Anthem | "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" | ||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Rio de Jaineiro | ||||
| Other cities | Bahia, San Salvador, São Paulo | ||||
| Language | Portuguese | ||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||
| Demonym | Brazilian | ||||
| Government | Unitary Fascist Monarchy | ||||
| Emperor | HIM Pedro IV of Bragança | ||||
| Established | 12 October 1822 | ||||
| Currency | Brazilian real | ||||
Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil), officially the Empire of Brazil (Portuguese: Império do Brasil), is a sovereign nation in South America. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Argentina to the south, Peru-Bolivia and Chile to the west, New Granada to the northwest, and British Guiana, Surinam and French Guiana to the north. It is the largest South American state by both land area and population. It was founed as a Portuguese colony in the 16th century, but it gained independence, turning into a monarchy: a cadet branch of the Portuguese royal house was put on the throne. In more recent times, the Integralist Party of Brazil rose to power, turning the country into a fascist monarchy based on those of Europe like Italy and Portugal itself.
Brazil is a vast country: the northwestern part is largely occupied by the Amazonas forest, the largest in the world, which lies in the basin of the Amazonas river, while in the south plain and hilly praires are prevalent. In the western part of the country, there are also some sierras and low mountains. The population of Brazil is varied, with the bulk of the population being formed by descendants of European immigrants (mostly Portuguese, but also Irish, German, Italian and many more), mixed race people, and descendants of African slaves.
Brazil is known for its rich and vibrant culture, deriving from the numerous ethnicities which make up its population: the carnival festival in the capital, Rio de Janeiro, attracts many from all over the world. Brazil's economy has been historically dependent on agriculture and forestry: the country is the world's largest producer of coffee. However, the economy is rapidly becoming more industrialized, especially near major urban centres.