Brazil-Facts

General Facts

Population: 198 million    
Language: Portuguese    
GDP: $1.5 trillion
Currency: R$ - Real                   
Capital: Brasilia
Time: the country is in four time zones.
Religion: 74% of population is Roman Catholic, 15.4% are Protestants, 7.4% are atheists, and other minorities.

Reasons to Visit

If you are contemplating a visit to a completely different and diverse country, you might want to consider Brazil. It is a country of contrast, full of fantastic beaches, tropic rainforests, and Carnivals.  Either you are studying or volunteering abroad, Brazil will leave a vibrant impression. Here are little known facts that may intrigue you, or else give you a better understanding of this place.
-Brazil got its name from the Brazil nut, not the other way around.
-Brazil ranks as the 5th largest country on Earth. It is larger than Japan, Spain, Portugal, Indonesia, and South Africa.
- It shares boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
-While you enjoy a warm latte or espresso, keep in mind the world’s best and most delicious coffee originates from Brazil.
-The Amazon Basin has approximately thousand tributaries and holds near 20% of the world's fresh water. The Amazon forest itself contains around 30% of the world's forest.
-The Amazon River is the largest river in the world in flowing water, and the second-longest in the world after the Nile.
-Brazil was the fifth country in the world to have television.
-The national currency Real has both horizontal and vertical pictures.

Who lives there

The population of today's Brazil is a mix of many ethnic groups which adds to the richness of the experience you will get as an intern or a volunteer in this great country. Ethnic structure is dominated by Caucasians consisting of Germans, Portuguese, Germans, Italians, and Spaniards who covers 55 % of the population. Mitoses and mulattoes add up to 38 %, African Americans make up about 6%, and a combination of Japanese, Arabs, and Indians contribute to 1% of Brazilian people. If you would like to get exposure to different ethnic groups while volunteering abroad, Brazil is the perfect place to do that.

A lesson in geography

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, making it the fifth largest in the world. Being the largest country in Latin America, it shares boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. The Atlantic Ocean washes onto the eastern side of Brazil, providing beautiful coastlines which attract millions of visitors each year. Much of the coast is composed of the Great Escarpment which looks like a wall from the ocean. In the north, you will find the low lying Amazon forest, while the south terrain is more open, full of hills and low mountains.

Almost half of Brazil’s territory is covered by the Amazon River, home to one of the world’s largest rainforest ecologies. The Amazon River flows through Brazil, and this water system carries more water to the ocean than any other river system in the world. Whether one prefers ocean, beaches or mountains, Brazil has everything to make it an unforgettable experience abroad.

What sort of clothes to pack

While volunteering abroad in Brazil you can expect to have nice weather year around. However due to the fact that the country has six climatic types, one can expect to be exposed to different weather when traveling around the country. The six climatic types are equatorial, tropical, semiarid, highland tropical, temperate and subtropical. The average annual shorts you temperature makes approximately 28°C in northern part of Brazil and 20°C in southern. The majority of rain occurs around the Amazon area. There are places in the south of the country where the snow sometimes drops out, and the temperature falls below zero. In Rio de Janeiro at the height of summer the temperature rises up to a mark of 40°C.

Brazil fashion is very similar to European dress. In the north of Brazil (Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza et cetera) clothing is rather casual. While you travel, take care to avoid wearing showy jewelry or any other expensive accessories because the crime rate is very high.  Consider bringing a couple of warm articles of clothing for night time. If you are traveling to mountainous areas, it can get a bit chilly, so a windbreaker or lightweight jacket is a good idea. During the daytime around the beach area, you will get plenty of wear out of any bikinis or swimming shorts you take. You should pack two pairs of good shoes. Flip flops are fine for the beach, but once you go into the city, stronger sandals are recommended. Hardier walking shoes or boots are better for the more rural areas, and an added layer of thin socks will minimize rubbing. Regardless of what you pack, you will encounter a diverse group of people who are more interested in who you are.