With 8,5 million km2 and 190 million people, Brazil is the fifth largest country
in the world in both
area
and
population.
It occupies almost 50% of the
South American Continent.
Brazil's capital is Brasília but
São Paulo and
Rio de Janeiro are
its mayor cities. São Paulo is the largest city in the southern hemisphere.
Politically, Brazil is divided into 26 states and one federal district (containing Brasília),
distributed over 5 regions (North, Northeast, Center - West,
Southeast and South). Economically most important is the Southeastern Region composed by
the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírio Santo.