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of Brazil’s population lives within 220 miles (354 km) of the coast.
If overcrowding in the big cities has strained the government’s ability to
provide basic services to all citizens, in villages and towns government
resources are stretched even thinner. Little development has taken place in the
countryside. For example, 95 percent of urban dwellers have access to safe
drinking water, but only 53 percent do in the countryside. Most of the available
work is only for laborers, and wages are lower than in the cities. A family wage
earner in the rural northeastern part of the country earns about half as much
as a city worker in the southeastern part. He is also twice as likely to be
illiterate
, and his life expectancy is 10 years lower. A key challenge facing the
government is removing the inequality of opportunities for Brazilians.
Profiles of the Major Cities
The largest city in Brazil is São Paulo, the main industrial center of the nation.
São Paulo is also the largest city in South America. The former capital of
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, ranks second. It is an important port and commercial
center. Other important cities include Salvador, the capital of Bahia; Belo
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baroque—
an artistic style that flourished from the 16th to the mid-18th century and that
was characterized by complexity, extravagance, and bold ornamentation.
confluence—
the place where rivers or streams come together.
illiterate—
unable to read or write.
savanna—
low-lying grasslands.
Words to Understand in this Chapter