Discovering South America: Brazil

(Opposite) The statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of Brazil’s most famous landmarks, looms over Rio de Janeiro atop Corcovado Mountain. The statue is 125 feet (38 meters) tall. (Right) The skyline of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, which is home to nearly 12 million people. An additional 8 million Brazilians live in the suburbs around São Paulo. 5

Brazil’s Colorful, Crowded Cities

UNTIL THE MID-1960s more Brazilians lived in the countryside than in towns. But since then, the lure of jobs has drawn workers to the larger cities, swelling them in size. Today, more than 80 percent of Brazil’s people live in urban areas, and one-third live in cities having more than 1 million inhabi- tants. Many of Brazil’s larger cities have extensive slums whose residents lack access to clean water, electricity, and health care, compounding the problems of poverty, hunger, and disease. Homelessness—especially among children and young teens—is also a major social problem, particularly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, the population density varies greatly by region. The most densely peopled states are Rio de Janeiro, the Federal District, and São Paulo. The least populous state is the interior region of Amazonas. About 80 percent

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