Discovering South America: Brazil

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Brazil

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

Words to Understand in this Chapter

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.