BRAZIL IS THE WORLD'S FIFTH LARGEST COUNTRY, LARGEST COUNTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA, EIGHTH LARGEST ECONOMY (GDP) AND ONLY PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE AMERICAS
Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America and the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
Brazil is the world's eighth largest economy by nominal GDP and the ninth largest by purchasing power parity. Economic reforms have given the country new international recognition. Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations, and is one of the BRIC Countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.
Source: www.brasilsavannah.blogspot.com, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil
