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 Useful Information

Population


The Brazilian population, according to recent data, reaches over 171 million inhabitants. Race miscegenation is impressive - Indians, Africans, Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, Irish, Italians, Germans, Japanese (and others) have participated in the ethnical formation of the country.

Language

Portuguese is the spoken language in Brazil, articulated in a different way from the Portuguese originally spoken in Portugal. Spanish is easily understood. On the South and Eat regions of the country, many people speak German, Italian and Japanese, due to the Brazilian colonization. English and French are not widely spoken.

Time Zones

The official time is Brasília time and it corresponds to 3 hours less than the Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT). Manaus, the Capital City of the State of Amazonas, is four hours behind the Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT), or one hour lees than Brasilia time.

Currency

The Brazilian currency unit is the Real (R$).  US Dollars (US$) and the Euro (€) are widely accepted at the main shopping malls, hotels, travel agencies, stores, bars and restaurants.

Weighs & Measurements

In Brazil, the metrical system is adopted to weigh and measurement.

Temperature

The temperature is officially measured in Degrees Celsius (ºC). North and Northeast Regions are normally the hottest and stable ones. Midwest, Southeast and South Regions have a more diverse climate, being hot or cold according to the time of the year.

Brazilian Regions

North, Northeast, Mid-West, Southeast and South.

Extreme Locations

North
, Latitude +05º16'20", Longitude - 60º12'43"
                  Nascente do Rio Ailã (Roraima)
South, Latitude –33º45'03", Longitude - 53º23'48"
                 Arroio Chuí (Rio Grande do Sul)
East,   Latitude –07º09'28", Longitude - 34º47'30"
                  Ponta do Seixas (Cabo Branco, Paraíba)
West, Latitude –07º33'13", Longitude - 73º59'32"
                 Nascente do Rio Moa (Acre)

Borders

Brazil has 23.102 kilometers of frontiers, with 10 countries (Venezuela, Suriname, Guiana, French Guyana, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru e Colombia).

Coastline Extension

Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil’s coastline extension is of 7.367 kilometers.

Highest Locations

Pico da Neblina, 3.014,1 m, at Serra Imeri (Amazonas)
Pico 31 de Março, 2.992,4 m, at Serra Imeri (Amazonas)
Pico da Bandeira, 2.889,8 m, at Serra do Caparaó (Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais)  
Pico das Agulhas Negras, 2.787,0 m, at Serra de Itatiaia (Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais)

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely accepted at shopping malls, travel agencies, shops, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Atm Machines

It is possible to withdraw money with magnetic cards in thousands of Automatic Teller Machines around the country. However, some international bank nets are not connected to the Brazilian bank system, making it impossible to withdraw money.

Electrical Power

Visitors should include a chain transformer in their luggage. Some cites operate with 110V volts, while others adopt the 220V volts. Many hotels offer this equipment free of charge.

Phone Calls

Brazil offers great phone services, including cell phones and international calls. Calls can be made through phone operators or directly by the user.

Clothing

When visiting the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, characterized by hot weather all year round, visitors should wear light clothes and shoes. When visiting South, Southeast and some parts of the Mid-West Regions, the luggage must be made of light and heavy clothing, due to weather instability.

Internet Services

It is extremely easy to access the Internet from thousands of cyber cafés and LAN houses, throughout the country.