Brazil

Brazil   / b r ə ˈ z ɪ l /   (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;">[8] ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1em;">[9] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Mugnier_10-0" style="line-height:1em;">[10]  (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil,  listen (help·)), is the largest country in both South America and the Latin America region. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population, with over 193 million people.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-popdata_4-1" style="line-height:1em;">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Geo_11-0" style="line-height:1em;">[11]  It is the largest Lusophonecountry in the world, and the only one in the Americas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Geo_11-1" style="line-height:1em;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;font-family:sans-serif;">Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Geo_11-2" style="line-height:1em;">[11]  It is bordered on the north byVenezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west byBolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Geo_11-3" style="line-height:1em;">[11]  It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;font-family:sans-serif;">Brazil was a colony of Portugal beginning from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500, up until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. The colonial bond was in fact broken several years earlier, in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Intro_12-0" style="line-height:1em;">[12]  Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a militarycoup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Intro_12-1" style="line-height:1em;">[12]  Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a federal republic.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Constitui.C3.A7.C3.A3o_13-0" style="line-height:1em;">[13]  The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Constitui.C3.A7.C3.A3o_13-1" style="line-height:1em;">[13] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1em;">[14]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;font-family:sans-serif;">The Brazilian economy is the world's seventh largest by nominal GDP and the seventh largest by purchasing power parity, as of 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-siteresources.worldbank.org_15-0" style="line-height:1em;">[15] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;">[16]  Brazil is one of the world's fastest growing major economies, and its economic reforms have given the country new international recognition and influence.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;">[17]  Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, CPLP, Latin Union, theOrganization of Ibero-American States, the Organization of American States, Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations, and is one of the BRIC countries. Brazil is also one of the 17 megadiverse countries, home to diverse wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA_Geo_11-4" style="line-height:1em;">[11]  Brazil is considered a middle power in international affairs,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Solomon_18-0" style="line-height:1em;">[18] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wood_19-0" style="line-height:1em;">[19] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Adriansyah_20-0" style="line-height:1em;">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ferguson_21-0" style="line-height:1em;">[21]  and has been identified as a potential superpower.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cornellsun.com_22-0" style="line-height:1em;">[22] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brazzil.com_23-0" style="line-height:1em;">[23] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-transnational.org_24-0" style="line-height:1em;">[24]