WasayB
Grade 11E
English
Rio De Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro and is second largest city in the South American country of Brazil. "Rio" as the city is commonly abbreviated is also the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil. It is considered one of the main tourist destinations in the Southern Hemisphere and is famous for its beaches, Carnival celebration and various landmarks such as the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The City of Rio de Janeiro is nicknamed "the Marvelous City" and has been named a Global City. For reference a Global City is one that is considered to be a significant node in the global economy. The following is a list of the ten most important things to know about Rio de Janeiro: 1) Europeans first landed on present-day Rio de Janeiro in 1502 when a Portuguese expedition headed by Pedro lvares Cabral reached Guanabara Bay. Sixty-three years later, on March 1, 1565, the city of Rio de Janeiro was officially founded by the Portuguese. 2) Rio de Janeiro served as the capital city of Brazil from 1763-1815 during the Portuguese Colonial Era, from 1815-1821 as the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal and from 18221960 as an independent nation. 3) The City of Rio de Janeiro is located on Brazil's Atlantic coast near the Tropic of Capricorn. The city itself is built on an inlet in the western portion of Guanabara Bay. The entrance to the bay is distinct because of a 1,299 foot (396 m) mountain called Sugarloaf. 4) Rio de Janeiro's climate is considered tropical savanna and has a rainy season from December to March. Along the coast, temperatures are moderated by sea breezes from the Atlantic Ocean but inland temperatures can reach 100F (37C) during summer. In the fall, Rio de Janeiro is also affected by cold fronts advancing north from the Antarctic region which can often cause sudden weather changes. 5) As of 2008, Rio de Janeiro had a population of 6,093,472 which makes it the second largest city on Brazil behind So Paulo. The population density of the city is 12,382 persons per square mile (4,557 people per sq km) and the metropolitan area has a total population of around 14,387,000. 6) The City of Rio de Janeiro is broken down into four districts. The first of these is downtown which consists of the historic downtown center, has various historic landmarks and is the financial center of the city. The south zone is Rio de Janeiro's tourist and commercial zone and it is home to the city's most famous beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana. The north zone has
WasayB
Grade 11E
English
many residential areas but it is also home to the Maracan Stadium, which was once the world's largest soccer stadium. Finally the west zone is the farthest from the city center and is thus more industrial than the rest of the city. 7) Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's second largest city in terms of industrial production as well as its financial and service industries behind So Paulo. The city's main industries include chemicals, petroleum, processed foods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, clothing and furniture. 8) Tourism is also a large industry in Rio de Janeiro. The city is Brazil's main tourist attraction and it also receives more international visits per year than any other city in South America with around 2.82 million. 9) Rio de Janeiro is considered the cultural capital of Brazil because of its combination of historic and modern architecture, its more than 50 museums, popularity of music and literature, and its yearly Carnival celebrations. 10) On October 2, 2009, the International Olympic Committee selected Rio de Janeiro as the location for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. It will be the first South American city to host the Olympic Games. Weather: Rio de Janeiro sits almost on top of the Tropic of Capricorn, which makes its climate tropical and ideal. From June through August, the winter, temperatures hover between a comfortable 20C by day and 16 C by night. The summer months of December through March heat up significantly, ranging from 25 to 45C. Transportation: Air:
Domestic flights arrive in Santos Dumont, while Galeao International Gate, Rio's international hub, services a wide array of international carriers: Aeroflot, Aeorlineas Argentina, Aeroperu, Air France, Al Italia, American, Avianca, British Airways, Delta, Iberia, KLM, Lan Chile, LAB, Lufthansa, SAA, Swissair, Transbrasil, United, Varig, Rio Sul, Vasp, Continental, and Spanair. Rail:
Rio's two train stations, Estacao Leopldina and Estacao Dom Pedro II, offer service between the downtown area and the suburbs. Subway:
WasayB
Grade 11E
English
Rio's subways consists of a major line from Botafogo to Saens Pena, and a branch from Estacio de Sa to Maracan. Taxi:
Rio has an abundance of yellow metered cabs, which can easily be hailed on the streets. Special taxis are also common at hotels and the airports, and can be booked by phone. Medical Facilities: Rio de Janeiro has a number of internationally respected hospitals, clinics and doctors, but treatment is expensive so visitors are strongly advised to take out medical traveler's insurance before traveling to Brazil. Public hospitals are also available.
The Rio 2016 Olympics Games:
The Rio 2016 Games will provide the best possible environment for peak performances. Athletes will enjoy world-class facilities, including a superb village, all located in one of the worlds most beautiful cities, in a compact layout for maximum convenience. The competition venues will be clustered in four zones Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro and Maracan and connected by a high-performance transport ring. Nearly half of the athletes will be able to reach their venues in less than 10 minutes, and almost 75 per cent will do so in less than 25 minutes. Of the 34 competition venues, of which 18 are already operational, eight will undergo some permanent works, seven will be totally temporary and nine are being constructed as permanent legacy venues. The Rio Games will also celebrate and showcase sport, thanks to the citys stunning setting and a desire to lift event presentation to new heights. At the same time, Rio 2016 will be an opportunity to deliver the broader aspirations for the long-term future of the city, region and country an opportunity to hasten the transformation of Rio de Janeiro into an even greater global city.
