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Brazil

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10 Photos

10 Photos

Close-up of the O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro.

O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro. The monument, which is 38 m (120 ft) tall and stands on Corcovado Mountain, is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. Constructed over a period of nine years, the sculpture was dedicated in 1931. In 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Trinidade Beach at Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state.

Trinidade Beach at Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state.

The majestic Iguazu Falls on the Argentine-Brazil border. The falls are part of a nearly virgin jungle ecosystem surrounded by national parks on both sides of the cascades. The Iguazu River begins in Parana state of Brazil, then crosses a 1,200-km (750 mi) plateau before reaching a series of faults forming the falls.

Another view of Iguazu Falls on the Brazil-Argentina border.

A panoramic view of Iguazu Falls along the Brazil-Argentina border. The entire waterfall system consists of some 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.7 mi) of the Iguazu River.

This photograph shows a section of the Negro River in Jau National Park, Amazonas state. Fed by multiple waterways, the Negro River is the Amazon's largest tributary. The mosaic of partially-submerged islands visible in the channel of this enhanced satellite image disappears when rainy season downpours raise the water level. Jau National Park is South America's largest forest reserve, covering 23,000 sq km (8,900 sq mi); it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image courtesy of USGS.

Whether seen at night or during the day, the capital city of Brazil is unmistakable from orbit. Brasilia is located on a plateau - the Planalto Central - in the west-central part of the country, and is widely considered to be one of the best examples of 20th century urban planning in the world. One of its most distinctive design features - as seen from above - suggests a bird, butterfly, or airplane traveling along a northwest-southeast direction, and is made dramatically visible by city light patterns (image center right, between Lake Paranoa and the airport).
Following the establishment of Brasilia in the early 1960s, informal settlements began to form around the original planned city. Ceilandia was one such settlement. In 1970, Ceilandia was formalized by the government and is now a satellite city of Brasilia with its own distinct urban identity. The developed areas of Brasilia and its satellites are clearly outlined by street grids and highway lights in this photograph taken from the International Space Station. The large unlit region to the upper right is the Brasilia National Park. Image courtesy of NASA.

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Factbook photos—obtained from a variety of sources—are in the public domain and are copyright free.

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