5 fascinating facts about Brazil

1. Brazil is the world’s fifth largest country by population (approximately 201 million and geographical area (3,287,597 square miles). It borders every other South American nation, barring Ecuador and Chile, and makes up 47 per cent of the continent.

2. The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro weighs 635 tonnes, is 38 metres high including its pedestal and was named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” in 2007. It was damaged by a lightning strike earlier this year, and reports have suggested that repairs could make it darker, due to a shortage of replacement stone.

3. Brazil has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites 3. Brazil has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among the best known is the Iguacu National Park, home to one of the world’s largest and most impressive waterfalls at 1.7 miles wide and with a total of 275 drops. It is also occupied by several rare and endangered species including the giant otter and the giant anteater

4. Henry Ford spent huge amounts of money trying to create rubber plantations and factories in the middle of the Amazon jungle. A town built in imitation of the American Midwest, and called, modestly, Fordlandia, grew up on the shores of the Tapajos river. The remains of his ultimately shattered dream can still be seen. This industrial ghost town is difficult to get to, but worth the effort.

5. The Amazon River is the world’s largest by volume of water discharged. Around 209,00 cubic metres per second flow into the Atlantic Ocean – more than the next seven largest rivers combined and enough to fill Lake Baikal – the world’s deepest lake – in less than four years. During the wet season the river is up to 30 miles wide.