Where in the World? This may be the world’s fifth largest country, but it’s number one when it comes to one of the world’s largest freshwater fish. The fish, known as the pirarucu or the paiche, is impressive – it can grow to a length of 3 metres and weight of 113 kg (250 pounds) – but its diet is what really sets it apart. It’s a fruit eater, lunging out of the water to grab fruit from overhanging tree branches. This fish provides more than food. The indigenous people use its tough scales and bony tongue as tools. You hear Portuguese, not Spanish, being spoken. Portuguese is the national language for only one country in all of Latin America.

Where on Earth are you? Can you find your place? Brazil

Welcome to Brazil

Talk about having to get along with neighbours, Brazil has 10 of them Talk about having to get along with neighbours, Brazil has 10 of them! Can you name some? Could you get along with so many?

Is the Amazon the longest river in the world? At 3,900 miles (6424km), the Amazon comes in second. Although the Nile may be longer, the Amazon comes in first in volume of water (one-fifth of the freshwater that flows into the world’s oceans comes from the Amazon), number of branches (there are over 1,000, with more than 200 in Brazil), and drainage area (the river drains into an area almost the size of Australia, including parts of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela). Some sections of the river are several miles wide when floodwaters are high, and early explorers believed they were on a vast inland sea rather than a river.

Brazil gained independence from Portugal back in 1822, but its present constitution wasn’t approved until 1988. A vast country, Brazil has modern and developed cities to contrast its large tracts of Amazonian rain forest, where some inhabitants have never seen an outsider.

Brazilian Indians collected latex, a milky white substance that dripped from V-shaped slashes cut into certain trees. They used the latex as insect repellent and a waterproof covering for their feathered robes. The first to process rubber, the Indians would form shoes, bottles, and balls out of boiled latex. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a tremendous demand for rubber, and rubber plantations were established. Many Indians become virtual slaves. Schools were not allowed on the plantations, and Indians were forced to start collecting latex even before the sun came up. Why was there a higher demand for rubber? There was a boom in the automobile industry, and rubber was needed for tires.

FAST FACTS - Brazil Official Name: Federative Republic of Brazil Head of State: President Head of Government: President Capital: Brasilia Language: Portuguese Religions: Christianity Currency: Real Population: 182.8 million (UN estimate, 2005) Literacy: 86 percent Economy: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining Major Cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Curitiba, Manaus, Recife, Porto Alegre

Where in the World? It’s your turn: Complete your “Where in the World?” page. 1 – fill in the country and continent. 2 – write a paragraph about Brazil with at least 5 interesting details (important details). 3 – colour in Brazil on the world map.