Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, with a population of 12 million, is the second largest city in Brazil. It was founded in 1556 by the Portuguese and has grown rapidly, particularly in recent years. It is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere and is known for its spectacular natural setting. Rio hosted World Youth Day in 2013, the World Cup in 2014 and will host the 2016 Olympics.

Rio is situated on the south east coast of Brazil around the huge natural harbour of Guanabara Bay and its entrance is marked by a point of land called Sugar Loaf Mountain. It experiences a tropical wet and dry savannah type climate with long periods of heavy rain from December to March and average monthly temperatures of over 27°c. Copacabana Beach Sugarloaf Mountain

Location of Rio in BrazilMap of Rio de Janeiro

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro created by the French sculptor Paul Landowski and constructed between 1922 and It is 30 metres tall and its arms stretch 28 metres wide. It is located at the peak of the 700 metre Corovado mountain in the Tijunca Forest national park overlooking the city.

A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It has been restored several times, due to the strong winds, erosion and lightening strikes to which the statue is exposed, the most recent being in During the unveiling of the restored statue it was illuminated with green and yellow lighting in support of the Brazilian national football team playing in the 2010 world cup.

The City Districts The Centro is the original historic core of Rio de Janeiro. The centre is broken up into many different sections. This is because of the steep slopes and steep mountains which rise up suddenly from the coastline and the fact that flat land is in short supply. Tunnels have been cut into the hillsides to connect one part of the city centre with another. The Central Business District (CBD) is the area where many shops and offices are located. This glamorous central part of Rio is busy 24 hours a day. There are busy streets, hectic noise and chaotic traffic. There are expensive shopping areas and constant street trading. Only rich people can afford to live in apartments in the centre. There are many high rise buildings housing offices and hotels as this is the financial centre where large companies have their South American and Brazilian headquarters. It also houses many cathedrals, the Municipal Theatre, the National Library and museums.

The South Zone is a wealthy residential area comprising some of the most expensive real estate in all of South America. The neighbourhood of Copabana Beach and Sugar Loaf mountain are located in this zone. The largest urban forest in the world, White rock Forest, is located in the west zone and Brazil’s top private university is situated on the edge of the forest. The North Zone houses: The middle class residential and commercial area of Tijuca, its surrounding neighbourhoods and favelas. It is home to the Maracana football stadium. The West Zone is the most recently modernised region and continues to grow rapidly. It has attracted some of the richer sectors of population, large businesses, high flats and sprawling shopping centres. It will host most of the sports venues and competitions during the 2016 Olympic games and will be home to the Olympic village, beach and park.

The Growth of Favelas Many people have recently moved from the countryside to Rio de Janeiro. This movement is known as rural-urban migration. People move in the hope of finding a job, schools for their children, entertainment and better health care. The reality in the city is very different and many find themselves struggling for survival in the favelas which are large areas of housing on the outskirts of a developing world city.

Life in a Favela Rocinha is one of the largest favelas in Rio with a population of over 100,000. It is built on steep slopes overlooking Copacabana beach. Here, people build their own houses from basic materials such as wood, corrugated iron, broken bricks and tarpaulin on land which does not belong to them. Houses lack basic amenities such as running water or toilets. Sewage runs in open drains due to poor sanitation. Diseases such as cholera are common. There is a lack of electricity, rubbish collection, schools and hospitals.

Infant mortality rates are high and life expectancy is low at an average of 56 years. Many people are unemployed. The few jobs which are available are unskilled and poorly paid. Drug trafficking and use, as well as prostitution, crime and murder, are major problems. Rocinha is so feared by police that they do not patrol on foot without guns.

Air pollution from factories and traffic is a major problem and smog is common. Waste and rubbish from housing and industry create much land pollution. Landslides are common during tropical storms and the make-shift houses in favelas offer little protection to people.

Self-Help Schemes in Rocinha In recent years the residents of Rocinha have slowly tried to improve living conditions. Houses are built using proper building materials. Piped water, electricity and sewage disposal have been introduced. Street lighting has helped to reduce crime. Small industries provide employment opportunities. Schools and crèches have been built. Entertainment and internet access has been introduced. Refuse collection is organised by local people. Public transport and the cable cars allow people to travel to the centre of the city for work and entertainment. But despite the community spirit within the favelas they are still tough places to live in as their crime rates are often unacceptably high.

Barra da Tijuca The new ‘city’ of Barra da Tijuca is 10km west of the edge of Rio. It is on the coast, where there is a lagoon of shallow water and flat land, so it has room to grow. Many of the 150,000 residents are professional people who move to the outskirts for a better life and to escape the chaos of central Rio. The new motorways allow them to commute to the centre for work. They live in high-rise apartments with high security. Services available include shopping malls, leisure centres, restaurants and night clubs. Children can walk to school and there are clubs available for them afterschool. The beaches are within easy access.

Activities Are any monuments in your city similar to Christ the Redeemer and what is their significance? Compare and contrast housing conditions in your local city with the favelas of Rio. Do you agree that police officers carry firearms in the favelas? Justify your answer. What can be done to protect the White Rock Forest from the effects of Urban Growth?