Local Information about Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America; the fifth most populous country; and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of more than 7,491 kilometers (4,655 miles). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay; and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.

From an economic perspective, Brazil is the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates and the ninth largest by purchasing power parity. Economic reforms have given the country new international projection. It is a founding member of the United Nations and the Union of South American Nations. A predominantly Roman Catholic, Portuguese-speaking and multiethnic society, Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, and is the world's seventh largest metropolitan area. It is the capital of the State of São Paulo, which is the most populous Brazilian state. Translated as "Saint Paul" in Portuguese, São Paulo is also the richest city of Brazil and exerts strong regional influence in commerce and finance as well as arts and entertainment. Campinas is a city and county (município) located in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.