The Christ the Redeemer Statue
A float at Carnival
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Language:
The language of Brazil is Portuguese, as it was colonized by Portugal in 1502. The name of Rio de Janeiro translates to "January River", because it was discovered on january 1, 1502. Population Characteristics: Rio is very ethnically diverse, and includes people of European, African and mixed ancestry. People self-identify in various groups, sometimes based on skin color. The inhabitants of Rio are called Cariocas, after a Tupi Indian word meaning “white man’s home”. Religion: The people are mainly Catholic, although many also practice a local religion called Umbanda. Perhaps the most famous and most sacred site is the Christ the Redeemer statue, at the top of Mt. Corcovado. It was built in 1931, by Heitor da Silva Costa, Carlos Oswald, and Paul Landowski. It is a statue of a 98 foot tall Jesus Christ with his arms outstreched in a 92 foot wingspan, looking out over Rio de Janeiro. Carnival: One of Rio's key cultural events, stemming from the 1800s, is that of the Carnival. This is a festival about the upcoming of Lent. There is a lot of dancing, singing, and partying. Carnival features singing, music, colorful parades and samba rhythms. Education and Learning. Rio de Janeiro is the home to major universities and academic organizations including the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Rio de Janeiro State University, the Brazilian Academy of Letters, and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. The National Library is also there. All of these cultural attractions make Rio the most visited place in the entire southern hemisphere. Tourists come for the parties, the ocean, the beauty, Carnival, Sporting Events, and nature. |