Rio de Janeiro is set between the Atlantic Ocean and an escarpment in one of the world's most stunning surroundings. Rio's inhabitants are known as Cariocas, people who enjoy life. Rio de Janeiro offers them all the pleasures they need. Rio boasts beautiful beaches, samba music, football, beer and the local brew of cachaça.
There are also countless problems to cope with though. As every large South American city, Rio de Janeiro's outskirts consist of large favelas (shanty towns), which are home to the poorest 30% of the city's population. These poor don't have access to schools or doctors and most of them have no jobs. As a result drug abuse and violence are endemic. Another problem is police corruption and brutality, which are commonplace. In an effort to diminish Rio's reputation as a violent city, special police units patrol areas that are frequently visited by tourists, but that has not stopped the steady decline in the number of people visiting the city every year.
Rio de Janeiro is divided into two separate parts by the steep mountains of the Serra da Carioca. The Serra is part of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, which also includes the 750 m (2460 feet) high Corcovado, the mountain with the statue of Christ the Redeemer at its summit. The views from there are absolutely stunning and offer a good idea of Rio's geography. To the north you will see Rio's zona norte district, while the zona sul is to the south. On both sides of the city's edges, favelas cover the hillsides.
Rio's premier tourist attraction is Copacabana, the world famous beach that runs for some 4.5 km (3 miles) along Rio's seafront. From the beach, the granite slabs that surround the entrance to the Baía de Guanabara are visible.
The most chic beach, where all off Rio's rich go, is Ipanema. Other beaches within the city include Arpoador, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Pepino.
The Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Bread) offers fantastic views over Rio from its top, 396 m (1300 feet) above sea level. It can be reached by two cable cars. Another interesting place to visit is the Parque Nacional de Tijuca, the last remaining 120 km² (47 sq miles tropical jungle that originally surrounded the entire city. The forest boasts several waterfalls and is only a 15 minute drive out of town.
Many people come to Rio for its exorbitant Carnaval, which is a fantastic spectacle, although more authentic celebrations can be seen in other places around Brazil. During the Carnaval, taxi fares rocket sky high, as well as prices for accommodation and many people wonder through the streets drunk and high.
There are countless hotels, hostels, dormitories and other kinds of accommodation in Rio. Most of the cheaper places are situated in the districts of Glória, Catete and Flamengo. Restaurants and eateries are scattered all over the city. The best places to go for Rio's nightlife are in the districts of Botafogo, Cinelândia and Lapa, while there are also many, but more expensive trendy clubs in Leblon and Ipanema. Rio de Janeiro is 915 km southeast of Brasília.
Hours from UTC: -4
Daylight savings time: Late October through late March
City phone code: 21
Country phone code: 55
Temperature | Precipitation | |
January | 25.8°C (78.4°F) | 12.4 cm (4.88 in) |
April | 23.6°C (74.5°F) | 10.7 cm (4.21 in) |
July | 20.6°C (69.1°F) | 4.1 cm (1.61 in) |
October | 21.9°C (71.4°F) | 7.9 cm (3.11 in) |
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