Description

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest cityinBrazil, on the South Atlantic coast. Rio is famous foritsbreathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture and itsannualcarnival.

The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entryfromthe ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of ariver.Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectaculargeographicfeatures including Sugar Loaf mountain at 395 meters(1,296 feet),Corcovado Peak at 704 meters (2,310 feet), and thehills of Tijucaat 1,021 meters (3,350 feet). These features worktogether tocollectively make the harbor one of the Seven NaturalWonders ofthe World.

It is a common mistake to think of Rio as Brazil's capital,adistinction it lost on 21 April 1960 when newly builtBrasiliabecame the capital. Beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema,theChrist The Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue, the stadiumofMaracanã and Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) are allwell-knownsights of what the inhabitants call the "marvelous city"(cidademaravilhosa), and are also among the first images to pop upintravelers´ minds, along with the Carnaval celebration.