Brazil is a large country located in the central-eastern part of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It occupies almost half of the continent's landmass and is dissected by both the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil) is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world. Brazil is an incredibly diverse country, in people, culture, and landscapes—from the famous summer carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Olinda, and Recife to the wild power of nature in the Amazon and Iguaçu Falls. Reuters.com is your online source for the latest Brazil news stories and current events, ensuring our readers up to date with any breaking news developments Carnaval in Brazil is the traditional combination of a Roman Catholic festival with the lively celebrations of people of African ancestry. It evolved principally in urban coastal areas, notably in the former plantation zones along the coast between Recife and Rio de Janeiro. Brazil was briefly named Land of the Holy Cross by Portuguese explorers and crusaders before being named Land of Brazil by the Brazilian-Portuguese settlers and merchants dealing with brazilwood. A partir do século XIX, difundiu-se a hipótese de que o nome do país derivaria da ilha mítica irlandesa conhecida como Hy Brazil, representada em mapas medievais. Discover comprehensive geographic, demographic and strategic intelligence for Brazil, featuring detailed insights into population statistics, territorial measurements, economic indicators, timezone data and geopolitical positioning. Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is a country in South America. It is the world 's fifth-largest country by area, behind Russia, Canada, the United States, and China, with a total area of 8,514,877 square kilometers (3,287,612 sq mi). Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world, occupying nearly half of the continent’s land area. Its varied landscapes include the Amazon Rainforest, extensive river systems, and major urban centers. Brazil encompasses a wide range of tropical and subtropical landscapes, as well as wetlands, savannas, plateaus, and low mountains. It contains most of the Amazon basin, including the world's largest river system and most extensive virgin tropical forest.