Dramatic Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana Beach borders one of the world's most densely populated residential areas. Rio is ideally situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains that reach down to the city center. The towering granite slab of Pão de Açúcar dominates the entrance to Baía de Guanabara. Will and Deni McIntyre/Photo Researchers, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legacy of Gold So much gold was mined around the town of Ouro Preto in the 1700s that the area was dubbed Minas Gerais ("general mines"), now the name of the Brazilian state in which the town is located. Boomtowns sprinkled the hills, rich merchants built opulent mansions, and artisans created stunning baroque churches. Ouro Preto is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bernard Boutrit/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Belo Horizonte, Brazil's First Planned City Belo Horizonte, Brazil's first planned city, was inaugurated as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais in 1897. The city's name means "beautiful horizon," and it is situated on a wide plateau on the west slope of the Serra do Espinhaço range. Originally designed to occupy 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), Belo Horizonte is now more than ten times that size and has become a farming, transportation, and cultural hub. Ulrike Welsch/Photo Researchers, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Birthplace of Brazilian Culture The Casa de Miseri overlooks the harbor at Salvador, Brazil's first capital. Founded in 1549, Salvador features elegant centuries-old colonial mansions and gilded churches. It is the center of African-Brazilian culture, where Portuguese-Catholic customs blended with those of West African slaves, who were brought over to work the sugar plantations. Much of what is typically thought of as Brazilian food, religion, dance, and music originated in this area. Bernard Boutrit/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. River City of Manaus An ornate opera house built in 1896 graces Manaus, the capital city of Amazonas State in northwest Brazil. The city lies on the left bank of the Rio Negro just above its junction with the Amazon River. Accessible by steamer, Manaus is an important shipping point for Amazon Basin products such as Brazil nuts, lumber, and rubber. Nearly half of the population of Amazonas lives in and around Manaus, whose high temperatures and extreme humidity have not hindered growth. David R. Frazier/Photo Researchers, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Modern Architecture in Brasília Construction began in 1956 on Brazil's capital city, Brasília, which is situated on the banks of the Paraná deep in the country's interior. Noted for its modernist architecture and meticulous planning, the city is laid out in the shape of an airliner, with the Plaza of the Three Powers at the nose. Nearby are the white twin towers, bowl, and dome that house Brazil's Congress. The capital began its move from Rio de Janeiro to the new city in April 1960. Joanchim Messerschmidt./Bruce Coleman, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Contrasts of Rio de Janeiro The city center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, flourishes with corporate towers, lavish high-rise buildings, and models of inventive architecture. On the surrounding hillsides, bleak slums called favelas contrast harshly with the dazzling city. Stephanie Maze/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Skyscrapers of São Paulo Capital of the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil, the city of São Paulo is Brazil's financial center and a headquarters for foreign banking operations. Skyscrapers define the skyline of São Paulo, but a number of parks provide open, green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. Daniel Laine/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Natural Wonder of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the most visually stunning cities in the world. From the cliffs that rise sharply behind Rio, the breathtaking view takes in the beach-lined city, the sharp promontory of Pão de Açúcar (also known as Sugar Loaf Mountain), and the neck of Baía de Guanabara and beyond. Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. . Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Contrasts of Rio de Janeiro The city center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, . Maze/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Skyscrapers of São Paulo Capital of the state of São Paulo in