Brazil - Country Studies
...most ambitious planned city. This World Heritage site was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, urban planner Lucio Costa and landscape architect Burle Marx, the city was built in an incredible three years (1957-60) by millions of dirt-poor peasants working around the clock. Planned for only 500,000 inhabitants, Brasilia has seen its population grow much more than expected. Brasilia's total population (including the satellite cities) is now over 2,000,000 inhabitants. On April 21, 1960 the capital moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília and is the seat of Brazil`s government. Rio de Janeiro “River of january” The cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) is one of the most densely populated places (population: 5.974.000) on earth. The Cariocas - as the inhabitants are called – live good on dance, drink, beach, sport and sun. Rio is and always has been a highly cultured city. The high density and rich ethnic mix of the population has given shape to all forms of artistic expression, which is evident in the music, dance and lifestyle of the Cariocas – especially during Carnival. There are many cultural centres, art galleries and performance venues in Rio, hosting an ever-changing series of events. Rio de Janeiro is the center of the oil and gas business in Brazil and headquarters of the National Petroleum Agency, the industry regulator. It is also the country`s second-leading financial and industrial center and the location of the National Institute of Industrial Property (Patent and Trademark Office), For this reason, the lawyers specialized in these areas are concentrated in Rio de Janeiro. There is a good collection of museums housing everything from 20th-century Brazilian art to information on Brazil's indigenous people; c...