Minas Gerais, Brazil

Brazil is the 5th largest country by area in the world, and the largest country on the South American continent. Tribal nations populated the land until the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500’s, establishing Portuguese as the official language of Brazil. From colonial beginnings to an established kingdom, many then immigrated from around the world to Brazil, creating a multicultural and ethnically diverse country. The Amazon River Basin, with lush tropical forests create a home to diverse wildlife and a variety of ecological systems. Brazil is one of the world’s leading producers of coffee and grains. One of Earth’s megadiverse countries, Brazil has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extensive natural resources and numerous protected habitats. On September 7, 1822 Brazil was founded as an independent country and is known formally as the Federative Republic of Brazil.