By virtue of its ability, to harness both the immense labour pool & to exploit the huge natural resources of minerals, timber & agricultural land, it has risen to become South Americas leading economic power. However, it remains beset with high levels of unequal distribution of wealth & is striving to overcome widely scattered illiteracy. 17% of the population are considered to be living below the poverty line.

The capital, Brasilia is a 'designed' city, constructed specifically to house the legislature & located nearly 800kms inland from the Atlantic coast. There are 26 States that together form the Federal Republic of Brasil & its largest cities are Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro.

From an environmental standpoint, Brasil is home to one of the worlds most prolific, yet endangered ecosystems - the Amazon Basin & the region within known as the Pantanal.

The Amazon is the world's largest biological reserve. It has unequaled natural resources & one third of the planet's living species make it their home. The rivers within the Amazon basin account for one fifth of the world's fresh water & act as 'roads' to the interior extremities of the country.

The Panatanal is an enormous wilderness region containing forests meadows & savannahs. Unlike the Amazon's dense foliage which makes for difficult spotting of birds & animals, the Pantanal is a photographer's, bird & nature lover's delight as wildlife & both indigenous & migratory birds flock to the region to breed.

Here, great numbers of beautiful & rare birds, reptiles, fish & mammals, including the largest rodent - capybaras - & rare leopards can be observed.

From a tourism standpoint, Brasil draws its international visitors not only for the ecological wonders, but equally its high profile events such as Carnaval held annually in the glitz & glamour of Rio de Janeiro. This city captures the imagination of romantics be it Carnival, honeymoons or simply to be able to have experienced the sights & their feet in the sands of the Copacabana, Ipanema & Leblon beaches.

Brasil is much, much more than just cities, beaches & eco-regions. It is more-so the culture, the people, the pulse & beat of Samba & the immense diversity that comes from a country that touches the Caribbean, the Andes & the Atlantic.