City Description
Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest cities in South America located in the southeastern part of Brazil on the Guanabara Bay. This is the second-largest (after São Paulo) city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the capital of the country until 1960. Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas and has a rich history and many showplaces that attract tourists.
City’s History
Location
The first mentions of the city date back to the 16th century when the era of sea travel and discovery was in full swing. The name Rio de Janeiro translated from Portuguese means the January River (“Rio de Janeiro history,” 2020). The Portuguese who discovered it in January 1502 took Guanabara Bay for the mouth of the river, and in Figure 1, the general view of the landscape is presented (Olhats, 2016). The official date of the foundation of the city is March 1, 1565 (“Rio de Janeiro history,” 2020). Over its centuries-old history, Rio de Janeiro has developed from a settlement into one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas.
Rio de Janeiro owes its beauty, first of all, to its excellent location. The city stretches along the coastline with numerous beaches and rocky hills on an area of 1265 km² (“Rio de Janeiro: Carioca landscapes,” 2020). Two mountains called Corcovado with the statue of Christ the Redeemer dominating over the city and Pan de Asucar have become the city’s trademarks, or copyright (©), and in Figure 2, they are reflected (Rogers, 2020). The nature of the city creates an idyllic picture and is one of the main attractions of Rio de Janeiro.
The population of the City
In terms of the number of inhabitants, the former Brazilian capital is one of the largest. Its population in an urban area is 13,458,000 people, and this is one of the most densely populated cities in the world (“Rio de Janeiro, Brazil population,” 2020). According to Olhats (2016), the locals call themselves Cariocas, and the etymology of the origin of this name has nothing to do with Rio. This name came from the phrase “the house of the white” (casa de Branco) and appeared during the arrival of the Portuguese colonialists in Brazil whom the Indians called white people (Olhats, 2016). Cariocas differ from their other compatriots in temper and temperament since they are more sociable and liberated. Nevertheless, due to the diverse composition of the population, the citizens of the city assimilate successfully and create cultural communities. As a result, the ethnic structure of the former Brazilian capital is rich and dynamic. The total number of residents of Rio de Janeiro grew steadily, and in Table 1, the indicators for recent years are presented, which confirms a constant population increase (“Rio de Janeiro, Brazil population,” 2020).
Table 1. Rio de Janeiro’s population (2010-2020).
The ethnic composition of the population is diverse, and the location of the city explains this. It was formed under the influence of three factors: local Indian tribes, European settlers from Spain and Portugal, and Africans brought here by the colonialists as slaves (“Rio de Janeiro history,” 2020). Most of the population in the country are mestizo, which is explained by mixed marriages and a long history of the assimilation of nationalities.
Rio de Janeiro is not only a city of eternal celebration but also of amazing contrasts. On the slopes of the surrounding mountains, there are squalid dwellings of the poorest areas of the city, which are called favelas. There are several hundreds of these favelas in the city, which contain about 20% of the entire population of Rio de Janeiro (“Rio de Janeiro, Brazil population,” 2020). For instance, the largest favela in Rio, Rocinha, has over 50,000 inhabitants (“Rio de Janeiro, Brazil population,” 2020). Although the standard of living in these places has increased significantly recently and the local authorities try to put things in order, the crime situation and sanitary conditions in favelas leave much to be desired. In Figure 3, the general view on favelas is presented, which confirms that living conditions there are far from ideal (Chiang, 2016). According to the official statistics, “18.57% of the population are considered to live in extreme poverty” (para. 9). Therefore, from an economic perspective, living standards in Rio de Janeiro vary greatly among the population.
City’s Attractions
While exploring the sights of the city, one should pay attention to the division into districts. In addition, due to its oceanfront location, tourists can spend time on different beaches and appreciate the flavor of local entertainment. The list of attractions is long, and to explore all the fascinating places, will take more than one day. For the convenience of tourists, numerous signs help to navigate in the multi-million city, and almost at every turn, special arrows help find the desired showplace: ⇒⇑⇓⇐.
Among the most significant and world-famous beauties of Rio de Janeiro, one should pay attention to the following one:
- The Statue of Christ the Redeemer
- Sugarloaf Mountain
- Maracanã stadium
- Sambodrome
- Botanical Garden
- Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
- Flamengo Park
- Historical Center, Downtown
- Cineland and Lapa Quarter
- The National Library
- The Municipal Theater
- Praça XV Square
- Carioca and Uruguayana
The statue of Christ is the most famous symbol of the city and all of Brazil, and this cultural site is included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The monument is located at a high altitude above the former capital on the Corcovado mountain, which offers panoramic views. It is the most visited tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable in the world, and for convenience, the oldest railway in the country carries it to the top.
Conclusion
Rio de Janeiro is a unique metropolis with a rich history and worldwide fame. Founded in the 16th century, the city developed and grew continuously, and over time, it has become one of the centers of tourism in South America. Until 1960, it had been the capital of Brazil, which proves its significant status. Due to its geographical location and many attractions, the city is the target of many tourist routes. Specific aspects of the life of the city’s population raise questions, in particular, the rates of income and crime. Numerous attractions of Rio de Janeiro are known all over the world and included in the cultural fund of humanity.
References
Chiang, Y. (2016). Favela walking tour – A visit to Rio de Janeiro’s slum. Travel with Winny. Web.
Olhats, F. (2016). 15 facts you probably didn’t know about Rio de Janeiro. Momondo. Web.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil population. (2020). Population Stat. Web.
Rio de Janeiro: Carioca landscapes between the mountain and the sea. (2020). UNESCO. Web.
Rio de Janeiro history. (2020). World Travel Guide. Web.
Rogers, B. R. (2020). 15 top tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro & easy day trips. PlanetWare. Web.