A Short History of BrazilBrazil, Argentina successfully complete joint space launch Celebrated in its national anthem as a gigante pela própria natureza [a "giant by nature"], Brazil is the world's fifth largest country, extending over 8.5 million square kilometers-half the surface area of South America. Its population of 170 million reflects a unique blend of African, European, Asian, and indigenous heritages, making Brazilians one of the most exuberantly diverse societies on earth. In the course of the nation's long history, they have built a society in which many cultures and creeds coexist in harmony. The Brazilian nation has evolved in a remarkably well-favored natural environment that is home to 20 percent of the world's biodiversity, much of it concentrated in the 3.6 million square kilometers of lush Amazon rainforest. Along with 20 percent of the world's fresh water, Brazil is blessed with abundant mineral reserves that range from oil and iron to bauxite, niobium, and manganese. With enormous tracts of arable land, modern Brazil continues to fit the famous description addressed to the king of Portugal in 1500 by Pero Vaz de Caminha, one of the first Europeans to set foot in the New World: "It is a land," he wrote, "where everything you plant bears fruit." History of Brazil and agriculture The vitality of Brazil's agricultural production is reflected in its abundant grain and coffee crops, in the world's largest commercial cattle herds, and in the immense variety of tropical and temperate-climate fruits that grow there, whose rich flavors are enjoyed with gusto by foreign palates. But that is not all. Predominantly an urban nation despite its natural wealth, Brazil boasts a diversified modern industrial infrastructure employing sophisticated technology to produce top-quality goods that it exports all over the world. Its lengthy roster of export goods is ample demonstration of the variety of products that fuel its dynamic international trade. Some 4,500 different items-74 percent of them manufactured and semi-manufactured goods-are exported regularly. History of Brazil and soccer This cradle of international soccer stars also produces modern products that range from sporting goods to advanced commercial and military aircraft. Brazil also produces technological expertise, exporting automated banking services and computer network security software. Technological expertise is also the principal asset of Petrobrás, a major oil company that develops cutting-edge technology for oil exploration and production in deep and ultra-deep waters, where 73 percent of Brazil's oil and gas reserves are located. The company's achievements were acknowledged with two Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) prizes in nine years. History of Brazil and space But if Brazil leads the world in the exploration of the ocean depths, it also strives toward the heavens, and not only through the sophisticated aircraft manufactured by Embraer. Brazil is the only country in the Southern Hemisphere to participate in the International Space Station Project, the largest venture of its kind in history. Brazil will conduct orbital experiments in several scientific fields, contributing to the progress of international science. Brazil is no newcomer to space exploration, in fact; it has been active in this field for many years. Lying close to the Equator, the Alcântara Rocket Launch Center in Maranhão State is optimally located for launching payloads into orbit. Further evidence of Brazil's scientific and technological maturity is its participation in the Human Genome Project in partnership with the international scientific community. The pages on this site will offer some fascinating insights into the vivid mosaic of peoples and industries that make up Brazil - an enchanting country justly celebrated in its national anthem as "a giant by Nature."
History of Brazil: "The Brazilians" 
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