Rio de Janeiro, city in southeastern Brazil, on the Atlantic Ocean, and the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Its name is Portuguese for “river of January.” This refers to its location near the entrance to Guanabara Bay, which appeared to be a large river estuary to early 16th-century explorers, and to the date it was discovered—January 1, 1502.
Rio is the second most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo, and ranks second only to São Paulo in industrial production. Rio also boasts one of the busiest ports and airports in the nation. Internationally, it is still the nation's best-known city, and it was the site of the United Nations Environmental Conference in 1992. The city's inhabitants are called cariocas and are characterized within Brazil as fun-loving, sensual, and easygoing.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Rio de Janeiro Information info
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