Brazil for Kids: Rainforest, Soccer & Fun Facts

Brazil for kids: Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the whole world. It is home to the Amazon Rainforest (the biggest rainforest on Earth), Carnival (the world's biggest party), and the most successful soccer team in World Cup history. About 215 million people live in Brazil, and almost everyone speaks Portuguese.

Where Is Brazil?

Brazil sits on the eastern side of South America, with a long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It is so big that it covers almost half of the entire continent. If you spread Brazil out on a map, it would stretch about 4,300 kilometers from north to south and roughly the same distance from east to west. The country is so wide that it actually crosses several time zones.

Brazil is also unusual because it shares a border with almost every other country in South America. The only two it does not touch are Chile and Ecuador. The equator, the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, runs across the northern part of Brazil, which is why so much of the country is warm and tropical all year long.

Vamos! (That's Portuguese for "Let's go!")

The Amazon Rainforest

The most famous part of Brazil is the Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest on the planet. It is so enormous that it spreads across nine countries, but most of it is inside Brazil. People sometimes call the Amazon the "lungs of the Earth" because its billions of trees soak up carbon dioxide and breathe out the oxygen we need.

The rainforest is bursting with life. Scientists think the Amazon is home to about 10 percent of all the known species on Earth. You can find jaguars, sloths, pink river dolphins, giant anteaters, toucans, and thousands of colorful frogs and butterflies. Some creatures here are not found anywhere else in the world, and researchers are still discovering brand-new species every year.

Running through the forest is the mighty Amazon River. It carries about one-fifth of all the river water that flows into the world's oceans, which makes it one of the most powerful rivers anywhere. In some places it is so wide that you cannot see the other side from the riverbank.

Soccer and Carnival

Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup five times, more than any other country in history. Soccer, which Brazilians call futebol, is almost like a national passion. Kids play it everywhere, on beaches, in streets, in parks, and even in the smallest villages. Many of the world's greatest players, like Pelé, Ronaldo, and Neymar, grew up playing in Brazil.

Brazil is also famous for Carnival, a giant festival held just before the Christian season of Lent each year. Rio de Janeiro's Carnival is the biggest of all, with huge parades, dancers in sparkling costumes, samba music, and beautifully decorated floats. During Carnival, around 2 million people fill the streets to celebrate every single day. Samba schools spend months preparing their dances and outfits, treating the parade like a friendly competition.

Cities and People

Brazil's capital city is Brasília, a planned city built in the shape of an airplane when seen from above. It was constructed in just a few years during the 1950s to move the capital away from the crowded coast. Even though Brasília is the capital, two other cities are more famous around the world. São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and one of the biggest in the world, packed with skyscrapers and busy streets. Rio de Janeiro is known for its beaches, mountains, and the giant Christ the Redeemer statue.

Brazilians come from many different backgrounds. The country's people include descendants of Indigenous nations who lived there first, Portuguese settlers, Africans, and immigrants from places like Italy, Japan, and Germany. This rich mix is why Brazilian food, music, and festivals are so colorful and varied. A favorite dish is feijoada, a hearty stew of beans and meat, often served with rice.

Amazing Nature Beyond the Rainforest

Brazil is not just rainforest. On the border with Argentina, you can visit Iguazu Falls, a breathtaking set of 275 separate waterfalls roaring side by side. In the center-west of the country lies the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, where you might spot capybaras, caimans, and even jaguars.

The country also has long stretches of golden beaches, rolling grasslands called the Cerrado, and dramatic rock formations. Because Brazil sits mostly south of the equator, its seasons are flipped compared to North America and Europe. When it is winter in the United States, it is summer in much of Brazil.

Try This!

Try some Brazilian-style soccer tricks! The most famous is "keepie-uppie," where you see how many times you can bounce a soccer ball on your foot without letting it touch the ground. Brazilian kids practice this all the time. Can you beat 10? Once you get good with your feet, try using your knees and head too.

Key Facts

• Capital: Brasília (though Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are more famous)
• Language: Portuguese — Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America
• Population: About 215 million people
• Size: About 8.5 million square kilometers, the fifth-largest country on Earth
• Continent: South America
• Famous Landmark: Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, about 30 m tall with arms stretching 28 m wide
• Currency: The Brazilian real

Did You Know?

• A Brazilian pioneer named Alberto Santos-Dumont is credited by many people as one of the inventors of the airplane.
• Brazil produces about one-third of all the coffee in the world.
• The name "Brazil" comes from the brazilwood tree, which produces a bright red dye that was once highly valued.
• Brazil has more species of plants and animals than almost any other country on the planet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What language do people speak in Brazil?

People in Brazil speak Portuguese. This makes Brazil special, because every other country in South America speaks mostly Spanish. Brazilians speak their own version called Brazilian Portuguese, which sounds a little different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal.

Why is the Amazon Rainforest so important?

The Amazon Rainforest is important because it is home to around 10 percent of all the species on Earth and produces a huge amount of the oxygen we breathe. Its trees also help control the weather and store carbon, which keeps the whole planet healthier. Protecting it helps animals, plants, and people everywhere.

What is Brazil most famous for?

Brazil is most famous for the Amazon Rainforest, its love of soccer, and the colorful Carnival festival. It has won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. Many people also know Brazil for the Christ the Redeemer statue and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.

How big is Brazil compared to other countries?

Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world by land area and the largest in South America, covering nearly half of the continent. It is so big that it borders almost every other South American country and stretches across several time zones.