Brazil explained to kids

Brazil is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country in the world, and the largest in both South America and the Latin American region. Brazil is also the world's ninth most populous country, with over 200 million people. The name "Brazil" comes from the Portuguese word for "brazilwood", a tree that once grew abundantly along the Brazilian coast. Brazil was colonized by Portugal in the 1500s, and became an independent nation in 1822. Brazil is a very diverse country, with people of European, African, and indigenous descent. The capital of Brazil is Brasília, and the official language is Portuguese. Brazil is home to many different kinds of animals, including the jaguar, the capybara, and the Brazilian tapir. The Amazon rainforest, which covers a large part of Brazil, is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees! Brazil is also well-known for its Carnival celebrations, which take place every year before Lent. During Carnival, people dress up in costumes and dance in the streets to music. Brazil has a tropical climate, with warm weather all year round. The average temperature in Brazil is 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit). Brazil is a very popular tourist destination, with millions of people visiting every year. Some of the most popular places to visit in Brazil include the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon rainforest, and the Iguazu Falls.