A total of 173,850 paid spectators – and an estimated 20,000 free loaders – were there to see what everyone thought was going to be Brazil’s first time receiving the World Cup. A party not to be missed! Brazil, total, had over 6.5 million visitors from other countries, in the same period. Well, the answer is: none of them. So, creative as they were, they started to call the new zone as “January River”, “Rio de Janeiro”. The Pico da Pedra Branca is the highest point of the city at 1,024 meters (3,360 ft) above sea level. Find us on Facebook There are more than 1,000 slums, or favelas, in Rio – and almost one fourth of Cariocas (locals) live in them. You know Rio – the 2016 Summer Olympics host, the city of samba and carnival, the kingdom of beautiful people and beautiful beaches. Desperate times require desperate measures, at least that’s what it was like for Dom João VI. Here are some facts about Rio de Janeiro. 15 facts you probably didn’t know about Rio de Janeiro, The most underrated destinations across the USA, An epic Florida road trip: not your usual suspects, Raising a glass to Portugal’s best wine regions, 10 exciting dance styles for the toe-tapping travellers, The most beautiful libraries in the world, 8 neighborhoods to visit in Rio de Janeiro, Escape the city: 10 easy day trips from Rio de Janeiro, Mingling at midnight: the buzzy nightlife of Rio de Janeiro, 10 eco travel trends to look out for in 2020. Interesting facts about the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro. When Rio de Janeiro was chosen as the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in 2009, the news was met with a party that attracted thousands to the iconic Copacabana beach. Your email address will not be published. The statue is a leading landmark in Brazil, standing 30 metres tall (98 feet). Rio is on record for hosting the world’s biggest soccer, or football game. It was there, in the favelas, that former African slaves and their descendants first created the music style we now know as samba. Quite a few of Rio’s most touristy spots are partly in the Tijuca Forest – the Botanical Gardens, Parque Lage, and the Corcovado Mountain are a few of them. It took 9 years to build the Christ the Redeemer statue. Many people think the capital of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro, but it is actually Brasília. What do the Sugar Loaf, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, and Copacabana beach postcards have in common? Nowadays, most of the city’s renowned samba schools that compete in the world famous parade every carnival are located in favelas, or close by. The huge, modern cathedral of Rio de Janeiro looks somewhat like a beehive. Thanks to its golden beaches, samba-fuelled nightlife and pulsating energy, Rio de Janeiro is the most popular and well-known city in Brazil. The city of Rio De Janeiro covers 1,182.3 square kilometres. The most popular sport in Rio de Janeiro, as in Brazil as a whole, is football (soccer). The city lies on the Atlantic Ocean. related services. Well, in Rio you will not only find that, but also the bluest sky in the whole wide world. The arms of Christ The Redeemer reach out to a total length of 29 metres (92 feet)! The price of the construction equates to $3.4 million at today’s rate! Facts about Rio de Janeiro: the name. Lots of tourists sit by his side every day to take a picture. With them, came one of Portugal’s most important riches: the Royal Library and its 60,000 items. King Momo is a mythical figure, a joker whose historical origins go back to Ancient Greece. In 1889, Brazil officially became a ‘Republic’. It towers 2,310 feet above the city. The name ‘Rio De Janeiro’ translates from Portuguese to mean ‘River of January’. Write for us | Prev Article Next Article. It is also the third largest metro area and agglomeration in South America, and the 6th largest city in the … What are the festivals, cultural and sport events in Rio de Janeiro? Rio de Janeiro translates to ‘River of January’ The Rio de Janeiro History A natural port of the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay) in southeast Brazil Culture, the city was settled by the Portuguese in 1502, and founded in 1565. Twenty-seven year old Anya Hohnbaum visited 20 different destinations including New Zealand and South Africa on a 72-day trip as part of a competition she had won. R io de Janeiro’s carnival, which will be celebrated this weekend, is the biggest in the world. 2019 was a record breaking year for Rio, having more tourists than residents to celebrate New Year’s Eve! In fact, one of the first acts of Dom João VI, the Portuguese Prince Regent, in Brazil was to establish the National Library, which went on to become the eighth biggest library in the world, with more than 15 million items. Clear skies, warm sand, a cold drink… Isn’t that what everyone wants for their holiday? He established a national library, a museum, botanical gardens, and a school of medicine. They are mostly located around tourist attractions or very close to green spots. But Uruguay snatched Brazilians’ victory away, and the silence of the dozens of thousands was so loud, they gave it a name: Maracanazo. The Rio Carnival lasts for approximately five days. The word has its origins in the Tupi-Guarani language, used by the indigenous peoples who inhabited this blessed sliver of land long before any European knew it existed. Rio’s major league teams—Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Botafogo, and Fluminense—are internationally known. The word comes from the indigenous Tupi language, in which kara’iwa and oka mean «white men’s house». A group of... 2. A good share of his work – including the famous spaceship-like museum, MAC – is located in Niterói, the city that looks at Rio from the other side of Guanabara Bay. In 1950, the World Cup saw 173,850 spectators buy tickets to enter the famous Maracanã Stadium. Legalising street art (or graffiti) turned the already vibrant city of Rio into an even more colourful, living art gallery! According to the Guinness Book of Records, in 2004 the city’s most illustrious party attracted a record 400,000 foreign visitors, becoming the biggest carnival party in the world. The famous Copacabana Beach has a paved sidewalk in the style of Portuguese Mosaic, which is very distinct and formed of black and grey/white waves. Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Portugal from 1808 to 1821. After getting a taste of being the headquarters of the Empire, Rio didn’t want to go back to the old ways. Dom João VI wanted nothing of the sort, and instead packed his bags and moved the whole kingdom to Rio, between 1808 and 1821, when it was safe for the royals to go back home. The Museum of Tomorrow on the city’s renovated port. Rio is a big city, with more than 6 million inhabitants, but it can feel like a small town, especially when you find yourself in the middle of a forest, under the hard-hitting cascade of a waterfall. Clenching to the uncomfortable 6.4 grade given to the city by the IOC, Rio held strong in the competition. The indigenous people started to use the expression soon after the founding of the city of Rio de Janeiro. But it almost wasn’t. Check out our 15 facts about Rio de Janeiro below. This 33-square-kilometre conservation area is the result of reforestation, done in the end of the 19th century, on the order of Brazil’s emperor Dom Pedro II. Rio residents refer to themselves as Carioca. It’s also played host to big music stars such as Madonna and the Rolling Stones! Brazil went on to be world-leaders in football, though still have their ups and downs over the years! With years of experience as a savvy passenger, a researcher called Ronaldo Balassiano got curious and decided to look into this social phenomenon. Test your Carioca knowledge with these facts about Rio de Janeiro, Nothing's too big or too bright for the biggest carnival in the world in Rio. The statue itself is 30 meters (98 ft) high, excluding its 8-meter (26 … Today, some historians dispute the theory, arguing that the Portuguese were too skilled sailors to commit such a mistake, and that the word for river in the 16th century was also used to identify bays. We’ve gathered ten secret facts about Rio that you probably didn’t know the city had up its sleeve. Fireworks and music accompany the fun. The Maracanã River, flows through Rio de Janeiro into the Guanabara Bay. Facts | South America, Towns & Cities | 29 Roaring Facts about Rio de Janeiro Portuguese though were not the only Europeans that had their interest on Rio. Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ with arms spread, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro from the Corcovado Moutain. And it ended up winning, against all odds. You think you know all the Cidade Maravilhosa's secrets? Wildly popular for holding the biggest carnival in the world, millions flock to Rio for colourful displays and plenty of mayhem. This Rio de Janeiro church and convent is one of the best baroque specimens in Brazil. Most of Rio’s samba schools are located in favelas Kids get ready for the carnival in Rocinha favela There are more... 3. The statue is a leading landmark in Brazil, standing 30 metres tall (98 feet). French forces, led by Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon and funded by King Henry IV, set sail to build a fort and start a colony at the Island found at Guanabara Bay. One cannot miss spotting this monument that is one of the seven wonders of the world. The statue was financed by Brazilians, designed by a Frenchmen, and built from Swedish stones. Not to mention the thousands that purchase expensive tickets to watch the acclaimed competitive parades, starring Rio’s best samba schools. This was on the first day of January in 1502. Sailing into the bay on 1 January, the navigators named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth.For many of its first 50 years, Rio was fought over by subsequent French and Portuguese expediti… Each team has its own stadium, but the most important matches take place in Rio’s renowned Maracanã Stadium, which has a large seating capacity. Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ. The name Rio de Janeiro means literally river of January. Rio de Janeiro has an estimated population of 6.45 million in 2016. 15 facts you probably didn’t know about Rio de Janeiro 1. The main religion in the region is Christianity, and the city is famous for its globally recognised statue of Jesus Christ, known as ‘Christ the Redeemer’. It is located on the Atlantic coast in the south east of the country. Follow us on Twitter, Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeastern part of the tropical South America, and is widely known as one of the world’s most beautiful and attractive urban centers. Rio de Janeiro is on the Atlantic Coast of Brazil. At Copacabana Beach, during over 10 hours of festivity, 2.8 million people gathered! Between the years 1808 and 1833, Rio housed the Royal Court of Portugal, who had fled from Napoleon Bonaparte. The popular explanation for this is that when a Portuguese expedition sailed into the Bay of Guanabara for the first time, to ‘discover’ Rio de Janeiro, they thought the bay was a broad river. – Rio de Janeiro Cathedral ( Catedral Metropolitana) – Av República do Chile 245, Lapa. But Rio also has its Niemeyer gems: the Gustavo Capanema Palace and the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, to name a few. 1,773. Rio de Janeiro is a large city in Brazil , a country in South America. momondo is part of Booking Holdings Inc., the world leader in online travel & 27 Baffling Facts about the Bermuda Triangle. Here are some Rio de Janeiro facts that are interesting and mind-blowing: 1. Therefore, we selected 14 curious facts about Rio de Janeiro that you probably didn’t know, and will captivate you! Part of the cost was to cover the transportation by rail, of the workers and pieces for assembly, to the top of the Mount Corcovado. 2) Rio de Janeiro served as the capital city of Brazil from 1763-1815 during the Portuguese Colonial Era, from 1815-1821 as the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal and from 1822-1960 as an independent nation.< br/> 3) The City of Rio de Janeiro is located on Brazil's … It was November 1807, and the Royal Family of Portugal had to make a tough decision – To run to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to escape Napoleon and his troops. Kids get ready for the carnival in Rocinha favela. Rio de Janeiro means January River, but the river is actually a bay Rio de Janeiro, or January River, is a very... 2. #10 of 288 Sights & Landmarks in Rio de Janeiro. "The slightly higher Corcovado Mountain with the Christ statue was too concealed by clouds for any view at the top, but this mountain was still low enough for a spectacular view of the city from its summit." As the first European monarch to visit the area, Prince Regent Dom Joao VI strived to make a positive difference to the region. Regardless, the name for Rio de Janeiro stuck. When compared to busy, commuting Londoners, Cariocas take 1.85 seconds to get on a bus, while Londoners take 2.4 seconds. Read more: 10 exciting dance styles for the toe-tapping travellers. Rio de Janeiro became the colonial capital in 1763 and was the capital of independent Brazil from 1822 until 1960, when the national capital was moved to the new city of Brasília; the territory constituting the former Federal District was converted into Guanabara state, … Site Map. cultural facts rio de janeiro. At the events, a mythical jester known as King Myomo is handed the keys to the city by the Mayor. 5 Facts About Rio de Janeiro Carnival 1. It was the third time the city was trying, and everyone felt like this was Rio’s turn. Christ the Redeemer stands at 98 ft tall. Carnival: 5 days in Feb/Mar, variable. Rio de Janeiro’s inhabitants are called Cariocas. Maybe that’s where Niemeyer learned how to be so poetic, by drawing unlikely waves in concrete buildings. It stands tall and in its full splendour at the top Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil and was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean and is also known as Guanabara Bay. Brazil was playing Uruguay in the final match of the 1950 World Cup. March 27. Opening and closing ceremonies for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games were held at the Maracanã Stadium. There were more than 173,850 spectators, but unfortunately, the game was known as the national tragedy because Brazil lost by 2-1. What he found was that the fear to be left behind made Cariocas be quicker in the process of getting on and off buses. The result is truly divine: despite the fact it is struck by lightning a couple times a year, it lives on strong, watching over the citizens of the Marvelous City. It had been the capital of the country since 1763, handing over the title to Brasilia. 5 years ago No Comments. The key remains in King Momo’s possession until Ash Wednesday, when mundane living forces its way back into Rio’s life. Paul Landowski, a Polish French sculptor, created the statue and has been named as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. You will probably visit at least one of them, the biggest one, in fact. Carioca, or Kari’Oka, is what the Indians called the city the Portuguese colonizers were building in their land. The larger metropolitan area includes 22 municipalities and is the second largest state in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro has an estimated 2016 population of 6.45 million, which ranks 2nd in Brazil. Riding a bus in Rio isn’t, however, as straight forward an experience as one might hope for. It also attracted over 2.25 million visitors in 2019. The Portuguese confused the Guanabara Bay with a river, and the month happened to be January. Explore the Floresta da Tijuca, just yards from the city center. Long live king Momo, the King of Carnival! Rio nearly didn’t make the four city short-list the International Olympics Committee selected before the final decision. It is the second largest city in the country, after São Paulo . Inaugurated in 1931, as a tribute to Rio’s 100th anniversary, the Christ is 98-feet-tall (not including the 26-foot pedestal) and the largest Art Deco statue in the world. Top 10 Facts about Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Fun fact: the word Carioca only refers to the people born in the city of Rio. The city got its name from a river that is actually a bay. A local's guide of 21 interesting and fun facts about Rio de Janeiro that you would love to know, and you can only find here. The reason for that is Rio is home to the largest urban forest in the world, Floresta da Tijuca. The Sambodromo is a popular contest celebrating the best of Brazilian music! Rio de Janeiro covers a total area of 1,221 square kilometers (486.5 square miles). This statue is considered an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. Mirante Dona Marta. This was after an invasion led by Napoleon in Portugal. Buses are the most affordable way to get around Rio, and they will take visitors almost anywhere in the city. Central Avenue and Municipal Theatre. Rio doesn’t lack natural beauty for postcards, but its most acclaimed feature is not only man-made, but was also elected one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007, alongside masterpieces like the Roman Colosseum and the Taj Mahal. The royal family fled from Portugal to Brazil in the 1800s and later established Rio as the capital of Portugal in 1815. Reveillon: New Year’s Eve, 2 million white-clad Cariocas descend on Copacabana beach to celebrate the Festa de Iemanjá, launching candlelit boats on the Ocean. 7 Interesting facts about Rio de Janeiro Christ the Redeemer gets struck by lightning every year. Rio is a city of millionaires – The next information is among the luxurious facts about Rio and that is that Rio de Janeiro is a city of millionaires and a few billionaires. Carioca is what Rio’s locals are called. It’s a common misconception that Rio is still the capital city! No wonder, it’s enormous and goes through no less than 15 different cities. The samba originated from improvisation: The samba was born close to where the Sambadrome stands today, when a group... 3. The Catholic Church funded the cost of the construction which took nine years to complete. But which river does it refer to? The statue is on top of a 26 feet pedestal. It is often called Rio for short. The 2016 Summer Olympics Apart from the outside visitors, every year, around 5 million people take over the streets of Rio to participate in hundreds of street parties, called “blocos”, held by the samba groups. Do you know all the facts about this world-famous statue? Brasília is certainly one of Oscar Niemeyer’s most outstanding trophies, but the man behind the modern architecture was born and raised in Rio. Myomo’s role is Head of Festivities and to oversee the celebrations! The port of Rio began to thrive and expand when profitable gold and diamond mines were established nearby in the 1690s. Rio de Janeiro, or January River, is a very poetic name for a city with more than 200 rivers running through it. James Uncategorized. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The museum is part of the Caminho Niemeyer, or Niemeyer Pathway, that takes visitors through seven buildings designed by the architect. The word means white man’s house. Rio is often said to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities and has a spectacular setting. It was in January 1502 that Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos first arrived in Rio. It had a lower grade than Doha, which ended up discarded because of a technicality (due to the high temperatures in the city during the European summer, Doha had suggested to hold the Olympics in October, but that didn’t stick). Expansion of coffee plantations in the State of Rio de Janeiro gave a new impulse to the city's development. Rio de Janeiro was the Brazilian capital and an imperial capital of the Portuguese colony from 1808 to 1821. Rio de Janeiro’s climate is considered tropical savanna and has a rainy season from December to March. They say Cariocas’ only reason of living lies in one moment – the Summer Friday when the mayor of Rio gives the key of the city to King Momo, marking the beginning of Carnival, “a maior festa do mundo” (the biggest party in the world, as they call it here). Ilha do Governador, or Governor’s Island, is where the international airport of Rio is located. The Guanabara Bay is in the backdrop of all of them. Legend has it that Lemos was sailing through Guanabara Bay when he came up with the name for the city, mistaking the bay as the mouth of a big river. Brazil’s independence was declared in 1822. Rio de Janeiro (/ˈʁi.u d(ʒi) ʒ ɐ ˈnejɾu/), souvent désignée simplement sous le nom de Rio, et archaïquement Riogénaire en français, est la deuxième plus grande ville du Brésil après São Paulo. Bus drivers aren’t exactly cautious, trustworthy drivers, and they will often leave passengers behind if they are not quick enough to get on. The statement seems audacious, but it’s actually based on a survey done in 2006 by a TV researcher who traveled around the globe in search of the world’s “bluest” sky. These wealthy people live in the most popular, glamorous neighborhoods in Rio. The main religion in the region is Christianity, and the city is famous for its globally recognised statue of Jesus Christ, known as ‘Christ the Redeemer’. A year later Brazil was independent. Riotur’s president confirmed that survey data revealed – unsurprisingly – that, on average, visitors stayed for at least five days, and that hotel occupancy was at record breaking levels during the period. The French and Portuguese forces were at war in the early 1700s, and while French attacks may have failed in 1710, their further attempts to push back in 1711 led the Portuguese to flee. The stage was Maracanã, built especially for the occasion and, at the time, the biggest stadium in the world. Read more: The most beautiful libraries in the world. He symbolizes the rule of party and freedom over reason, and is normally played by a chubby, happy fellow who is comfortable wearing a silly crown with a cape. The headquarters for Brazilian telecommunications, oil and mining companies are all based in Rio. Privacy Policy | Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s second largest city, with a population of almost 6.3 million.
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