Brazil (Pt. 1/2)
Today, we're in store for another extended journey through one of the world's largest and most populated continents - Brazil.
Our tour of this beautiful and diverse country begins in its largest city - São Paulo. With 25 million people residing in it's urban area, it's one of the world's most populous cities and is an important financial center. It's also known for its unique architecture - here we see a section of the city's skyline along the banks of the Pinheiros River with the Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge in view.
Unfortunately, logging has cleared out huge chunks of the rainforest in recent years. Pristine sections of forest have been cleared for cattle ranching, logging, and soy farms. Nearly 20 percent of the rain forest has been logged since the 1970s - and with methods like slashing and burning continuing to gain popularity, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.
Our next two sights will be a couple of Brazil's most unique natural wonders - starting with Vila Velha State Park. The park is filled with massive aretinhas (sandstone pillars) that were created over millions of years, with wind and rain from the South Atlantic giving them a distinctive and characteristic look.
The enormous Itaipu Dam is another one of the country's most iconic sights - located on the Paraná River on the Paraguay/Brazil border, it's the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. This massive dam provides power to many of Brazil's most important cities, but has drawn criticism over the years for its steep price tag and environmental concerns.
Not too far away is the world famous Iguazu Falls. There's a seemingly infinite amount of waterfalls here, and the best way to experience their power is to get up close - so it's recommended to take a boat or walk the boardwalks near the iconic Devil's Throat area. These falls are truly one of nature's masterpieces.
Our next stop is in Brazil's capital city of Brasilia. Wanting a more centrally located capital, in 1960 the capital of Brazil was changed from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília
and the whole city was constructed from the ground up. Famed architect Oscar Niemeyer designed many of the important buildings here, such as the distinctive Palácio do
Planalto.
Our visit today concludes with a return to São Paulo - and a final overview of the city's sprawling skyline.
Don't forget to comment, like, and follow True Earth if you haven't already!
-korver
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Previous Update: "Greece"
Thanks to @EvansRE4, @mattb325, @JP Schriefer, @bobolee, @matias93, @CorinaMarie, @bladeberkman, @mitsos, @thecitiescenter, @ByeByeBayou, @Dead_End, @Goldman Sachs, @The British Sausage, @PaPa-J, @Kitkat5533, @svenson, @Krasner, @cydonianmystery, @Angry Mozart, @evivas, @Harry's Place, @RobertLM78, @WannGLondon, @Odainsaker, @Dom Pedro, @Scaley McSlither, @Toby Ferrian, @jakis, @sejr99999, @Manuel-ito, @Bastet69008, @raynev1, @adam forrest, @Nojus_A, @elavery, @gutterclub, @Terring, @mosonče, @ellis896, & @spa for all the likes and comments!
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