Hello Runner!
As you know, our Run4aChild Challenge called Xodó is for Brazil.
Brazil is a vibrant, full-of-life, sports crazy nation, the largest in South America, and famous for its beaches, nightlife, samba, and the flamboyant Rio “Carnaval” of course.
Today, we brought you 10 curious facts, so that you can learn a bit more about this amazing country.
Did you know that:
- Brazil is home to 7 Natural, 15 Cultural and 1 Mixed UNESCO World Heritage sites! The 7 Natural World Heritage Sites with respective nomination years are: Iguaçu National Park (1986); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (1999); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (1999); Pantanal Conservation Area (2000); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (2000); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (2001); and Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (2001). The 15 Cultural World Heritage Sites with respective nomination years are: Historic Town of Ouro Preto (1980); Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda (1982); Ruins of São Miguel das Missões (1984); Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia (1985); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (1985); Brasilia (1987); Serra da Capivara National Park (1991); Historic Centre of São Luís (1997); Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina (1999); Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (2001); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (2010); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (2012); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (2016); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (2017); and Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (2021). The Mixed World Heritage Site with respective nomination year is: Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (2019).
- Brazil has 4 different time zones because it is such a big country.
The Brazilian territory has four different time zones, all located to the west of Greenwich. They are, from west to east: Acre Time (ACT), Amazon Time (AMT), Brasília Time (BRT), and Fernando de Noronha Time (FNT).
- Brazil was the 1st country to accept women in their armed forces.
The first participation of a woman in fighting in a war was in 1823. Maria Quitéria de Jesus fought for the independence of Brazil, and was considered the first woman to enlist in a military unit. However, it was not until 1943 (during World War II) that women officially entered the Brazilian Army. Brazil was also the 1st country in South America to accept women into the permanent and career ranks.
- Brazilian prisoners can reduce their sentence by 4 days for every book they read.
Brazil’s government rolled out a program called “Redemption through Reading”. This program allows inmates to reduce 4 days off their sentence for every book they read, with a maximum of 48 days off their sentence per year.
- Samba music was created in the 18th Century & is still tremendously popular.
Samba is a Brazilian music style of infectious rhythm and complex origins. It is a music genre that developed in Brazil in the early 1900s amongst extremely poor workers that fled to Rio and Bahia. Samba is mostly an evolution of the music of African slaves (especially Kongo, Ewe, and Yoruba) that were forcibly taken to the Americas between the early 1500s and the late 1800s. It developed as urban music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the favelas, or slums, of Rio de Janeiro.
- Rio de Janeiro’s annual Carnaval attracts around 2 million people every day!
Although the practice of carnivals originated from Europe, Brazil’s “Carnaval” is full of African influence which is evident due to the samba beats, dresses and dance style. It is the biggest and brightest “Carnaval” worldwide attracting tourists from all over.
- Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan
In 1907, the Brazilian and the Japanese governments signed a treaty permitting Japanese migration to Brazil. The last census report shows that the city of São Paulo alone is home to approximately 1.6 million Japanese-Brazilians, which makes it the largest concentration of Japanese descent outside of Japan. There is even a neighbourhood called “Liberdade” which feels like you are stepping into Japan.
- Brazil has been the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years.
Brazil produces around 50-65 million 60 kg bags per year. Brazil’s leading position in the global coffee production is mainly attributed to the country’s large plantation area with 27,000 square km of land dedicated to growing the beans along with the beneficial climate to grow the 2 main types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta.
- Brazil has more animal and plant species than any other country!
Brazil is the most biologically diverse country in the world. It hosts between 15-20 % of the world’s biological diversity, with more than 120,000 species of invertebrates, about 9,000 vertebrates, and more than 4,000 plant species.
- The Amazon River is the 2nd largest river in the world.
The Amazon River is the 2nd largest in the world with a length of 6,400 km. Nevertheless, it is by far the largest river when it comes to water flow with an average discharge greater than the next 7 largest rivers combined.
Are you close enough to becoming an expert on Brazil? We hope you are excited and even more motivated to run for our Xodó Challenge!
We are running to help Children in Brazil from Quilombola communities in Maranhão, their well-being and their education. You are running for a major cause! Just a little reminder, if you haven’t seen our video yet, check it out here and KEEP ON RUNNING!
And most important: Don’t forget to share your videos, photos, or feelings with us. In order for us to see it, make sure you use the hashtag #xodóchallenge.
Run4aChild Team