Brazil has 5 different geographical regions: the North, with the Amazon river basin, the Northeast, including the dry interior "sertão", the Southeast, with the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the South, containing large groups of European immigrants, and the Center-West where the capital, Brasilia is located. Among these regions there are variations in culture, food, clothing, music, weather, agriculture, fauna and flora. Although Portuguese is the main language spoken, there are over 100 indigenous languages in Brazil, with many words and names in use today, originating  from the ethnic Tupi-Gurani Indians, and other tribes, and also words borrowed from the African slaves. As well, slang words in Portuguese can vary from region to region. Photographs and text by John O'Heron  ©2007.

Stella Mares Beach, Bahia, 2002	Brazil, courtesy Lonely Planet
Igreja N.S. do Carmo, Olinda, 1984	Carnaval, Rio de Janeiro, 1986

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