CIA
--
The
World
Factbook
2000
--
Brazil
Page
1
of
10
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br.html
05/10/00
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Brazil
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Background:
Following
three
centuries
under
the
rule
of
Portugal,
Brazil
became
an
independent
nation
in
1822.
By
far
the
largest
and
most
populous
country
in
South
America,
Brazil
has
overcome
more
than
half
a
century
of
military
intervention
in
the
governance
of
the
country
to
pursue
industrial
and
agricultural
growth
and
development
of
the
interior.
Exploiting
vast
natural
resources
and
a
large
labor
pool,
Brazil
became
Latin
America's
leading
economic
power
by
the
1970s.
Highly
unequal
income
distribution
remains
a
pressing
problem.
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of
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Location:
Eastern
South
America,
bordering
the
Atlantic
Ocean
Geographic
coordinates:
10
00
S,
55
00
W
Brazil
Introduction
Geography