Brasilia, Brazil

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{{epname|Brasilia, Brazil}}
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{{epname|Brasilia, Brazil}}{{submitted}}{{approved}}
  
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
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{{Infobox Settlement
| WHS        = Brasília
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|name = Brasília
| infoboxwidth= 250px
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|settlement_type = [[Federal capital]]
| Image      = [[Image:Brazil.Brasilia.01.jpg|230px|Brasília's Cathedral by Oscar Niemeyer]]
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|established_title = Founded
| State Party = {{BRA}}
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|established_date = April 21, 1960
| Type        = Cultural
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|nickname = ''Capital Federal'', ''BSB'', Capital da Esperança
| Criteria    = i, iv
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|motto = "Venturis ventis"{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Latin language|Latin]])<br />"To the coming winds"</small>
| ID          = 445
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|website = http://www.brasilia.df.gov.br
| Region      = [[South America]]
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|image_skyline= Montagem Brasília.jpg
| Year        = 1987
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|image_caption = From upper left: [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress of the Federative Republic of Brazil]], [[Juscelino Kubitschek bridge]], [[Monumental Axis]], [[Palácio da Alvorada]] and [[Cathedral of Brasília]].
| Session    = 11th
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|image_flag = Bandeira_do_Distrito_Federal.svg
 +
|image_seal = Coat of arms of Brazil.svg
 +
|image_map = Distrito Federal RA Brasilia.svg
 +
|map_caption = Location of Brasília within the [[Federal District (Brazil)|Federal District]] and in Brazil
 +
|pushpin_map=
 +
|pushpin_map_size=
 +
|pushpin_map_caption=
 +
|coordinates_region = BR
 +
|subdivision_type = Country
 +
|subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Brazil|Region]]
 +
|subdivision_type2 = [[States of Brazil|State]]
 +
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Brazil}}
 +
|subdivision_name1 = [[Central-West Region, Brazil|Central-West]]
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|subdivision_name2 = [[File:Bandeira do Distrito Federal.svg|border|22px]] [[Federal District (Brazil)|Federal District]]
 +
|leader_title = [[List of Governors of Distrito Federal|Governor]]
 +
|leader_name = Agnelo Queiroz ([[Workers' Party (Brazil)|Workers' Party]])
 +
|area_total_sq_mi = 2240.164
 +
|area_total_km2 = 5802
 +
|population_footnotes =
 +
|population_as_of = 2010
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|population_total = 2,562,963  ([[List of largest cities in Brazil|4th]])
 +
|population_density_km2 = 441.565
 +
|population_density_sq_mi = 1144
 +
|population_metro = 2,562,963
 +
|timezone = [[Time in Brazil|BRT]]
 +
|utc_offset = −3
 +
|timezone_DST = [[Time in Brazil|BRST]]
 +
|utc_offset_DST = −2
 +
|elevation_m = 1172
 +
|elevation_ft =
 +
|postal_code_type      = Postal Code
 +
|postal_code            = 70000-000
 +
|area_code = +55 61
 +
|footnotes =  
 +
|website = [http://www.brasilia.df.gov.br www.brasilia.df.gov.br]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Brasília''' is the capital of [[Brazil]], located in the central part of the country. It had a population of 2,383,784 as of the 2006 census estimate, and is the seat of the main federal government: the president (residing in the [[Palácio do Planalto]]), the [[Supreme Federal Tribunal|Brazilian supreme court]], and the [[National Congress of Brazil|Brazilian parliament]].
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'''Brasília''' is the capital of [[Brazil]], located in the central part of the country. It is the seat of the main federal government: the president (residing in the [[Palácio do Planalto]]), the [[Supreme Federal Tribunal|Brazilian supreme court]], and the [[National Congress of Brazil|Brazilian parliament]].
  
As the world's first capital citiy conceived by modern standards of urban planning, Brasília is listed as a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]]. Building the city begun in 1956 with [[Lúcio Costa]] as the principal urban planner and [[Oscar Niemeyer]] as the principal architect. In 1960, it formally became Brazil's capital. When seen from above, the city's shape was designed to resemble a a bird in flight or a [[butterfly]]. It is famous for its many modern, palatial government buildings and other notable architectural features.
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As the world's first capital city conceived by modern standards of urban planning, Brasília is listed as a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]]. Building the city began in 1956 with [[Lúcio Costa]] as the principal urban planner and [[Oscar Niemeyer]] as the principal architect. When seen from above, the city's shape was designed to resemble an airplane or a bird in flight. Niemeyer designed many of the city's most famous structures, including its palatial government buildings and the Cathedral of Brasília, pictured at right.
 
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{{toc}}
Brasília is located in the [[Brazilian Federal District|Federal District]], which has the same borders as the city. The federal district is surrounded by the Brazilian state of [[Goiás]]. The city is not a traditional municipality by Brazilian law.  
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In 1960, it formally became Brazil's capital. Brasília is located in the [[Brazilian Federal District|Federal District]], which has the same borders as the city. The district is surrounded by the Brazilian state of [[Goiás]]. The city is not a traditional municipality by Brazilian law. It has received both praise and criticism for its attempt at creating a city by design rather than through "organic" growth, as well as for its impractical utopian conception.
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
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The city was built to bring the capital, previously [[Rio de Janeiro]], to [[Brazil]]'s midwest and closer to the other regions. This was done using a large workforce coming from throughout the country. Brasília is known internationally for having applied the principles established in the [[Athens Charter]] (1933). The charter laid out a 95-point program for planning and construction of rational cities, addressing topics such as high-rise residential blocks, strict zoning, the separation of residential areas and [[transportation]] arteries and the preservation of historic districts and buildings. The key underlying concept was the creation of independent zones for the four 'functions': living, working, recreation, and circulation.
  
{{Infobox City
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===History===
| official_name = Brasília
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From 1763 to 1960, [[Rio de Janeiro]] was the capital of [[Brazil]]. During much of this time resources tended to be centered in Brazil's southeast region near the capital.
| established_title = Founded
 
| established_date = April 21, 1960
 
| nickname = BSB
 
| website = http://www.brasilia.df.gov.br
 
| image_skyline=
 
| image_flag = Bandeira_do_Distrito_Federal.svg
 
| image_seal = COA of Federal District (Brazil).svg
 
| image_map = Brazil State DistritoFederal.svg
 
| map_caption = Location of Brasília
 
| subdivision_type  = [[Regions of Brazil|Region]]
 
| subdivision_type1 = [[States of Brazil|State]]
 
| subdivision_name  = [[Central-West Region, Brazil|Central-West]]
 
| subdivision_name1 = [[Brazilian Federal District|Distrito Federal]]
 
| leader_title = Administrator
 
| leader_name = Ricardo Hernane Pires
 
| area_magnitude = 1 E8
 
| TotalArea_sq_mi =
 
| area_total = 5802
 
| population_footnotes =
 
<ref>http://www.ibge.gov.br - [[IBGE]] demographics</ref>
 
| population_as_of = 2006
 
| population_total = 2383784
 
| population_density = 407
 
| population_density_mi2 =
 
| timezone = [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
 
| utc_offset = -3
 
| timezone_DST =
 
| utc_offset_DST =
 
| latd = 15
 
| latm = 46
 
| latNS = S
 
| longd = 47
 
| longm = 55
 
| longEW = W
 
| elevation = 1172
 
| area_code = 61
 
|footnotes = Official IBGE 2006 Estimate        |footnotes          = '''[[HDI]]''' (2000) 0.844 – <span style="color:#090">high</span>
 
|}}
 
  
The city was built to bring the capital, previously [[Rio de Janeiro]], to [[Brazil]]'s midwest and closer to the other regions. This was done using a large workforce coming from throughout the country. Brasília is known internationally for having applied the principles established in the [[Athens Charter]] (1933). The charter laid out a 95-point program for planning and construction of rational cities, addressing topics such as high-rise residential blocks, strict zoning, the separation of residential areas and [[transportation]] arteries, and the preservation of historic districts and buildings. The key underlying concept was the creation of independent zones for the four 'functions': living, working, recreation, and circulation.
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The idea of placing Brazil’s capital in the interior dates back to the first republican [[constitution]] of 1891, which roughly defined where the [[federal district]] should be placed. The site itself was not specifically defined until 1922. The location would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil.
  
==History==
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Then-President [[Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira]] ordered the construction of Brasília. [[Lúcio Costa]] was named the main [[urban planner]] after winning a contest to gain the privilege of designing the city. Oscar Niemeyer was the chief [[architect]] of most public buildings and [[Roberto Burle Marx]] was the [[landscape designer]]. Brasília was built in 41 months, from 1956 to 1960 when it was officially inaugurated.
[[Image:Brasilia from the universe - ISS005-E-9532.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Brasília's neatly planned layout, seen from space]]
 
From 1763 to 1960, [[Rio de Janeiro]] was the capital of [[Brazil]]. At this time, resources tended to be centred in Brazil's southeast region near Rio de Janeiro. Brasília’s geographical central location made for a more regionally neutral federal capital.  
 
  
The idea of placing Brazil’s capital in the interior dates back to the first republican [[constitution]] of 1891, which roughly defined where the [[federal district]] should be placed, but the site itself was not defined until 1922. Brasília’s location, it was argued, would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil.
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According to a legend, Italian saint [[Giovanni Melchior Bosco|Don Bosco]] had a prophetic dream in 1883 in which he described a futuristic city that roughly fitted Brasília's location. Today, in Brasília, there are many references to this educator who founded the [[Salesian]] order. One of the main cathedrals in the city bears his name.
  
Then-President [[Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira]] ordered the construction of Brasília, fulfilling an article of the country's constitution stating that the capital should be moved from [[Rio de Janeiro]] to a place close to the center of the country. Costa was named the main [[urban planner]] after winning a constest to gain the privilege of designing the city. Niemeyer was the chief [[architect]] of most public buildings and [[Roberto Burle Marx]] was the [[landscape designer]]. Brasília was built in 41 months, from 1956 to April 21, 1960 when it was officially inaugurated.
 
 
According to a legend, Italian saint [[Giovanni Melchior Bosco|Don Bosco]] in 1883 had a prophetic dream in which he described a futuristic city that roughly fitted Brasília's location. Today, in Brasília, there are many references to this educator who founded the [[Salesian]] order. One of the main cathedrals in the city bears his name.
 
 
==World Heritage site==
 
==World Heritage site==
The Brazilian capital is the only city in the [[world]] built in the twentieth century to be awarded by [[UNESCO]], a [[United Nations]] agency since 1987, the status of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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The Brazilian capital is the only city in the [[world]] built in the twentieth century to be awarded by [[UNESCO]], a [[United Nations]] agency since 1987, the status of being a [[World Heritage Site]].
 
 
[[Brasilia]], a capital created ex nihilo in the center of the country in 1956, was a landmark in the [[history]] of [[town planning]], from the layout of the residential and administrative districts (often compared to the shape of a bird in flight) to the symmetry of the [[building]]s themselves, which should be in harmony with the city's overall design. The official buildings, in particular, are innovative and imaginative.  
 
  
In order to be considered for World Heritage status, a site must fulfill one of 10 standards for qualification. Brasilia fulfilled two:
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In order to be considered for World Heritage status, a site must fulfill one of ten standards for qualification. Brasilia fulfilled two:
  
 
* to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius  
 
* to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius  
 
* to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
 
* to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
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Created from nothing in the center of the country Brasilia is a landmark in the [[history]] of [[town planning]], from the layout of the residential and administrative districts to the symmetry of the [[building]]s themselves, which are designed to harmonize with the city's overall design. The official buildings, in particular, are innovative and imaginative.
  
 
==City planning==
 
==City planning==
 
===Controversial layout===
 
===Controversial layout===
[[Brasilia]] is referred to worldwide as a case study in [[urban planning]]. The idea of spreading residential buildings around expansive urban areas and of tracing the city plan around large [[avenue]]s and dividing it into sectors, has produced an intense debate and reflections on life in big cities in the twentieth century.  
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[[Image:Esplanada dos Ministérios, Brasília DF 04_2006.jpg|thumb|400px|Brasilia's Monumental Axis, National Congress, Place of the Ministries, Cathedral, and Cultural Complex of the Republic]]
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[[Brasília]] is referred to worldwide as a case study in [[urban planning]]. The idea of spreading residential buildings around expansive urban areas, of tracing the city plan around large [[avenue]]s, and dividing it into sectors has produced an intense debate and reflection on life in big cities in the twentieth century.  
  
Recognized for its use of grand-scale, modernist [[architecture]] and for its attempt at a utopian city plan; it has receive criticism for the same reasons. After a trip to Brasilia, French writer [[Simone de Beauvoir]] disappointedly said that all of its superquadras exuded “the same air of elegant monotony.” Others have remarked that the city's large open [[lawns]], [[plaza]]s, and [[field]]s are nothing but wastelands. To overcome these impressions, the open spaces have received various adornments, while many have been improved by landscaping, thus humanizing the wide open spaces.
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Recognized for its use of grand-scale, modernist [[architecture]] and its attempt at a utopian city plan, Brasilia has received criticism for the same reasons. After a trip to Brasilia, French writer [[Simone de Beauvoir]] disappointedly said that all of its ''superblocks'' exuded “the same air of elegant monotony.” Others have remarked that the city's large open [[lawns]], [[plaza]]s, and [[field]]s appear like wastelands. To overcome these impressions, some open spaces have received various adornments and many have been improved by landscaping, thus humanizing the wide open spaces. The hasty construction of the city has also received criticism, as cracks soon appeared in buildings and highways. Finally, Brazilia's growth has now exceeded its plan, resulting in typical "urban spawl" in its suburbs.
  
 
===Pilot plan===
 
===Pilot plan===
The pilot plan for [[Brasilia]] was built to conform to [[Le Corbusier]]'s ''Letter of Athens'', which, according to the [[Modernist]]s, embodied the ideal qualities of a city. The Letter had four basic tenets for the ideal city: Well-ventilated residences near green spaces; the separation of residences from workplaces, with industries excluded from the city proper; exclusive space for cultural activities, near residencies; and the separation of the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.
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The pilot plan for [[Brasília]] was built to conform to [[Le Corbusier]]'s ''Letter of Athens,'' which, according to the [[Modernist]]s, embodied the ideal qualities of a city. The Letter had four basic tenets for the ideal city: Well-ventilated residences near green spaces; the separation of residences from workplaces, with industries excluded from the city proper; exclusive space for cultural activities, near residencies; and the separation of the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.
  
The pilot plan was based on the shape of an [airplane]]. The basis of the city is a Monumental Axis, or [[fusilage]] of an airplane, intersecting in the center of the city with a residential axis, or the [[wing]]s of an airplane. The [[Monumental Axis]], also known as the ''Ministries Esplanade'', is an open area in [[downtown]] Brasília.  
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The pilot plan was based on the shape of an [[airplane]]. The heart of the city is the Monumental Axis (the [[fusilage]] of the "airplane") intersecting in the center of the city with a Residential Axis, or the [[wing]]s of an airplane. The [[Monumental Axis]], also known as the ''Ministries Esplanade,'' is an open area in [[downtown]] Brasília. Costa designed the [[city]] in four scales of design: a ''monumental scale,'' a ''residential scale,'' a ''gregarious (or social) scale,'' and a ''bucolic scale.''
[[Image:Esplanada dos Ministérios, Brasília DF 04_2006.jpg|center|thumb|620px|Monumental Axis, National Congress, Place of the Ministries, Cathedral, and Cultural Complex of the Republic, Brasília, D.F. 2006]]
 
  
Costa designed the [[city]] in four scales of design: a monumental scale, a residential scale, a gregarious scale, and a bucolic scale. The monumental scale was intended to provide Brasília with the dignity of a capital city. This was achieved with wide avenues of six lanes in each direction, the [[Esplanade]], where the ministries and public buildings are located, the bus station, where the two axis cross, the Cathedral, and the Plaza of Three Powers.  
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The ''monumental scale'' was intended to provide Brasília with the dignity of a capital city. This was achieved with wide avenues of six lanes in each direction, the [[Esplanade]], where the ministries and public buildings are located, the Cathedral, and the Plaza of Three Powers.
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The ''residential scale'' contained orderly ''superblocks'' with a uniform height of six stories, no high rises, and vast motorways providing an excellent transportation system. The superblocks also had ample parking for vehicles, low population density and plenty of wide open green space. The ''gregarious (or social) scale'' consisted of the [[bus]] station—where the two axes cross—and the entertainment, commerce, and retail sectors. The ''bucolic scale'' showed Costa's intent for Brasília to be a city of parks, where more densely populated areas were separated by vast green spaces and parks.
  
 
===Superblocks===
 
===Superblocks===
The residential scale contained orderly superblocks with a uniform height of six stories, no high rises, and vast motorways providing an excellent transportion system. The superblocks also had ample parking for vehicles, low population density, and plenty of wide open green space for people to enjoy. The gregarious (or social) scale consisted of the [[bus]] station, and special sectors of the city, like the entertainment, commerce, and retail sectors. The bucolic scale showed Costa's intent for Brasília to be a park city, where everything was seperated by vast green spaces and parks.
 
  
The Pilot Plan was built to house 600,000 [[people]], primarily in superblocks. These superblocks were large groups of [[apartment]] buildings, grouped in a very orderly manner. Each group of four superblocks was supposed to serve as a single [neighborhood]] unit. Each group was supposed have a [[church]], a secondary [[school]], a [[movie]] [[house]], a youth club, and adequate [[field]] space for children to play [[sport]]s on. Also inbetween the superblocks were lower buildings for commercial businesses.
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The Pilot Plan including housing for 600,000 [[people]], primarily in "superblocks." These superblocks were large groups of [[apartment]] buildings, grouped in a very orderly manner. Each group of four superblocks was supposed to serve as a single [[neighborhood]] unit. Each group was to have a [[church]], a secondary [[school]], a [[movie]] [[house]], a youth club, and adequate [[field]] space for children to play [[sport]]s on. Between the superblocks were lower buildings for commercial businesses.
  
Each building was only six stories high, based on the idea that a [[mothe]]r would still be able to call to her child below from that height. The buildings rested on massive pillars, so there was an open area beneath the building for free movement of pedestrians and for [[children]] to play under during inclement weather.
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Each superblock's six-story buildings rested on massive pillars, so there was an open area beneath the building for the free movement of pedestrians and for [[children]] to play under during inclement weather. The superblocks were also intended to be egalitarian, so that people of all income levels would live together and interact without class distinctions.
 
 
Perhaps the most important aspect of these superblocks was that they were intended to be egalitarian, so that people of all income levels could live together and would interact on a personal and classless level.
 
  
 
===Highway network===
 
===Highway network===
One of the greatest accomplishments of the Pilot Plan was the vast [[highway]] network which was built to provide access to Brasília from practically everywhere in [[Brazil]]. The longest highway in this network is the 1,414-mile, Belem-Brasília highway, linking Brasília to Northeast Brazil. The construction of these highways insured that Brazil's new capital would be accessible to the entire [[population]] of the [[country]].
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The Pilot Plan also created a vast [[highway]] network which was built to provide access to Brasília from practically everywhere in [[Brazil]]. The longest highway in this network is the 1,414-mile, Belem-Brasília highway, linking Brasília to Northeast Brazil. The construction of these highways insured, at least theoretically, that Brazil's new capital would be accessible to the entire [[population]] of the [[country]].
  
 
===Accommodations===
 
===Accommodations===
The city’s planned design included specific areas for almost everything, including [[lodging]], with hotel sectors, located in the north and south of the city. Other areas have or will be opening new hotel facilities, such as in the [[Hotel]]s and [[Tourism]] Sector North, located on the shores of [[Lake Paranoá]]. Brasilia offers both modern and comfortable hotels, including hotels managed by international networks; but it also offers cozy and modest inns, pensions, and hostels.
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The city’s planned design also included specific areas for [[lodging]], with hotel sectors, located in the north and south of the city. Other areas have opened new hotel facilities, such as in the [[Hotel]]s and [[Tourism]] Sector North, located on the shores of [[Lake Paranoá]].  
  
Being a city that receives visitors from the whole of Brazil and the world, it offers a good network of restaurants with great diversity of [[food]]; from simple small restaurants, serving the authentic food of central-western areas of Brazil, to bistros offering diverse fare.
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Being a city that receives visitors from the whole of Brazil and the world, it offers a network of restaurants with great diversity of [[food]], from simple small restaurants, serving the authentic food of central-western areas of Brazil, to high class bistros offering diverse fare.
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==Government buildings==
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''[[Praça dos Três Poderes]],'' meaning ''Square of the Three Powers,'' is a plaza in which the buildings housing the three branches of government are located. The [[Executive (government)|Executive]] is represented by the [[Palácio do Planalto]] (presidential office; the [[Legislature|Legislative]] by the [[National Congress of Brazil|Congresso Nacional]] (National Congress); and the [[Judiciary]], by the Palácio da Justiça, in which is housed the Supreme Federal Tribunal, Brazil's highest court.
  
==Government palaces==
 
 
===National Congress===
 
===National Congress===
 
[[Image:Brasilia Congresso Nacional 05_2007 221.jpg|right|400px|thumb|The [[National Congress of Brazil]].]]
 
[[Image:Brasilia Congresso Nacional 05_2007 221.jpg|right|400px|thumb|The [[National Congress of Brazil]].]]
[[Brazil]]'s [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]] consists of a [[Senate]], (the [[upper house]]), and a [[Chamber of Deputies]] (the [[lower house]]). The [[Senate of Brazil|Federal Senate]] ''(Senado Federal)'' contains 81 seats: three senators from each [[States of Brazil|state]] and three from the [[Brazilian Federal District|Federal District]], elected on a majority basis to serve eight-year terms. Elections are staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and the remaining one-third, four years later.
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[[Brazil]]'s [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]] consists of a [[Senate]], (the [[upper house]]), and a [[Chamber of Deputies]] (the [[lower house]]). Since the 1960s, the National Congress has its seat in Brasilia. As most of the official buildings in the city, it was designed by [[Oscar Niemeyer]] following the style of modern Brazilian architecture. The semisphere to the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semisphere to the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them there are two towers of offices. The Congress also occupies other surrounding buildings, some of them connected by a tunnel.
  
The [[Chamber of Deputies of Brazil|Chamber of Deputies]] ''(Câmara dos Deputados)'' comprises 513 deputies (members of congress), who are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms. Elections are based on a complex system of proportional representation by states. The seats are allotted proportionally according to each state's population, but each state is eligible for a minimum of eight seats and a maximum of 70 seats. Both houses of Congress meet in a legislative palace in the center of Brasília. Fifteen political parties are currently represented in Congress. Since it is common for politicians to switch parties, the proportion of congressional seats held by particular parties changes frequently.
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The building is located in the middle of the [[Monumental Axis]]. In front of it there is a large lawn where demonstrations take place. At the rear of the building, is the [[Praça dos Três Poderes]], where the [[Palácio do Planalto]] and the [[Palace of Justice]] lie.
 
 
Since the 1960s, the National Congress has its seat in Brasilia. As most of the official buildings in the city, it was designed by [[Oscar Niemeyer]] following the style of modern Brazilian architecture. The semisphere to the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semisphere to the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them there are two towers of offices. The Congess also occupies other surrounding buildings, some of them connected by a tunnel.
 
 
 
The building is located in the middle of the [[Monumental axis]], the main street of the city. In front of it there is a large lawn, where demonstrations take place. At the rear of the building, is the [[Praça dos Três Poderes]], where the [[Palácio do Planalto]] and the [[Palace of Justice]] lie.
 
  
 
===Palácio da Alvorada===
 
===Palácio da Alvorada===
[[Image:Palacio do Alvorada noite.jpg|thumb|250px|Palácio da Alvorada]]
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The [[Palácio da Alvorada]] is the [[official residence]] of the [[President of Brazil]]. Designed by [[Oscar Niemeyer]] and inaugurated in 1958, it is located at ''SHTN Asa Norte'' in Brasília.
The [[Palácio da Alvorada]] is the [[official residence]] of the [[President of Brazil]]. The [[palace]] was designed, along with the rest of the city of Brasília, by [[Oscar Niemeyer]] and inaugurated in 1958. It is located at ''SHTN Asa Norte'' in Brasília.
 
  
One of the first structures built in the [[republic]]'s new capital city, the "Alvorada" lies on a [[peninsula]] at the margins of [[Lake Paranoá]]. The principles of simplicity and [[modernity]], that in the past characterized the great works of [[architecture]], oriented Niemeyer's project. The viewer has an impression of looking at a glass box, softly landed on the ground with the support of thin external columns.
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One of the first structures built in the [[republic]]'s new capital city, the "Alvorada" lies on a [[peninsula]] at the margins of [[Lake Paranoá]]. The principles of simplicity and [[modernity]] oriented Niemeyer's project.
  
The [[building]] has an area of 89,699 square feet and three floors: basement, landing, and second floor. On the [[basement]] level are located the [[auditorium]], kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the administration. On the [[landing]] are located the rooms used by the [[presidency]] for official receptions. The second floor is the residential part of the palace, with four suites, two apartments, and other private rooms.
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The [[building]] has an area of 89,699 square feet and three floors: basement, landing, and second floor. On the [[basement]] level are located the [[auditorium]], kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the administration. On the [[landing]] are located the rooms used by the [[presidency]] for official receptions. The second floor is the residential part of the palace, with four suites, two apartments and other private rooms.
  
The building has also a library, a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, a music room, two dinning rooms. and various meeting rooms. Located in adjacent buildings are the [[chapel]] and the [[heliport]].
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The building has also a library, a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, a music room, two dining rooms. and various meeting rooms. Located in adjacent buildings are the [[chapel]] and the [[heliport]].
  
 
===Palácio do Planalto===
 
===Palácio do Planalto===
 
[[Image:Palacio do Planalto.jpeg|thumb|250px|left|Palácio do Planalto]]
 
[[Image:Palacio do Planalto.jpeg|thumb|250px|left|Palácio do Planalto]]
The [[Palácio do Planalto]] is the official workplace of the [[President of Brazil]]. It is located at the [[Praça dos Três Poderes]] in Brasília, [[Brazil]]. As the [[Politics of Brazil|seat of government]], the term "o Planalto" is often used as a [[metonym]] for the executive branch of the government.
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The [[Palácio do Planalto]] is the official workplace of the [[President of Brazil]]. It is located at the [[Praça dos Três Poderes]] in Brasília, [[Brazil]]. As the [[Politics of Brazil|seat of government]], the term "o Planalto" is often used as a synonym for the executive branch of the government, similar to [[the White House]] in the [[United States]] or the [[Kremlin]] in [[Russia]].
  
The main working office of the President of the Republic is in the Palácio do Planalto. The President and his family, however, do not live in it; the official residence of the President is the [[Palácio da Alvorada]]. Besides the President, a few high advisors also have offices in the "Planalto," including the [[Vice-President]] and the [[Chief of Staff of Brazil|Chief of Staff]]; the other Ministries are laid along the [[Monumental Axis|Esplanada dos Ministérios]].
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Besides the President, several major presidential advisers also have offices in the "Planalto," including the [[Vice-President]] and the [[Chief of Staff of Brazil|Chief of Staff]]. The other major government ministries are laid along the [[Monumental Axis|Esplanada dos Ministérios]].
  
The [[architect]] of the Palácio do Planalto was [[Oscar Niemeyer]], the "creator" of most of the important buildings in the new capital of Brasília. The idea was to project an image of simplicity and modernity using fine lines and waves to compose the columns and exterior structures.
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The Palace is four stories high and has an area of 43,056 square yards. Four other adjacent buildings are also part of the complex.
 
 
The Palace is four stories high, and has an area of 43,056 square yards. Four other adjacent buildings are also part of the complex.
 
  
 
===Supreme Federal Tribunal===
 
===Supreme Federal Tribunal===
 
[[Image:Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal.jpg|thumb|200px|Chambers of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal]]
 
[[Image:Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal.jpg|thumb|200px|Chambers of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal]]
The [[Supreme Federal Tribunal]] is the highest court of law of the [[Brazil|Federative Republic of Brazil]]. The court functions as a last resort tribunal and a Constitutional Court; its rulings therefore cannot be appealed. It can also overturn laws passed by the [[National Congress of Brazil|Congress]]. This happens when the court judges a ''direct action of unconstitutionality'', ''Ação direta de Inconstitucionalidade'' or Adin.
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The [[Supreme Federal Tribunal]] is the highest court of law of the [[Brazil|Federative Republic of Brazil]]. The court functions as a last resort tribunal and a Constitutional Court; its rulings therefore cannot be appealed. It can also overturn laws passed by the [[National Congress of Brazil|Congress]]. This happens when the court judges a ''direct action of unconstitutionality,'' ''Ação direta de Inconstitucionalidade'' or Adin.
  
The members of the court, who are called ministers (''ministro''), are appointed by the [[President of Brazil|President]] and approved by the [[Federal Senate of Brazil|Senate]]. They serve until compulsory retirement, at 70 years old.
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The members of the court, who are called ministers ''(ministro),'' are appointed by the [[President of Brazil|President]] and approved by the [[Federal Senate of Brazil|Senate]]. They serve until compulsory retirement, at 70 years old.
  
 
The number of members has changed through history. The [[Constitution of Brazil#Second|Constitution of 1891]] decided that the court would have 15 members. When [[Getúlio Vargas]] came into power, the number of members was reduced to 11. It changed to 16 in 1965, but returned to 11 in 1969. It has not changed ever since.
 
The number of members has changed through history. The [[Constitution of Brazil#Second|Constitution of 1891]] decided that the court would have 15 members. When [[Getúlio Vargas]] came into power, the number of members was reduced to 11. It changed to 16 in 1965, but returned to 11 in 1969. It has not changed ever since.
 
 
  
 
==Social data==
 
==Social data==
 
===Economy===
 
===Economy===
 
[[Image:Bancocentralbrasil.JPG|thumb|Headquarters of the Central Bank of Brazil]]
 
[[Image:Bancocentralbrasil.JPG|thumb|Headquarters of the Central Bank of Brazil]]
Brasília's economy is dominated by [[Service]]s, which account for 91 percent of the local GDP. These include, (1.) [[government]], with the public sector being by far the largest employer, accounting for around 40 percent of the city jobs. Government jobs include all levels, from the federal police to diplomacy, from the transportation bureau to the armed forces; (2) [[Communications]], including ([[Brasil Telecom]]'s headquarters, public and private television stations including regional offices of [[Globo]], [[SBT]], [[Rede Bandeirantes]], [[Rede Record]], [[RedeTV!]], and the main offices of TV câmara, TV Senado, and TV Justiça; (3) [[Banking]] and [[finance]], with headquarters of [[Banco do Brasil]], the [[Caixa Econômica Federal]], the Brazilian [[Central Bank of Brazil|Central Bank]], the [[List of Brazilian companies|Banco Rural]] and the Banco de Brasília, among others; (4) [[Entertainment]]; and (5) [[Information technology]], such as ([[Politec]], Poliedro, CTIS; and, (6) legal services.  
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Brasília's economy is dominated by the [[service]]s, which account for 91 percent of the local GDP. These include [[government]], with the public sector accounting for around 40 percent of the city jobs; [[communications]], including [[Brasil Telecom]]'s headquarters, as well as public and private television stations; [[banking]] and [[finance]]; [[entertainment]]; [[information technology]]; and legal services.  
  
[[Industries]] in the city, include [[construction]](Paulo Octavio, Via Construções, and Irmãos Gravia among others), food processing ([[Sadia]]), furniture making, [[recycling]] (Novo Rio, Latasa and others), [[pharmaceuticals]] (União Química), and printing and publishing.  
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[[Industries]] in the city include [[construction]], food processing, furniture making, [[recycling]], [[pharmaceuticals]], printing, and publishing.  
  
The main agricultural products produced in the city are coffee, guava, orange, lemon, papaya, soy beans, and mango. Brazilia's farms have over 110,000 cows and it exports wood products worldwide.
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The main agricultural products produced in Brasília are [[coffee]], [[guava]], [[orange]], [[lemon]], [[papaya]], [[soy beans]] and [[mango]].Brasília's farms have over 110,000 cows and it exports wood products worldwide.
  
Brasilia's GDP is about $27.628 billion, according to the IBGE. The participation in the Brazilian [[GDP]] is 1.8 percent.  
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The city's [[Gross Domestic Product]] is estimated at $27.628 billion. The participation in the Brazilian [[GDP]] is 1.8 percent. Brasília has the largest ''per capita'' income of any city in Brazil.
 
 
Brasília holds the largest ''per capita'' income of Brazil (total, about $12,558.00, according to the [[IBGE]]). Note that it is imprecise to measure ''per capita'' income, due to varying income concentrations. Brasilia hosts a world-class range of services such as hospitals, schools, fitness clubs, clubs, colleges, restaurants, cafes, etc. These services are unevenly distributed.
 
  
 
===Infrastructure===  
 
===Infrastructure===  
 
The consumption of commercial energy at Brazil's capital was 924 gwh, the industrial reached 337 gwh, and the residential reached 1,241 gwh. The total [[energy consumption]] was 3,319 gwh.  
 
The consumption of commercial energy at Brazil's capital was 924 gwh, the industrial reached 337 gwh, and the residential reached 1,241 gwh. The total [[energy consumption]] was 3,319 gwh.  
  
The railways system is not developed, with only 22.4 miles operating. However, a fast-track train connecting Brasília to [[Goiânia]] is under construction, in order to facilitate transportation among those cities. The train will travel at an average 115 miles per hour. Furthermore, the city has a small subway (25.5 miles) covering one "wing" of the city plan of the [[Distrito Federal]]. Railways connect the city with [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[São Paulo]].
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The railways system is not developed, with only 22.4 miles operating. However, a fast-track train connecting Brasília to [[Goiânia]] is under construction. The train will travel at an average of 115 miles per hour. Furthermore, the city has a small subway (25.5 miles) covering one "wing" of the city plan of the [[Distrito Federal]]. Railways connect the city with [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[São Paulo]].
 
 
Automobiles and buses are the main forms of urban transportation because of the priority afforded expressways in the city's design and the large distances between inner-city neighborhoods. The total extension of Brasilia's paved roads is 84 miles, with 44 percent of all its roads paved. As of 2006, there were approximately 1 million vehicles in the city, for a population of about 2.3 million. [[Image:Sâo Sebastiâo, Brasilia, Brasil.JPG|thumb|250px|Despite its lauded planning, Brasília is far from immune from the problems of "urban sprawl."]] Highways link Brasília with the rest of the nation.
 
  
There is regular national and international air service out of [[Brasília International Airport]] (BSB) which serves the metropolitan area.
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Automobiles and buses are the main forms of urban transportation because of the priority afforded expressways in the city's design and the large distances between inner-city neighborhoods. The total extension of Brasília's paved roads is 84 miles, with 44 percent of all its roads paved. As of 2006, there were approximately 1 million vehicles in the city, for a population of about 2.3 million. Highways link Brasília with the rest of the nation.
  
There is a television tower (735 feet high) located in the heart of the city.
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There is regular national and international air service out of [[Brasília International Airport]] (BSB) which serves the metropolitan area. There is a television tower (735 feet high) located in the heart of the city.
  
 
===Population growth===
 
===Population growth===
The 1960 census counted almost 140,000 residents in the new Federal District; by 1970 this figure had grown to more than 537,000. In 2000 the population of the [[Brazilian Federal District]] stood at more than two million. Brasília's inhabitants include a significant foreign population as well as large numbers of Brazilian migrants.
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[[Image:Sâo Sebastiâo, Brasilia, Brasil.JPG|thumb|250px|Despite its lauded planning, Brasília is far from immune from the problems of "urban sprawl."]]
 +
The 1960 census counted almost 140,000 residents in the new Federal District; by 1970 this figure had grown to more than 537,000. In 2000 the population of the [[Brazilian Federal District]] stood at more than two million, more than three times the original plan. Brasília's inhabitants include a significant foreign population as well as large numbers of Brazilian migrants.
  
 
Brasília is considered to have one of the highest growth rates in Brazil, increasing its size by an average of 2.82 percent each year. The [[Human Development Index]] in the city is 0.844 (developed nation level), and the illiteracy rate is around 4.35 percent.
 
Brasília is considered to have one of the highest growth rates in Brazil, increasing its size by an average of 2.82 percent each year. The [[Human Development Index]] in the city is 0.844 (developed nation level), and the illiteracy rate is around 4.35 percent.
Line 189: Line 170:
 
Until 1990, the Brazilian president appointed the governor of the [[Federal District]], who was confirmed by the Senate. In that year, under the 1988 constitution, [[Joaquim Domingos Roriz]] was chosen in the first election for district [[governor]]. Reporting to the governor are numerous secretaries responsible for public works, welfare, education, law enforcement, and other concerns. The Senate acts as the legislative branch of local government. In 1986, the voters in the district elected their first [[congress]]ional representatives to the national assembly, and since that time [[election]]s have been conducted the same as in any of [[Brazil]]'s states.
 
Until 1990, the Brazilian president appointed the governor of the [[Federal District]], who was confirmed by the Senate. In that year, under the 1988 constitution, [[Joaquim Domingos Roriz]] was chosen in the first election for district [[governor]]. Reporting to the governor are numerous secretaries responsible for public works, welfare, education, law enforcement, and other concerns. The Senate acts as the legislative branch of local government. In 1986, the voters in the district elected their first [[congress]]ional representatives to the national assembly, and since that time [[election]]s have been conducted the same as in any of [[Brazil]]'s states.
  
==Climate==
+
===Climate===
Brasilia's weather is [[semi-arid]], with seasons being defined according to the degree of humidity of the air: one season is [[dry]] and [[cold]]er, while the other one is humid and hot. The average temperature is 69° F. in October, the hottest month of the year, with highest temperatures standing at 85° F., while July is the coldest one, with lowest temperatures standing at 55° F.
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Brasília's weather is [[semi-arid]], with seasons being defined according to the degree of humidity of the air: one season is [[dry]] and [[cold]]er, while the other one is humid and hot. The average temperature is 69° F. In October, the hottest month of the year, the highest temperatures stand at 85° F, while in July, which is the coldest month, the lowest temperatures stand at 55° F.
 
 
The best time to visit the city is from April to June, when the dry season has yet to begin and days with blue skies are quite common. August through September is the driest time of the year, with purple and yellow flowered ''Ipê'' trees spread alongside the city’s greyish vegetation at this time of year. Usually, the rains start pouring down in October.
 
  
== Tourist attractions ==
+
== Points of interest ==
Brazilia hosts a varied assortment of art works from great artists like Bruno Giorgi, Alfredo Ceschiatti, [[Athos Bulcão]], Marienne Peretti, Volpi, [[Di Cavalcanti]], [[Victor Brecheret]], and [[Burle Marx]], whose works have been integrated into the city’s architecture, making it a unique landscape.  
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Brasilia hosts a varied assortment of art works from great artists like Bruno Giorgi, Alfredo Ceschiatti, [[Athos Bulcão]], Marienne Peretti, Volpi, [[Di Cavalcanti]], [[Victor Brecheret]], and [[Burle Marx]], whose works have been integrated into the city’s architecture, making it a unique landscape.  
  
 
A scene for political events, music performances, and movie festivals, Brasília is a cosmopolitan city, with around 90 [[embassy|embassies]], a wide range of restaurants, and complete infrastructure ready to host any kind of event. The city is a growing business and tourism destination that is a rising segment of the local economy, including dozens of hotels spread around the national capital.
 
A scene for political events, music performances, and movie festivals, Brasília is a cosmopolitan city, with around 90 [[embassy|embassies]], a wide range of restaurants, and complete infrastructure ready to host any kind of event. The city is a growing business and tourism destination that is a rising segment of the local economy, including dozens of hotels spread around the national capital.
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=== Cultural Complex of the Republic ===
 
=== Cultural Complex of the Republic ===
 
[[Image:Museu Nacional, Brasilia 05_2007.jpg|right|thumb|360px|National Museum, Brasília, D.F. 2007]]
 
[[Image:Museu Nacional, Brasilia 05_2007.jpg|right|thumb|360px|National Museum, Brasília, D.F. 2007]]
The [[Cultural Complex of the Republic]] ("Complexo Cultural da República" in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) is a cultural center located along the [[Monumental Axis]] in Brasilia. It consists of the National Library of Brasília and the National Museum of the Republic'.
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The [[Cultural Complex of the Republic]] ("Complexo Cultural da República" in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) is a cultural center located along the [[Monumental Axis]] in Brasília. It consists of the National Library of Brasília and the National Museum of the Republic.
  
The National Library of Brasília (''Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) occupies an area of 16,744 square yards, consisting of reading and study rooms, [[auditorium]], and a collection of over 300,000 items.
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The National Library of Brasília (''Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) occupies an area of 16,744 square yards, consisting of reading and study rooms, an [[auditorium]] and a collection of over 300,000 items.
 
 
The ''National Museum of the Republic'' (''Museu Nacional da República'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) consists of a 17,341-square-yard [[exhibit]] area, two 780-seat auditoriums, and a [[laboratory]]. The space is mainly used to display temporary [[art]] exhibits.
 
  
 +
The ''National Museum of the Republic'' (''Museu Nacional da República'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) consists of a 17,341 square-yard [[exhibit]] area, two 780-seat auditoriums and a [[laboratory]]. The space is mainly used to display temporary [[art]] exhibits.
  
 
===Paranoá Lake===
 
===Paranoá Lake===
[[Paranoá Lake]] is a giant artificial lake built in order to increase the amount of water available to the region. It holds the second largest [[marina]] in [[Brazil]], and is home to the capital's [[wakeboard]] and [[windsurf]] practitioners.
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[[Paranoá Lake]] is a giant artificial lake built in order to increase the amount of water available to the region. It holds the second largest [[marina]] in [[Brazil]] and is home to the capital's [[wakeboard]] and [[windsurf]] practitioners.
  
 
=== Juscelino Kubitschek bridge ===
 
=== Juscelino Kubitschek bridge ===
 
[[Image:BSB Ponte JK Jul 06 115 8x6.jpg|right|thumb|360px|Bridge Juscelino Kubitschek (Ponte JK), over Lake Paranoa, Brasília, D.F. 2006]]
 
[[Image:BSB Ponte JK Jul 06 115 8x6.jpg|right|thumb|360px|Bridge Juscelino Kubitschek (Ponte JK), over Lake Paranoa, Brasília, D.F. 2006]]
[[Image:Brasilia Ponte JK.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The [[Juscelino Kubitschek bridge]].]]
 
  
The [[Juscelino Kubitschek bridge]], also known as the 'President JK Bridge' or the 'JK Bridge', crosses [[Lake Paranoá]] in Brasília. It is named for [[Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira]], former [[president of Brazil]]. It was designed by architect Alexandre Chan and structural engineer Mário Vila Verde. Chan won the [[Gustav Lindenthal]] Medal for this project at the 2003 International Bridge Conference in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]].
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The [[Juscelino Kubitschek bridge]], also known as the "President JK Bridge" or the "JK Bridge," crosses [[Lake Paranoá]]. It is named for [[Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira]], the former [[president of Brazil]]. It was designed by architect Alexandre Chan and structural engineer Mário Vila Verde.
  
It consists of three, 200-foot-tall asymmetrical steel [[arch]]es that crisscross diagonally. It is three-quarters of a mile long and was completed in 2002 at a cost of $56.8 million. The bridge has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to bicyclists and skaters.
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The bridge consists of three, 200-foot-tall asymmetrical steel [[arch]]es that crisscross diagonally. It is three-quarters of a mile long and was completed in 2002 at a cost of $56.8 million. It has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to bicyclists and skaters.
 
 
===Praça dos Três Poderes===
 
''[[Praça dos Três Poderes]]'' ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for ''Square of the Three Powers'') is a plaza in Brasília, [[Brazil]]. The name is derived from the encounter of the three powers around the plaza; the [[Executive (government)|Executive]], represented by the [[Palácio do Planalto]] (presidential office; the [[Legislature|Legislative]] represented by the [[National Congress of Brazil|Congresso Nacional]] (National Congress); and the [[Judiciary]], represented by the Palácio da Justiça.
 
 
 
A tourist attraction in Brasília, it was designed by [[Lúcio Costa]] and [[Oscar Niemeyer]] as a place where the three powers would meet harmoniously.
 
  
 
===Cathedral of Brasília===
 
===Cathedral of Brasília===
 
The [[Cathedral of Brasília]] is an aesthetic expression of the architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]]. On May 31, 1970, the glass-roofed cathedral was finished with only the 230-foot diameter of the circular area visible. This concrete-framed structure is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns, having hyperbolic sections and weighing 90 tons, representing two hands moving upwards to heaven.
 
The [[Cathedral of Brasília]] is an aesthetic expression of the architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]]. On May 31, 1970, the glass-roofed cathedral was finished with only the 230-foot diameter of the circular area visible. This concrete-framed structure is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns, having hyperbolic sections and weighing 90 tons, representing two hands moving upwards to heaven.
  
==Culture==
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===Cultural events===
[[Image:Brasilia ProcuradoriaGeral.jpg|right|320px|thumb|Procuradoria Geral da República.]]
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Traditional parties take place throughout the year. In June, there are large festivals celebrating Catholic [[saints]], such as [[Saint Anthony]] and [[Saint Peter]]. Throughout the year there are local, national, and international events spread through the city. [[Christmas]] is widely celebrated and [[New Year's Eve]] usually hosts major events.
Traditional parties also take place throughout the year. In June, there are large festivals celebrating Catholic saints, such as [[Saint Anthony]] and [[Saint Peter]], that are called "[[Festa junina|festas juninas]]," or the June festival. Throughout the year there are local, national, and international events spread through the city. Christmas is widely celebrated, and [[New Year's Eve]] usually hosts major events.
 
  
The Brasilia Cultural Foundation sponsors many national meetings in the arts and letters, and several foreign information centers are available. Housed in an irregularly shaped pyramidal structure, the National Theater features dramatic, symphonic, and operatic works. Historical institutions include the Museum of Brasília, with a historical record of Brasília's creation; the Federal Reserve Museum; and the Image and Sound Museum of the Institute of History and Geography.  
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The Brasília Cultural Foundation sponsors many national meetings in the arts and letters, and several foreign information centers are available. The [[National Theater]] features dramatic, symphonic, and operatic works. Historical institutions include the Museum of Brasília, with a historical record of Brasília's creation; the Federal Reserve Museum; and the Image and Sound Museum of the Institute of History and Geography.  
  
 
Brasília is home to two major soccer teams: [[Brasiliense Futebol Clube]] and [[Sociedade Esportiva do Gama]]. The main football stadiums are the [[Estádio Mané Garrincha]] and the [[Serejão]].
 
Brasília is home to two major soccer teams: [[Brasiliense Futebol Clube]] and [[Sociedade Esportiva do Gama]]. The main football stadiums are the [[Estádio Mané Garrincha]] and the [[Serejão]].
  
 
==Higher education==
 
==Higher education==
There are several insitutions of higher learning in Brasilia, including: [[Universidade Católica de Brasília]], [[Centro Universitário de Brasília]], [[Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal]], [[Centro Universitário]], [[Instituto de Educação Superior de Brasília]], [[União Pioneira da Integração Social]], [[Universidade Paulista]], and the [[Universidade de Brasília]] (University of Brasilia.)
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There are several institutions of higher learning in Brasília, including: [[Universidade Católica de Brasília]], [[Centro Universitário de Brasília]], [[Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal]], [[Centro Universitário]], [[Instituto de Educação Superior de Brasília]], [[União Pioneira da Integração Social]], [[Universidade Paulista]], and the [[Universidade de Brasília]] (University of Brasília.)
  
The University of Brasília (UnB), which opened in 1962, is central to much of the city's cultural life. The architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]] designed its main building, the Central Institute of Science (ICC). UnB, located in the heart of Brasilia on the banks of [[Paranoá Lake]], is one of the most respected institutions in [[Brazil]]. Its modernistic buildings house 23 institutes and schools; 50 departments; 16 scientific, technological, cultural, artistic, and general service centers; student, faculty and staff residences; a hospital; a [[sport]]s center equipped with swimming pools, racetrack, and various sports fields and courts; a seismological observatory capable of registering [[earthquake]]s across the [[planet]]; an animal-research aboratory and an ecological station. UnB is also about to build its own technological park. UnB’s central library has the largest archive in midwestern Brazil and caters to the needs of the Federal District and of researchers from across the nation. UnB also maintains the Fazenda Água Limpa, a farm in the outskirts of Brasilia where ecological, agricultural, and forestry research is conducted.
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The University of Brasília (UnB), which opened in 1962, is central to much of the city's cultural life. The architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]] designed its main building, the Central Institute of Science (ICC). UnB, located in the heart of Brasília on the banks of [[Paranoá Lake]], is one of the most respected institutions in [[Brazil]]. Its modernistic buildings house 23 institutes and schools; 50 departments; 16 scientific, technological, cultural, artistic, and general service centers; student, faculty and staff residences; a hospital; a [[sport]]s center equipped with swimming pools, racetrack, and various sports fields and courts; a seismological observatory capable of registering [[earthquake]]s across the [[planet]]; an animal-research laboratory and an ecological station. UnB is also about to build its own technological park. UnB’s central library has the largest archive in midwestern Brazil and caters to the needs of the Federal District and of researchers from across the nation. UnB also maintains the Fazenda Água Limpa, a farm in the outskirts of Brasília where ecological, agricultural, and forestry research is conducted.
  
Each semester, the University of Brasilia accepts nearly 2,000 incoming students from a pool of approximately 20,000 candidates for its 63 daytime or evening [[undergraduate]] programs. On the [[graduate]] level, the [[university]] offers 64 master's programs and 45 doctoral programs.
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Each semester, the University of Brasília accepts nearly 2,000 incoming students from a pool of approximately 20,000 candidates for its 63 daytime or evening [[undergraduate]] programs. On the [[graduate]] level, the [[university]] offers 64 master's programs and 45 doctoral programs.
  
 
== Famous Places Nearby ==
 
== Famous Places Nearby ==
 
Nearby attractions include:
 
Nearby attractions include:
surrounded by several waterfalls.
 
*[[Chapada dos Veadeiros]] — A National Park with plenty of cerrado wildlife and spectacular waterfalls.
 
*[[Itiquira Falls]] — This beautiful 551-foot-high waterfall is little more than 62 miles from Brasília and belongs to the municipality of [[Formosa, Goiás]]
 
*[[Caldas Novas]] — The biggest natural hot springs resort of the world. Located about 225 miles southeast of the city in the state of [[Goiás]].
 
  
==Notes==
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*[[Chapada dos Veadeiros]]—A National Park with plenty of cerrado wildlife and spectacular waterfalls
<references/>
+
*[[Itiquira Falls]]—A beautiful 551-foot-high waterfall that is a little more than 62 miles from Brasília and belongs to the municipality of [[Formosa, Goiás]]
 +
*[[Caldas Novas]]—The biggest natural hot springs resort of the world, located about 225 miles southeast of the city in the state of [[Goiás]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
*Holston, James. ''The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brazilia'', University of Chicago Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0226349794
+
 
*Andreol, Elisabeth, & Forty, Adrian. ''Brazil's Modern Architecture'', Phaidon Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0714842929
+
* Andreoli, Elisabetta, & Adrian Forty. ''Brazil's Modern Architecture.'' Phaidon Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0714842929
*Underwood, David Kendrick. ''Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian Free-Form Modernism'', George Braziller, 1994. ISBN 978-0807613368
+
* Holston, James. ''The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasília.'' University of Chicago Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0226349794
*Shoumatoff, Alex. ''The Capital of Hope: Brasilia and Its People'', Vintage Books, 1991. ISBN 978-0679733263
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* Shoumatoff, Alex. ''The Capital of Hope: Brasília and Its People.'' Vintage Books, 1991. ISBN 978-0679733263
 +
* Underwood, David Kendrick. ''Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian Free-Form Modernism.'' George Braziller, 1994. ISBN 978-0807613368
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Brasília}}
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All links retrieved February 11, 2022.
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* [http://www.aboutbrasilia.com/ About Brasilia]. ''www.aboutbrasilia.com''.
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* [http://www.brasilia.df.gov.br Government website in Portuguese]. ''www.brasilia.df.gov.br''.
  
*[http://www.aboutbrasilia.com/ About Brasilia]
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{{South American capitals}}
*[http://www.brasiliaconvention.com.br/en/index.htm Brasília e Região Convention & Visitors Bureau]
 
  
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[[Category:Geography]]
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[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:nations and places]]
 
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Revision as of 20:25, 17 March 2023

Brasília
—  Federal capital  —
From upper left: National Congress of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, Monumental Axis, Palácio da Alvorada and Cathedral of Brasília.
From upper left: National Congress of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, Monumental Axis, Palácio da Alvorada and Cathedral of Brasília.
Flag of Brasília
Flag
Official seal of Brasília
Seal
Nickname: Capital Federal, BSB, Capital da Esperança
Motto: "Venturis ventis" (Latin)
"To the coming winds"
Location of Brasília within the Federal District and in Brazil
Location of Brasília within the Federal District and in Brazil
Country Flag of Brazil Brazil
Region Central-West
State Bandeira do Distrito Federal.svg Federal District
Founded April 21, 1960
Government
 - Governor Agnelo Queiroz (Workers' Party)
Area
 - Federal capital 5,802 km² (2,240.164 sq mi)
Elevation 1,172 m (3,845 ft)
Population (2010)
 - Federal capital 2,562,963 (4th)
 - Density 441.565/km² (1,144/sq mi)
 - Metro 2,562,963
Time zone BRT (UTC−3)
 - Summer (DST) BRST (UTC−2)
Postal Code 70000-000
Area code(s) +55 61
Website: www.brasilia.df.gov.br

Brasília is the capital of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. It is the seat of the main federal government: the president (residing in the Palácio do Planalto), the Brazilian supreme court, and the Brazilian parliament.

As the world's first capital city conceived by modern standards of urban planning, Brasília is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Building the city began in 1956 with Lúcio Costa as the principal urban planner and Oscar Niemeyer as the principal architect. When seen from above, the city's shape was designed to resemble an airplane or a bird in flight. Niemeyer designed many of the city's most famous structures, including its palatial government buildings and the Cathedral of Brasília, pictured at right.

In 1960, it formally became Brazil's capital. Brasília is located in the Federal District, which has the same borders as the city. The district is surrounded by the Brazilian state of Goiás. The city is not a traditional municipality by Brazilian law. It has received both praise and criticism for its attempt at creating a city by design rather than through "organic" growth, as well as for its impractical utopian conception.

Background

The city was built to bring the capital, previously Rio de Janeiro, to Brazil's midwest and closer to the other regions. This was done using a large workforce coming from throughout the country. Brasília is known internationally for having applied the principles established in the Athens Charter (1933). The charter laid out a 95-point program for planning and construction of rational cities, addressing topics such as high-rise residential blocks, strict zoning, the separation of residential areas and transportation arteries and the preservation of historic districts and buildings. The key underlying concept was the creation of independent zones for the four 'functions': living, working, recreation, and circulation.

History

From 1763 to 1960, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil. During much of this time resources tended to be centered in Brazil's southeast region near the capital.

The idea of placing Brazil’s capital in the interior dates back to the first republican constitution of 1891, which roughly defined where the federal district should be placed. The site itself was not specifically defined until 1922. The location would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil.

Then-President Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira ordered the construction of Brasília. Lúcio Costa was named the main urban planner after winning a contest to gain the privilege of designing the city. Oscar Niemeyer was the chief architect of most public buildings and Roberto Burle Marx was the landscape designer. Brasília was built in 41 months, from 1956 to 1960 when it was officially inaugurated.

According to a legend, Italian saint Don Bosco had a prophetic dream in 1883 in which he described a futuristic city that roughly fitted Brasília's location. Today, in Brasília, there are many references to this educator who founded the Salesian order. One of the main cathedrals in the city bears his name.

World Heritage site

The Brazilian capital is the only city in the world built in the twentieth century to be awarded by UNESCO, a United Nations agency since 1987, the status of being a World Heritage Site.

In order to be considered for World Heritage status, a site must fulfill one of ten standards for qualification. Brasilia fulfilled two:

  • to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
  • to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history

Created from nothing in the center of the country Brasilia is a landmark in the history of town planning, from the layout of the residential and administrative districts to the symmetry of the buildings themselves, which are designed to harmonize with the city's overall design. The official buildings, in particular, are innovative and imaginative.

City planning

Controversial layout

Brasilia's Monumental Axis, National Congress, Place of the Ministries, Cathedral, and Cultural Complex of the Republic

Brasília is referred to worldwide as a case study in urban planning. The idea of spreading residential buildings around expansive urban areas, of tracing the city plan around large avenues, and dividing it into sectors has produced an intense debate and reflection on life in big cities in the twentieth century.

Recognized for its use of grand-scale, modernist architecture and its attempt at a utopian city plan, Brasilia has received criticism for the same reasons. After a trip to Brasilia, French writer Simone de Beauvoir disappointedly said that all of its superblocks exuded “the same air of elegant monotony.” Others have remarked that the city's large open lawns, plazas, and fields appear like wastelands. To overcome these impressions, some open spaces have received various adornments and many have been improved by landscaping, thus humanizing the wide open spaces. The hasty construction of the city has also received criticism, as cracks soon appeared in buildings and highways. Finally, Brazilia's growth has now exceeded its plan, resulting in typical "urban spawl" in its suburbs.

Pilot plan

The pilot plan for Brasília was built to conform to Le Corbusier's Letter of Athens, which, according to the Modernists, embodied the ideal qualities of a city. The Letter had four basic tenets for the ideal city: Well-ventilated residences near green spaces; the separation of residences from workplaces, with industries excluded from the city proper; exclusive space for cultural activities, near residencies; and the separation of the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.

The pilot plan was based on the shape of an airplane. The heart of the city is the Monumental Axis (the fusilage of the "airplane") intersecting in the center of the city with a Residential Axis, or the wings of an airplane. The Monumental Axis, also known as the Ministries Esplanade, is an open area in downtown Brasília. Costa designed the city in four scales of design: a monumental scale, a residential scale, a gregarious (or social) scale, and a bucolic scale.

The monumental scale was intended to provide Brasília with the dignity of a capital city. This was achieved with wide avenues of six lanes in each direction, the Esplanade, where the ministries and public buildings are located, the Cathedral, and the Plaza of Three Powers.

The residential scale contained orderly superblocks with a uniform height of six stories, no high rises, and vast motorways providing an excellent transportation system. The superblocks also had ample parking for vehicles, low population density and plenty of wide open green space. The gregarious (or social) scale consisted of the bus station—where the two axes cross—and the entertainment, commerce, and retail sectors. The bucolic scale showed Costa's intent for Brasília to be a city of parks, where more densely populated areas were separated by vast green spaces and parks.

Superblocks

The Pilot Plan including housing for 600,000 people, primarily in "superblocks." These superblocks were large groups of apartment buildings, grouped in a very orderly manner. Each group of four superblocks was supposed to serve as a single neighborhood unit. Each group was to have a church, a secondary school, a movie house, a youth club, and adequate field space for children to play sports on. Between the superblocks were lower buildings for commercial businesses.

Each superblock's six-story buildings rested on massive pillars, so there was an open area beneath the building for the free movement of pedestrians and for children to play under during inclement weather. The superblocks were also intended to be egalitarian, so that people of all income levels would live together and interact without class distinctions.

Highway network

The Pilot Plan also created a vast highway network which was built to provide access to Brasília from practically everywhere in Brazil. The longest highway in this network is the 1,414-mile, Belem-Brasília highway, linking Brasília to Northeast Brazil. The construction of these highways insured, at least theoretically, that Brazil's new capital would be accessible to the entire population of the country.

Accommodations

The city’s planned design also included specific areas for lodging, with hotel sectors, located in the north and south of the city. Other areas have opened new hotel facilities, such as in the Hotels and Tourism Sector North, located on the shores of Lake Paranoá.

Being a city that receives visitors from the whole of Brazil and the world, it offers a network of restaurants with great diversity of food, from simple small restaurants, serving the authentic food of central-western areas of Brazil, to high class bistros offering diverse fare.

Government buildings

Praça dos Três Poderes, meaning Square of the Three Powers, is a plaza in which the buildings housing the three branches of government are located. The Executive is represented by the Palácio do Planalto (presidential office; the Legislative by the Congresso Nacional (National Congress); and the Judiciary, by the Palácio da Justiça, in which is housed the Supreme Federal Tribunal, Brazil's highest court.

National Congress

The National Congress of Brazil.

Brazil's bicameral National Congress consists of a Senate, (the upper house), and a Chamber of Deputies (the lower house). Since the 1960s, the National Congress has its seat in Brasilia. As most of the official buildings in the city, it was designed by Oscar Niemeyer following the style of modern Brazilian architecture. The semisphere to the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semisphere to the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them there are two towers of offices. The Congress also occupies other surrounding buildings, some of them connected by a tunnel.

The building is located in the middle of the Monumental Axis. In front of it there is a large lawn where demonstrations take place. At the rear of the building, is the Praça dos Três Poderes, where the Palácio do Planalto and the Palace of Justice lie.

Palácio da Alvorada

The Palácio da Alvorada is the official residence of the President of Brazil. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and inaugurated in 1958, it is located at SHTN Asa Norte in Brasília.

One of the first structures built in the republic's new capital city, the "Alvorada" lies on a peninsula at the margins of Lake Paranoá. The principles of simplicity and modernity oriented Niemeyer's project.

The building has an area of 89,699 square feet and three floors: basement, landing, and second floor. On the basement level are located the auditorium, kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the administration. On the landing are located the rooms used by the presidency for official receptions. The second floor is the residential part of the palace, with four suites, two apartments and other private rooms.

The building has also a library, a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, a music room, two dining rooms. and various meeting rooms. Located in adjacent buildings are the chapel and the heliport.

Palácio do Planalto

Palácio do Planalto

The Palácio do Planalto is the official workplace of the President of Brazil. It is located at the Praça dos Três Poderes in Brasília, Brazil. As the seat of government, the term "o Planalto" is often used as a synonym for the executive branch of the government, similar to the White House in the United States or the Kremlin in Russia.

Besides the President, several major presidential advisers also have offices in the "Planalto," including the Vice-President and the Chief of Staff. The other major government ministries are laid along the Esplanada dos Ministérios.

The Palace is four stories high and has an area of 43,056 square yards. Four other adjacent buildings are also part of the complex.

Supreme Federal Tribunal

Chambers of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal

The Supreme Federal Tribunal is the highest court of law of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The court functions as a last resort tribunal and a Constitutional Court; its rulings therefore cannot be appealed. It can also overturn laws passed by the Congress. This happens when the court judges a direct action of unconstitutionality, Ação direta de Inconstitucionalidade or Adin.

The members of the court, who are called ministers (ministro), are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. They serve until compulsory retirement, at 70 years old.

The number of members has changed through history. The Constitution of 1891 decided that the court would have 15 members. When Getúlio Vargas came into power, the number of members was reduced to 11. It changed to 16 in 1965, but returned to 11 in 1969. It has not changed ever since.

Social data

Economy

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Brazil

Brasília's economy is dominated by the services, which account for 91 percent of the local GDP. These include government, with the public sector accounting for around 40 percent of the city jobs; communications, including Brasil Telecom's headquarters, as well as public and private television stations; banking and finance; entertainment; information technology; and legal services.

Industries in the city include construction, food processing, furniture making, recycling, pharmaceuticals, printing, and publishing.

The main agricultural products produced in Brasília are coffee, guava, orange, lemon, papaya, soy beans and mango.Brasília's farms have over 110,000 cows and it exports wood products worldwide.

The city's Gross Domestic Product is estimated at $27.628 billion. The participation in the Brazilian GDP is 1.8 percent. Brasília has the largest per capita income of any city in Brazil.

Infrastructure

The consumption of commercial energy at Brazil's capital was 924 gwh, the industrial reached 337 gwh, and the residential reached 1,241 gwh. The total energy consumption was 3,319 gwh.

The railways system is not developed, with only 22.4 miles operating. However, a fast-track train connecting Brasília to Goiânia is under construction. The train will travel at an average of 115 miles per hour. Furthermore, the city has a small subway (25.5 miles) covering one "wing" of the city plan of the Distrito Federal. Railways connect the city with Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Automobiles and buses are the main forms of urban transportation because of the priority afforded expressways in the city's design and the large distances between inner-city neighborhoods. The total extension of Brasília's paved roads is 84 miles, with 44 percent of all its roads paved. As of 2006, there were approximately 1 million vehicles in the city, for a population of about 2.3 million. Highways link Brasília with the rest of the nation.

There is regular national and international air service out of Brasília International Airport (BSB) which serves the metropolitan area. There is a television tower (735 feet high) located in the heart of the city.

Population growth

Despite its lauded planning, Brasília is far from immune from the problems of "urban sprawl."

The 1960 census counted almost 140,000 residents in the new Federal District; by 1970 this figure had grown to more than 537,000. In 2000 the population of the Brazilian Federal District stood at more than two million, more than three times the original plan. Brasília's inhabitants include a significant foreign population as well as large numbers of Brazilian migrants.

Brasília is considered to have one of the highest growth rates in Brazil, increasing its size by an average of 2.82 percent each year. The Human Development Index in the city is 0.844 (developed nation level), and the illiteracy rate is around 4.35 percent.

Local government

Until 1990, the Brazilian president appointed the governor of the Federal District, who was confirmed by the Senate. In that year, under the 1988 constitution, Joaquim Domingos Roriz was chosen in the first election for district governor. Reporting to the governor are numerous secretaries responsible for public works, welfare, education, law enforcement, and other concerns. The Senate acts as the legislative branch of local government. In 1986, the voters in the district elected their first congressional representatives to the national assembly, and since that time elections have been conducted the same as in any of Brazil's states.

Climate

Brasília's weather is semi-arid, with seasons being defined according to the degree of humidity of the air: one season is dry and colder, while the other one is humid and hot. The average temperature is 69° F. In October, the hottest month of the year, the highest temperatures stand at 85° F, while in July, which is the coldest month, the lowest temperatures stand at 55° F.

Points of interest

Brasilia hosts a varied assortment of art works from great artists like Bruno Giorgi, Alfredo Ceschiatti, Athos Bulcão, Marienne Peretti, Volpi, Di Cavalcanti, Victor Brecheret, and Burle Marx, whose works have been integrated into the city’s architecture, making it a unique landscape.

A scene for political events, music performances, and movie festivals, Brasília is a cosmopolitan city, with around 90 embassies, a wide range of restaurants, and complete infrastructure ready to host any kind of event. The city is a growing business and tourism destination that is a rising segment of the local economy, including dozens of hotels spread around the national capital.

Cultural Complex of the Republic

National Museum, Brasília, D.F. 2007

The Cultural Complex of the Republic ("Complexo Cultural da República" in Portuguese) is a cultural center located along the Monumental Axis in Brasília. It consists of the National Library of Brasília and the National Museum of the Republic.

The National Library of Brasília (Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília in Portuguese) occupies an area of 16,744 square yards, consisting of reading and study rooms, an auditorium and a collection of over 300,000 items.

The National Museum of the Republic (Museu Nacional da República in Portuguese) consists of a 17,341 square-yard exhibit area, two 780-seat auditoriums and a laboratory. The space is mainly used to display temporary art exhibits.

Paranoá Lake

Paranoá Lake is a giant artificial lake built in order to increase the amount of water available to the region. It holds the second largest marina in Brazil and is home to the capital's wakeboard and windsurf practitioners.

Juscelino Kubitschek bridge

Bridge Juscelino Kubitschek (Ponte JK), over Lake Paranoa, Brasília, D.F. 2006

The Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, also known as the "President JK Bridge" or the "JK Bridge," crosses Lake Paranoá. It is named for Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, the former president of Brazil. It was designed by architect Alexandre Chan and structural engineer Mário Vila Verde.

The bridge consists of three, 200-foot-tall asymmetrical steel arches that crisscross diagonally. It is three-quarters of a mile long and was completed in 2002 at a cost of $56.8 million. It has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to bicyclists and skaters.

Cathedral of Brasília

The Cathedral of Brasília is an aesthetic expression of the architect Oscar Niemeyer. On May 31, 1970, the glass-roofed cathedral was finished with only the 230-foot diameter of the circular area visible. This concrete-framed structure is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns, having hyperbolic sections and weighing 90 tons, representing two hands moving upwards to heaven.

Cultural events

Traditional parties take place throughout the year. In June, there are large festivals celebrating Catholic saints, such as Saint Anthony and Saint Peter. Throughout the year there are local, national, and international events spread through the city. Christmas is widely celebrated and New Year's Eve usually hosts major events.

The Brasília Cultural Foundation sponsors many national meetings in the arts and letters, and several foreign information centers are available. The National Theater features dramatic, symphonic, and operatic works. Historical institutions include the Museum of Brasília, with a historical record of Brasília's creation; the Federal Reserve Museum; and the Image and Sound Museum of the Institute of History and Geography.

Brasília is home to two major soccer teams: Brasiliense Futebol Clube and Sociedade Esportiva do Gama. The main football stadiums are the Estádio Mané Garrincha and the Serejão.

Higher education

There are several institutions of higher learning in Brasília, including: Universidade Católica de Brasília, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal, Centro Universitário, Instituto de Educação Superior de Brasília, União Pioneira da Integração Social, Universidade Paulista, and the Universidade de Brasília (University of Brasília.)

The University of Brasília (UnB), which opened in 1962, is central to much of the city's cultural life. The architect Oscar Niemeyer designed its main building, the Central Institute of Science (ICC). UnB, located in the heart of Brasília on the banks of Paranoá Lake, is one of the most respected institutions in Brazil. Its modernistic buildings house 23 institutes and schools; 50 departments; 16 scientific, technological, cultural, artistic, and general service centers; student, faculty and staff residences; a hospital; a sports center equipped with swimming pools, racetrack, and various sports fields and courts; a seismological observatory capable of registering earthquakes across the planet; an animal-research laboratory and an ecological station. UnB is also about to build its own technological park. UnB’s central library has the largest archive in midwestern Brazil and caters to the needs of the Federal District and of researchers from across the nation. UnB also maintains the Fazenda Água Limpa, a farm in the outskirts of Brasília where ecological, agricultural, and forestry research is conducted.

Each semester, the University of Brasília accepts nearly 2,000 incoming students from a pool of approximately 20,000 candidates for its 63 daytime or evening undergraduate programs. On the graduate level, the university offers 64 master's programs and 45 doctoral programs.

Famous Places Nearby

Nearby attractions include:

  • Chapada dos Veadeiros—A National Park with plenty of cerrado wildlife and spectacular waterfalls
  • Itiquira Falls—A beautiful 551-foot-high waterfall that is a little more than 62 miles from Brasília and belongs to the municipality of Formosa, Goiás
  • Caldas Novas—The biggest natural hot springs resort of the world, located about 225 miles southeast of the city in the state of Goiás

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Andreoli, Elisabetta, & Adrian Forty. Brazil's Modern Architecture. Phaidon Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0714842929
  • Holston, James. The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasília. University of Chicago Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0226349794
  • Shoumatoff, Alex. The Capital of Hope: Brasília and Its People. Vintage Books, 1991. ISBN 978-0679733263
  • Underwood, David Kendrick. Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian Free-Form Modernism. George Braziller, 1994. ISBN 978-0807613368

External links

All links retrieved February 11, 2022.


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