OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil

BRAZIL

OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic federal republic CAPITAL: Brasilia POPULATION: 183,888,841 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese MONEY: Real AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantins

PEOPLE & CULTURE Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal), and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of cultures has created a rich religious, musical, and culinary culture.

Brazilians are soccer crazy, and their country has produced some of the best players. The most famous of all is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. Brazil has won the World Cup soccer finals five times, more than any other nation, and is hosting the tournament this year.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has been rampant. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars. CUBA

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cuba FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Socialist republic CAPITAL: Havana POPULATION: 11,047,251 OFFICIAL LANUAGE: Spanish MONEY: Peso AREA: 42,802 square miles (110,860 square kilometers)

PEOPLE & CULTURE The mixture of native, African, and European influences in Cuba gives this island a lively culture that is known around the world. The introduction of communism to the country in 1959 has had a big impact on the people, both positive and negative.

Cuba's history is reflected in its food, language, art, and, most of all, its music. All year round, it seems as if bands are everywhere in Havana. The main musical form is called son, which combines lively rhythms with classical guitar.

Unlike most countries in Latin America, Cuba's favorite sport is not soccer. It's baseball! Baseball came to Cuba from the United States in the 1860s. Many international baseball stars have come from Cuba, and the Cuban national team is one of the best in the world.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY Cuba is a socialist state run by the Cuban Communist Party. Cubans vote for their leaders, but the communist party is the only legal party. Fidel Castro was president, prime minister, and commander of the armed forces until February 2008, when he stepped down due to a lengthy illness. His brother, Raúl, now leads the country.

The United States had been hostile toward Cuba since the communists took power in 1959. But since Fidel Castro stepped down, the United States and Cuba have become friends again. In 2015 the United States reopened its embassy in Cuba—where American diplomats live to work with the Cuban government. Soon after, Cuba did the same in the United States.