Rio de Janeiro facts

• Rio de Janeiro (River of January), is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and the second largest city of Brazil.
• Rio was founded in 1565
• Nickname(s): Cidade Maravilhosa ("The Marvelous City") or simply Rio
• Money: Brazilian Real
• Area - Metro 4,557.3 km2 (1,759.6 sq mi)
• Population (2010) - Metro 14,387,000
• Demonym carioca
• Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil for nearly 2 centuries.
• Rio de Janeiro is the 3rd most visited city in the world.
• Rio is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, samba, Bossa Nova, balneario beaches such as Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon.
• The giant statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) atop Corcovado mountain was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
• The city has the biggest carnaval and the biggest reveillon of the world.
• Rio de janeiro has a tropical savanna climate.
• The average yearly precipitation in Rio is 109 cm.
• Copacabana is the most famous region of the south zone with various hotels, bars and night clubs.
• Rio has 50 km (31 miles) of beaches spread out along the coast of the state.