Page 13 - POR320Summer2018

multitude of economic activities, including manufacturing, heavy industry, mining, electronics,
ship construction, oil and gas exploration and refining, and banking and finance. Travel and
tourism are extremely popular in the city, a main hub of culture and entertainment in South
America.

Tourist Sites
Visitors to Rio generally come for its world-famous beaches (Copacabana; Ipanema; Barra da

Tijuca; Prainha; Praia Vermelha; Arpooador; and the official nude beach, Abricó) and are
rewarded handsomely: the city has more than 50 miles of beach.

Although you could spend your entire vacation

on the beach, in addition there are numerous
other attractions. Perhaps the most famous is
Corcovado Mountain, with the statue “Cristo

Redentor” on top; a tram carries visitors to
the top. Two more famous mountains within

the city are Pão de Açucar and Pedra da
Gávea.

Additionally, travelers enjoy the botanical gardens

(jardim botânico) as well as the colorful bairros, the
“favelas” (below), and the near-by rain forest,

“Tijuca”.
Cultural attractions in Rio include of course the

world-famous “Carnaval” which is the Brazilian
version of New Orleans’ “Mardi Gras”; the

celebration is a colorful and exuberant lead-in to the
fasting required during Lent.

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