Acre
Initials: B.C
Region: North
Capital: White River
Gentile: acrean or acrean
Territorial area: 164,123,737 km²
Population: 829,619 inhabitants (estimated by IBGE, 2017)
Demographic density: 4.47 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the Amazon Forest, the largest forest in the world, Acre is one of the states in the northern region bordering Peru and Bolivia. It is the third least populous state in the country, with 22 municipalities, making it the state with the fewest number of cities in Brazil. Its economy is based on latex and nut extraction.
Amapá
Initials: AP
Region: North
Capital: Macapa
Gentile: Amapáense
Territorial area: 142,828,521 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 797,722 inhabitants (estimated by IBGE, 2017)
Demographic density: 4.69 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Amapá borders Pará, the Atlantic Ocean and the countries: French Guiana and Suriname. Much of its territory is covered by the Amazon Forest, the largest forest in the world. Its economy is based on mineral and plant extraction and also on tourism, which has great prominence in the region.
Amazons
Initials: AM
Region: North
Capital: Manaus
Gentile: Amazonian
Territorial area: 11,559,146,876 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 4,063,614 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 6.07 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Amazonas is the largest state in the country in terms of territory. It borders the states of Pará, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Acre and Roraima; and with the countries: Venezuela, Colombia and Peru. Almost all of its territory is covered by the Amazon Forest, the largest forest in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock and plant extraction.
For
Initials: PAN
Region: North
Capital: Bethlehem
Gentile: paraense
Territorial area: 1,247,955.238 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 8,366,628 inhabitants (IBGE, 2017)
Demographic density: 4.69 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Pará is the second largest state in the country in terms of land area and the most populated in the northern region. It borders the states of Amapá, Roraima, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhão; in addition to the countries Suriname and Guyana. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, mineral and vegetable extraction, industry and tourism.
Roraima
Initials: RR
Region: North
Capital: Good view
Gentile: Roraima
Territorial area: 224,300,805 Km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 522,636 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 2.01 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Roraima is the least populated state in the country. It borders the states of Pará and Amazonas; and with the countries: Guyana and Venezuela. Much of its vegetation area is covered by the Amazon Forest, the largest forest in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture and mineral extraction.
Tocantins
Initials: TO
Region: North
Capital: palms
Gentile: Tocantins
Territorial area: 277,720.412 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 1,550,194 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 4.98 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Tocantins is the newest state in Brazil, created by the 1988 Constitution, when it separated from Goiás. It borders six Brazilian states: Maranhão, Pará, Piauí, Bahia, Goiás and Mato Grosso. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock and trade.
Rondônia
Initials: RO
Region: North
Capital: Porto Velho
Gentile: Rondonian or Rondonian
Territorial area: 237,765.293 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 1,805,788 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 6.58 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northern region, Rondônia is the third most populous state in the region. It borders Bolivia and the states of Acre, Amazonas and Mato Grosso. Much of the state's vegetation cover is occupied by the Amazon Forest. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, mineral and vegetable extraction.
Maranhão
Initials: BAD
Region: North East
Capital: St. Louis
Gentile: Maranhão
Territorial area: 331,936,949 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 7,000,229 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 19.81 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Maranhão is the second largest state in the region and has the second longest coastline in the country, after Bahia. It borders the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, industry, plant extraction, services and tourism.
Piauí
Initials: PI
Region: North East
Capital: Teresina
Gentile: Piauí
Territorial area: 251,611,929 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 3,219,257 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 12.40 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Piauí is the third largest state in the region and has the smallest coastline in the country, with about 66 km. It borders five Brazilian states: Ceará, Pernambuco, Bahia, Tocantins and Maranhão; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, trade and industry.
Ceará
Initials: EC
Region: North East
Capital: strength
Gentile: Ceará
Territorial area: 148,887,633 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 9,020,460 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 56.76 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Ceará borders four Brazilian states: Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Piauí; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. A large part of the state is located in the caatinga biome. In addition to tourism, its economy is based on agriculture, trade, services and mineral extraction.
large northern river
Initials: RN
Region: North East
Capital: Christmas
Gentile: potiguar, north-rio-grandense, rio-grandense-do-norte
Territorial area: 52,811,107 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 3,507,003 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 59.99 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states in this region with the best HDI and life expectancy. It borders two Brazilian states: Ceará and Paraíba; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on farming, fruit growing, salt extraction, industry, commerce and tourism.
Pernambuco
Initials: FOOT
Region: North East
Capital: Recife
Gentile: Pernambuco
Territorial area: 98,076,021 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 9,473,266 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 89.62 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeastern region, Pernambuco has one of the richest and most populous cities in the northern and northeastern regions: the capital Recife. It borders the states of Paraíba, Ceará, Alagoas, Bahia and Piauí; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. The famous Fernando de Noronha archipelago belongs to the state. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, tourism and industry.
Paraíba
Initials: PB
Region: North East
Capital: João Pessoa
Gentile: paraibano
Territorial area: 56,468.435 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 4,025,558 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 66.70 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Paraíba is one of the smallest states in Brazil. It borders the states: Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco and Ceará; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. It is in the capital, João Pessoa, where the most eastern point of Brazil and America is located: Ponta dos Seixas. Its economy is based on agriculture, industry, commerce and tourism.
Sergipe
Initials: IF
Region: North East
Capital: Aracaju
Gentile: Sergipe or Sergipe
Territorial area: 21,918.443 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 2,288,116 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 94.36 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Sergipe is the smallest state in Brazil that was emancipated in 1820 and separated from Bahia. It borders the states of Bahia and Alagoas; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, industry, mineral extraction and services.
alagoas
Initials: AL
Region: North East
Capital: Maceio
Gentile: alagoan
Territorial area: 27,848.14 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 3,375,823 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 112.33 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Alagoas is one of the states with the lowest literacy and human development rates in the country. It borders the states of Pernambuco, Sergipe and Bahia; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest sugarcane producer in the northeast and also one of the largest in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, industry and tourism.
Bahia
Initials: BA
Region: North East
Capital: savior
Gentile: Bahia
Territorial area: 564,732.45 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 15,344,447 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 24.82 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the northeast region, Bahia is the largest and most populous state in the region. It has the largest number of municipalities in the northeast region, and the longest coastline in the country, with about 900 km in length. It borders eight states: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Tocantins, Piauí, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, mining, industry, tourism and services.
Mato Grosso do Sul
Initials: MS
Region: Midwest
Capital: Large field
Gentile: Mato Grosso do Sul or Mato Grosso do Sul
Territorial area: 357,145,531 Km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 2,713,147 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 6.86 inhab./km2 (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the Midwest region, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul was separated from Mato Grosso in 1977. It borders Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Paraná; in addition to the countries: Paraguay and Bolivia. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, mineral and vegetable extraction, industry and tourism.
Mato Grosso
Initials: MT
Region: Midwest
Capital: Cuiabá
Gentile: Mato Grosso
Territorial area: 903,202,446 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 3,344,544 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 3.36 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the Midwest region, the state of Mato Grosso has the largest indigenous reserve in the world: the Xingu Indigenous Park. It borders the states of Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia; beyond Bolivia. Its economy is based on agriculture and livestock, agribusiness, mineral and vegetable extraction and tourism.
Goiás
Initials: GO
Region: Midwest
Capital: Goiania
Gentile: Goiás
Territorial area: 340,106,492 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 6,778,772 inhabitants (estimate, IBGE 2017)
Demographic density: 17.65 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the Midwest region, Goiás is the most populous state in the region. It borders Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Gerais and the Federal District. Its economy is based on agriculture, commerce and industry. In the area of tourism, the city of Caldas Novas stands out, being the largest hydrothermal resort in the world.
Federal District
Initials: DF
Region: Midwest
Capital: Brasilia
Gentile: Brasilian
Territorial area: 5,779,997 Km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 3,039,444 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 444.66 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the Midwest region, the Federal District is the smallest federal unit in Brazil and is home to the country's capital: Brasília. Located within the state of Goiás, it is divided into 31 administrative regions. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, trade, services and industry.
Sao Paulo
Initials: SP
Region: Southeast
Capital: Sao Paulo
Gentile: paulista
Territorial area: 248,219,627 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 45,094,866 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 166.23 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southeast region, the state of São Paulo is the most populous in Brazil and has the highest GDP in the country. It borders the states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso do Sul; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, industry, services and tourism.
Rio de Janeiro
Initials: RJ
Region: Southeast
Capital: Rio de Janeiro
Gentile: Rio de Janeiro
Territorial area: 43,781,588 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 16,718,956 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 365.23 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southeast region, Rio de Janeiro is the third smallest Brazilian state, in addition to being the third most populous in the country. It has the second largest GDP in the country, after São Paulo. It borders Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and São Paulo; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on industry, commerce, services, mineral extraction and tourism.
Holy Spirit
Initials: ES
Region: Southeast
Capital: Victory
Gentile: Espírito Santo or Espírito Santo
Territorial area: 46,086,907 km² (IBGE 2016)
Population: 4,016,356 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 76.25 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southeast region, Espírito Santo is the fourth smallest state in Brazil. It borders three states: Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, mining, industry and tourism.
Minas Gerais
Initials: MG
Region: Southeast
Capital: Belo Horizonte
Gentile: miner
Territorial area: 586,520,732 km² (IBGE 2016)
Population: 21,119,536 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 33.41 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southeast region, Minas Gerais has the third largest GDP in Brazil. It is the state with the largest number of municipalities in Brazil, totaling 853. It borders: São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Federal District, Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Its economy is based on agriculture, industry, services and tourism.
Paraná
Initials: PR
Region: South
Capital: Curitiba
Gentile: paranaense
Territorial area: 199,307.939 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 11,320,892 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 52.40 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southern region, Paraná is home to the Iguaçu Falls, one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. It borders the states: Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and Santa Catarina; the countries Argentina and Paraguay; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, plant extraction, industry, services and tourism.
Rio Grande do Sul
Initials: LOL
Region: South
Capital: Porto Alegre
Gentile: gaucho or south-rio-grandense
Territorial area: 281,737,888 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 11,322,895 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 37.96 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southern region, Rio Grande do Sul is the most populous state in this region and has high social indices. It borders a state in Brazil: Santa Catarina; the countries Argentina and Uruguay; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, industry and tourism
Santa Catarina
Initials: SC
Region: South
Capital: Florianopolis
Gentile: Santa Catarina or green belly
Territorial area: 95,737.954 km² (IBGE, 2016)
Population: 7,001,161 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 65.27 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Located in the southern region, Santa Catarina is the oldest state in the southern region and has one of the best social indexes in Brazil. It borders the states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul; the country Argentina; beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is based on agriculture, livestock, fishing, mineral extraction, industry and tourism.
North
The northern region is the largest in terms of land area in Brazil. It comprises seven states: Acre (AC), Amapá (AP), Amazonas (AM), Pará (PA), Rondônia (RO), Roraima (RR) and Tocantins (TO).
North East
The northeast region is the third largest in the country. It comprises nine states: Maranhão (MA), Piauí (PI), Ceará (CE), Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Paraíba (PB), Pernambuco (PE), Alagoas (AL), Sergipe (SE) and Bahia (BA).
Midwest
The Midwest region is the second largest in Brazil in terms of territorial extension. It comprises the Federal District (DF) and three states: Goiás (GO), Mato Grosso (MT) and Mato Grosso do Sul (MS).
Southeast
The southeast region is the most populous and developed in the country. It comprises four states: São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Minas Gerais (MG) and Espírito Santo (ES).
South
The southern region of Brazil is the smallest in the country. It comprises three states: Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS).
Brazil - Federative Republic of Brazil
Motto: Order and Progress
Initials: BR
Capital: Brasilia
Gentile: Brazilian
Official language: Portuguese
Location: South America
Territorial area: 8,515,759.090 km² (IBGE, 2017)
Population: 207.660. 929 inhabitants (IBGE estimate, 2017)
Demographic density: 23.8 inhab./km² (IBGE, 2010)
Number of Municipalities: 5,570 (IBGE, 2012)
Located in the southern hemisphere, Brazil is the largest country in South America and Latin America. It borders the countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela; and to the east with the Atlantic Ocean. With the largest economy in Latin America, Brazil stands out in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, trade, services, industry and tourism.
O Brazil's map shows the geographic representation of the country, bringing together the capitals, states and cities that compose it.
The current political map of Brazil contains 26 states and the Federal District. It has been in effect since 1988, when the State of Tocantins was created, from the division of the territory of Goiás.
With the Constitution of 88, the territories of Rondônia, Roraima and Amapá became States and the Fernando de Noronha archipelago was annexed to Pernambuco.
Maps of the Regions of Brazil
North region
With an area of 3,853,676,948 km², equivalent to 42.27% of the national territory, the northern region is the largest in the country.
It is formed by 7 states: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins.
Northeast region
With an area of 1,554 291,607 km², equivalent to 18.27% of the national territory, the northeast region is formed by 9 states: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.
Southeast region
With an area of 925 511 km², equivalent to 10.85% of the national territory, the Southeast region is the most populous in the country.
It is formed by 4 states: Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
South region
With an area of 576,774,310 km², which corresponds to 6.76% of the Brazilian territory, the southern region is the smallest in the country.
Three states are formed: Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Midwest region
With an area of 1 606 399,509 km², equivalent to 18.86% of the national territory, the Midwest region is the second largest in the country.
It is formed by 3 states: Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.
See too: Brazilian regions
Brazil Thematic Maps
A map of Brazil can be represented by different geographic, historical, political and demographic aspects. Thus, maps that represent a specific subject are called thematic maps. For example:
- The climate and its meteorological phenomena - climate map
- Vegetation Cover - Vegetation Map
- Reliefs and altitudes - physical map
- Transport - (roads, railways, navigable rivers) - transport map
See the example of the Physical Map of Brazil showing its relief and altitudes:
History of the Map of Brazil
The limits of the future Brazilian territory were defined even before the discovery, in 1494, with the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas, between Portugal and Spain.
Treaty of Tordesillas
By the Treaty of Tordesilhas, the Portuguese domain consisted of all existing lands on the eastern side of an imaginary line drawn west of Cape Verde. On the other hand, the western part belonged to Spain.
The representation of the map of Brazil obeying the definitions of the agreement was indicated by the Portuguese cartographer Luís Teixeira in 1574.
First Maps
The first graphic representation of Portuguese America appears on the map of Juan de la Cosa (1460-1510), a Spanish navigator, cartographer and diplomat.
He had accompanied Christopher Columbus on his first and second expeditions, in 1492 and 1493 respectively.
He would return to America in the squadron led by Alonso de Ojeda (1466-1516) and on his return made a map, probably at the request of Kings Isabel and Fernando.
The map is one of the most up-to-date of its time and already includes the lands sighted by Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias. Likewise, it brings Central and South America.
The lands of Portuguese women appear in blue with the indication "island discovered by Portugal", which demonstrates that Juan de la Cosa was familiar with the arrival of Pedro Álvares Cabral in that place.
This map is on permanent display at the Naval Museum in Madrid:
The first graphic representations of Brazil date back to 1502 and were organized by the Italian merchant Alberto Cantino.
Cantino was a spy in the service of the Duke of Ferrara and bought the document while in Lisbon. The map probably dates from 1502 and its description of the coast of Portuguese America already shows details of the coast.
The author of the map is unknown, but he knew of the results of the expedition integrated by the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512).
The original of this map is in the Library of Modena, Italy.
First map to represent the Brazilian territory by Alberto Cantino
It was also an Italian, Jerônimo Marini, the first cartographer to make a map with the name of Brazil, in 1511.
Atlas Portuguese
The Portuguese Atlas also known as Atlas Muller it was made at the request of King Dom Manuel (1569-1521).
Besides representing the coast of the future Brazil with precision, it is illustrated with the riches that the New World had: wood, rivers, exuberant nature, naked indigenous people, imaginary and real animals.
Portuguese America was called Terra Brasilis. The original document is currently in the Library of Paris.
Since the Portuguese were settling on the land and colonizing it, maps have improved.
However, it was the Dutch who began to study the region's cartography more from 1630 onwards. This occurred as a result of the installation of the West India Company in the Northeast region.
Cartography was used as a basis to ensure Portuguese dominance at various times in history. Due to the risk of losing territory, the Portuguese Crown was forced to invest in cartographic studies.
Atlas of Brazil
The first Atlas of Brazil was made by cartographer João Teixeira Albernaz, o Velho, in 1640. Cartographic charts demonstrate that Brazil's dominion began at the Rio de la Plata, included Uruguay, and ended at the mouth of the Amazon River.
The publication highlighted the map of several provinces in Lusitanian America such as Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay (claimed by the Portuguese Crown).
The search for knowledge of the territory and its representation on paper remained intense after the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713.
It was, however, in 1729 that the work received priority order. Nine years earlier, a French study questioned the border with French Guiana and the Portuguese Crown sent a Jesuit mission to detail national domains.
The studies were completed by Portuguese diplomat Alexandre Gusmão (1695-1753), who prepared the Courts Map. The results were used to inform negotiations for the Treaty of Madrid in 1750, which defined the areas of Portuguese and Spanish ownership.
Further details about the borders and internal division of the Portuguese colony were left to astronomers, military engineers, draftsmen and mathematicians.
From the studies resulted Geographical Chart of Spherical Projection of Nova Lusitania or Portuguese America and the State of Brazil, published in 1797.
read more:
- Brazil states
- Capitals of Brazil
- Formation of the Brazilian territory
- Map of Minas Gerais
- Geoeconomic regions of Brazil