Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Brazil's climate has little seasonal variation since most of the country is located within the tropics. Brazil's production and consumption of biodiesel relative to its energy matrix is expected to reach to 2% of diesel fuel in 2008 and 5% in 2013. Brazil has the largest population of Italian origin outside of Italy, with over 25 million Italian Brazilians, the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, with 1.
Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Brazil has had to be bailed out in times of economic crisis, but reforms in the 1990s, including privatisations, brought some financial stability. Brazil is the giant of South America with nearly half of the continent's area and people; worldwide it ranks fifth in both area and population, which is as diverse as it is large.
Brazil has one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America. Brazil's vast territory covers a great variety of land and climate, for although Brazil is mainly in the tropics (it is crossed by the equator in the north and by the Tropic of Capricorn in the south), the southern part of the great central upland is cool and yields the produce of temperate lands. Brazil is South America's biggest and most influential country and takes up almost half the continent.
Brazilas air transportation system has been in disarray since accidents with fatalities occurred in September 2006 and July 2007. Brazilians see time as something outside their control and the demands of relationships takes precedence over adhering to a strict schedule. Brazilian law requires that for all travel, Brazilian children (including dual nationals) must carry a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) authorising travel.
The Brazilian population is concentrated along the coastline and in a few large urban centers in the interior. Sugar became by far the most important Brazilian colonial product until the early 18th century. Portugal would recognize Brazil as an independent country in 1825. The legal system is bases on the Federal Constitution, promulgated on October 5, 1988, and is the fundamental law of Brazil.
The Northeast region is inhabited by about 30% of Brazil's population. Most of Brazil has moderate rainfall of 1,000 to 1,500 millimeters a year, with most of the rain falling in the summer (between December and April), south of the Equator.
