Major Nations in a Global World: Brazil

homes over decades as an alternative to affordable housing, notoriously rare in the big cities of the country. FAVELA IN TRANSITION Home to some 70,000people, Rocinha is Brazil’s biggest favela. Nearly all of its homes have electricity, sanitation facilities, and running water and are built of concrete or brick, no longer simply metal panels strung together precariously . As in other favelas in Rio de Janeiro and throughout the country, cultural expression—especially music—is vibrant. Another aspect of Brazilian family life is its cultural diversity. With an area that covers 3.28 million square miles (8.50 million sq. km.), and with a popula- tion of 201 million, Brazil is home to many indigenous tribes, each with its own distinct family traditions and relationships, many still living off the land in the Amazon Basin. The Yanomami is the largest, most isolated indigenous tribe. They live in the northern Amazon area, made up of mountains and jungle—in a territory twice the size of Switzerland. Yanomami villages are populated by extended polygamous families, in which husbands have many wives. Young children often stay close to their mothers, who are expected to bear and care for many children. Although they don’t hunt—that’s the male’s job—women tend

Colorful favelas in Rio de Janeiro.

MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: BRAZIL