Info about Brazil

The name Brazil comes from the name of the main export commodity at the beginning of colonies, the pau-brasil , a luxury reddish wood from which a red tincture was extracted.
Brazil is located in South America . It has borders for 23.086 km, whose 15.719 are earthly and 7.367 are sea costs. It includes all South America countries as its neighbours, except Chile and Ecuador.

Official Name: República Federativa do Brasil
Official Language: Portoguese
Administrative Organization: 26 States e 1 Federal District
Form of government: Presidential republic
Capital: Brasilia (Federal District)
Surface: 8.547.403,5 km² (included all islands). It represents the 47,3% of South America surface and it is the fifth country in the world in term of extension.
Popolation: 169.544.443 inhabitants (2000).
Demographic density: 19,83 ab/ km²
Religion: Roman Catholic (official religion) 70%
Currency: Real (R$). Currency quotations are published daily in all newspapers. It is possible to change travellers checks and foreign currencies in banks, travel agencies and authorised hotels. The main credit cards are accepted in almost all shops.
Time: Brazil possesses 4 time area, all at the west of Greenwich :

Weather: Due to its huge extension, the Brazilian weather is highly diversified. A warm temperature higher than 20° Celsius is the most diffuse on average.

Electric power: Mainly 220 volts. In Rio de Janeiro and San Paolo is almost everywhere exclusively 110 or 120 volts. In Salvador and Manaus is 127 volt

Tips: Almost all restaurant and bars include an additional 10% for the service in the final amount. It is quite normal to leave something more if you have been happy with the service. When the tip is not included, it is a general rule to leave a sum that corresponds to the 10- 15% of the final amount. In Brazil you don't normally tip taxi drivers.

How to call

International dialling code to call Brazil from abroad: ++ 55

Internazional Phone Calls

Sometimes being abroad and having to face the "challenge" of an international phone call can become an unsolvable problem. Hereafter you will find some suggestions to facilitate things.

To start with, all countries and all cities have a dialling code. To call directly a certain number, you simply have to mark 00 + the code of the phone* operator you want to use + the country dialling code + the city dialling code + the phone number you intend to call. For further information about dialling codes of other countries or places contact 000333.

If you prefer to call your specific phone number through an operator, dial 0800 7032111, an international phone call service is activated where you can pay by credit card or effect collect calls. The service is bilingual Portuguese/English. If you need other languages (Japanese, Italian, German, Spanish and French) it is possibile to have them paying a very little tax. piccolissima tassa.

Local calls

To call other places in Brazil, you simply have to know the code of the city required. You have to dial 0 + phone(*) operator code you want to use + the city dialling code + required phone number.

(*) Phone operators - Codes
Brasil Telecom 14
Embratel 21
GVT 25
Intelig 23
Telefonica 15
Telemar 31

Useful numbers

Ambulance: 192
Phone Book: 102
Fire fighters: 193
Center for giving value to life (CVV): 141
Civil Defence: 199
Assistence to women: 180
Alarm call: 134
Detran (vehicle and transport centre): 154
Theft Report: 181
Local Police: 153
Timetable: 130
Ibama (environment protection): 152
Electoral Justice: 148
Weather Information - 132
Loss or theft of Travellers Cheques: 0800 891-2614
Civil Police: 197
Federal Police: 194
Military Police: 190
State Traffic Police : 198
Federal Traffic Police : 191
Procon (Consumers Association): 151
State Service: 155
Local Service: 156
Health Assistance: 150
Credit card loss or theft:

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