Transcript Rio de Janeiro - Notre Dame Online

Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
• Rio de Janeiro, with a population
of 12 million, is the second largest
city in Brazil.
• It was founded in 1556 by the
Portuguese and has grown rapidly,
particularly in recent years.
• It is one of the most visited cities
in the southern hemisphere and is
known for its spectacular natural
setting.
• Rio hosted World Youth Day in
2013, the World Cup in 2014 and
will host the 2016 Olympics.
• Rio is situated on the
south east coast of Brazil
around the huge natural
harbour of Guanabara Bay
and its entrance is marked
by a point of land called
Sugar Loaf Mountain.
• It experiences a tropical
wet and dry savannah
type climate with long
periods of heavy rain from
December to March and
average monthly
temperatures of over 27°c.
Copacabana Beach
Sugarloaf Mountain
Location of Rio in Brazil
Map of Rio de Janeiro
The Statue of Christ the Redeemer
• Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of
Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro created by the
French sculptor Paul Landowski and
constructed between 1922 and 1931. It is 30
metres tall and its arms stretch 28 metres
wide.
• It is located at the peak of the 700 metre
Corovado mountain in the Tijunca Forest
national park overlooking the city.
• A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has
become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
• It has been restored several times, due to the
strong winds, erosion and lightening strikes to
which the statue is exposed, the most recent
being in 2010.
• During the unveiling of the restored statue it was
illuminated with green and yellow lighting in
support of the Brazilian national football team
playing in the 2010 world cup.
The City Districts
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The Centro is the original historic core of Rio de Janeiro.
The centre is broken up into many different sections. This is because of the steep slopes and
steep mountains which rise up suddenly from the coastline and the fact that flat land is in
short supply.
Tunnels have been cut into the hillsides to connect one part of the city centre with another.
The Central Business District (CBD) is the area where many shops and offices are located.
This glamorous central part of Rio is busy 24 hours a day.
There are busy streets, hectic noise and chaotic traffic.
There are expensive shopping areas and constant street trading.
Only rich people can afford to live in apartments in the centre.
There are many high rise buildings housing offices and hotels as this is the financial centre
where large companies have their South American and Brazilian headquarters.
It also houses many cathedrals, the Municipal Theatre, the National Library and museums.
• The South Zone is a wealthy residential area comprising some of the most
expensive real estate in all of South America. The neighbourhood of
Copabana Beach and Sugar Loaf mountain are located in this zone.
• The largest urban forest in the world, White rock Forest, is located in the
west zone and Brazil’s top private university is situated on the edge of the
forest.
• The North Zone houses: The middle class residential and commercial area
of Tijuca, its surrounding neighbourhoods and favelas. It is home to the
Maracana football stadium.
• The West Zone is the most recently modernised region and continues to
grow rapidly. It has attracted some of the richer sectors of population,
large businesses, high flats and sprawling shopping centres. It will host
most of the sports venues and competitions during the 2016 Olympic
games and will be home to the Olympic village, beach and park.
The Growth of Favelas
• Many people have recently moved from the
countryside to Rio de Janeiro.
• This movement is known as rural-urban
migration.
• People move in the hope of finding a job, schools
for their children, entertainment and better
health care.
• The reality in the city is very different and many
find themselves struggling for survival in the
favelas which are large areas of housing on the
outskirts of a developing world city.
Life in a Favela
• Rocinha is one of the largest favelas in
Rio with a population of over 100,000.
• It is built on steep slopes overlooking
Copacabana beach.
• Here, people build their own houses
from basic materials such as wood,
corrugated iron, broken bricks and
tarpaulin on land which does not
belong to them.
• Houses lack basic amenities such as
running water or toilets.
• Sewage runs in open drains due to
poor sanitation.
• Diseases such as cholera are common.
• There is a lack of electricity, rubbish
collection, schools and hospitals.
• Infant mortality rates are high and
life expectancy is low at an
average of 56 years.
• Many people are unemployed.
The few jobs which are available
are unskilled and poorly paid.
• Drug trafficking and use, as well as
prostitution, crime and murder,
are major problems.
• Rocinha is so feared by police that
they do not patrol on foot without
guns.
• Air pollution from factories
and traffic is a major problem
and smog is common.
• Waste and rubbish from
housing and industry create
much land pollution.
• Landslides are common
during tropical storms and
the make-shift houses in
favelas offer little protection
to people.
Self-Help Schemes in Rocinha
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In recent years the residents of Rocinha have
slowly tried to improve living conditions.
Houses are built using proper building materials.
Piped water, electricity and sewage disposal
have been introduced.
Street lighting has helped to reduce crime.
Small industries provide employment
opportunities.
Schools and crèches have been built.
Entertainment and internet access has been
introduced.
Refuse collection is organised by local people.
Public transport and the cable cars allow people
to travel to the centre of the city for work and
entertainment.
But despite the community spirit within the
favelas they are still tough places to live in as
their crime rates are often unacceptably high.
Barra da Tijuca
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The new ‘city’ of Barra da Tijuca is 10km west
of the edge of Rio.
It is on the coast, where there is a lagoon of
shallow water and flat land, so it has room to
grow.
Many of the 150,000 residents are
professional people who move to the
outskirts for a better life and to escape the
chaos of central Rio.
The new motorways allow them to commute
to the centre for work.
They live in high-rise apartments with high
security.
Services available include shopping malls,
leisure centres, restaurants and night clubs.
Children can walk to school and there are
clubs available for them afterschool.
The beaches are within easy access.
Activities
• Are any monuments in your city similar to
Christ the Redeemer and what is their
significance?
• Compare and contrast housing conditions in
your local city with the favelas of Rio.
• Do you agree that police officers carry
firearms in the favelas? Justify your answer.
• What can be done to protect the White Rock
Forest from the effects of Urban Growth?