Rio de Janeiro Harbour,
River of January, is considered as
one of the seven wonders of the natural
world. It has been known as one of
the most beautiful natural harbors.
People admired the geology so much
that they said, “God made the
world in six days and on the seventh,
he concentrated on Rio .” The
climate is wonderful. The beaches
are free to everyone.
Rio de Janeiro Harbour
is located in Brazil on the south-western
shore of Guanabara Bay. The bay is
surrounded by the city of Rio, the
second largest city and former capital
of Brazil, along a strip of land between
the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is surrounded by mountains: Sugar
Loaf Mt. (1,296 ft/395 m), Corcovado
Peak (2,310 ft/704 m), and the hills
of Tijuca (3,350 ft/1,021 m). The
world famous statue of Jesus (38m)
stands on the top of Corcovado Peak.
The harbor was formed by the Atlantic
Ocean, which wore out the soil and
rocks along the coast.
Rio de Janeiro Harbour
was founded on Jan. 1, 1502. Portuguese
navigators thought that the entrance
of Guanabara Bay was the mouth of
a river. Thus, they named it River
of January. Years later (60 approximately),
French traders came and inspected
the area that the Portuguese established
as the city of Sebastiao do Rio de
Janeiro. The French established a
colony in 1555, but were expelled.
The population increased and the city
grew larger. In 1960, Rio de Janeiro
no longer was the capital. The capital
was changed to Brazilia.
The city is thriving
and attracts many tourists. The city
of Rio is modernizing, starting from
the early 1900s. The public sanitation
is improving, though the harbors and
the beaches may be crowded and polluted
at times. Slums are found throughout
the city. Tunnels have been dug, connecting
the northern and southern areas of
the city. The tunnel is the longest
underground urban highway. Masses
are held in a small chapel next to
the famous statue of Jesus. The huge
city can be seen by going to the highest
points, on top of the mountains and
looking down. From the months October
till March, it may be misty because
this is the rainy season. Evenings
are even better. Evenings offer lights
and stars glittering in the night
sky. It mostly depends on the amounts
of cloud and mist. Everyone is welcomed
to Rio de Janeiro Harbour.[2]
RAFAEL SHOWS YOU A
LITTLE ABOUT THE VIEWS YOU HAVE ALONG
THE BOAT TO CROSS THE BAY AND ALSO
SCENES AT THE HARBOR. 1998
