According to petwithsupplies, Rio de Janeiro is the largest city in Brazil and its capital. Located on the eastern coast of the country, it is a vibrant metropolis with a population of around 6.7 million people. It is renowned for its beautiful beaches, stunning mountains and lush rainforest. Rio de Janeiro has a great deal of cultural and historical sites to explore such as the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain. The city also boasts an exciting nightlife scene with many bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from. The second largest city in Brazil is Sao Paulo with a population of 12 million people. It is one of the most important cities in South America due to its economic activity, particularly in the financial sector. As such, it attracts many expats and immigrants from all over the world looking to make their fortune here. Sao Paulo has become increasingly cosmopolitan over recent years, with many different cultural influences being felt throughout the city from food to music to art galleries. The third largest city in Brazil is Belo Horizonte which has a population of 5 million people. This former mining town has experienced considerable growth over recent years due to its strategic location within Brazil’s industrial heartland as well as its proximity to other major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The city boasts an array of cultural attractions such as art galleries, museums and theatres as well as excellent shopping opportunities at Mercado Central or Shopping Cidade do Sol malls. Finally, Brasilia, located in central Brazil, is home to around 3 million people making it fourth on this list of largest cities in Brazil. This planned city was built in 1960 according to urban planner Lúcio Costa’s vision for a modernist utopia with modernist buildings designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer dotting its landscape. Brasilia offers plenty for visitors including some excellent museums dedicated to Brazilian history along with lively bars and restaurants that stay open late into the night making it an ideal destination for travelers who want experience something different during their stay in Brazil. In 2008, Brazil was a country in transition, having only recently emerged from a period of military dictatorship. The end of the dictatorship in 1985 had brought about significant political and economic reforms, including the introduction of a new democratic constitution. These reforms had helped to stabilise the country and set it on a path towards greater freedom and prosperity. In 2008, Brazil was led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had been elected in 2002 as the first left-wing president since the military rule ended. His government had implemented a number of social welfare programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality, which had been two major issues facing the country for decades. As such, Lula’s presidency was seen as ushering in an era of social progress for Brazilians. At the same time, Brazil was also undergoing an economic transformation. Inflation had been reduced significantly since the end of military rule and there were signs that the economy was beginning to open up to foreign investment. This process was aided by Lula’s government which sought to attract foreign investment through various incentives such as tax breaks and other forms of financial assistance. The Brazilian economy was also being boosted by exports to emerging markets such as China and India which were providing new opportunities for Brazilian businesses to expand their operations abroad. As a result, Brazil’s economy grew at an average rate of 5% between 2004 and 2008 – one of the highest rates among Latin American countries during this period – while unemployment fell from 13% in 2003 to 8% in 2008. Internationally, Brazil sought to increase its influence through its role in regional organisations such as Mercosur – a regional trading bloc made up of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay – as well as through its increasing presence on global diplomatic issues such as climate change negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Overall, then, 2008 marked an important moment in Brazilian history with its economy growing steadily while social inequalities were gradually being reduced thanks to progressive policies implemented by President Lula’s government. With these positive developments continuing into 2009 and beyond it seemed that Brazil was well positioned for further growth both domestically and internationally over coming years. Check neovideogames for Brazil in 2000.