The bay on which the town lies was discovered by the Portuguese Gaspar de Lemos on January 1, 1502. He called it the “January River” (Br. Rio de Janeiro) because he thought he had discovered the mouth of a large river. 1)
During Carnival in Rio, everyone dances samba, the national dance of Brazil. Its origins can be traced back to African tribes and the name probably comes from the word “semba” describing specific tribal dances characterized by rapid body movements, rhythmic pounding of the feet, and solitary dancing in the middle of the group. According to other translations “semba” is a gesture of the soloist to invite the next person to dance. 2)
You won't find any world-famous fast-food chains in Rio de Janeiro, but you will come across Bob's Burger at every turn. It is the first Brazilian fast-food chain founded by a tennis player and Wimbledon winner Bob Falkenburg. 3)
Rio de Janeiro is often mistakenly considered the capital of Brazil, the capital of the country is the city of Brasilia. Those who are mistaken, however, can quickly correct their mistake. All they need to do is mention that Rio is the FORMER capital of the country (1763 - 1960). From 1808 to 1821 it was also the de facto capital of Portugal, as the royal family led by John VI took refuge here before the invasion of Napoleon's troops. 4)
Tijuca is a 20 sq. miles forest located in the Rio de Janeiro area, making it the largest forest within the metropolitan area. Its name means, in the Tupi language, moor or swamp. Since the 1960s it has also been a National Park. 5)
For five days a year, the city is ruled by a mythical jester named King Momo. Rio explodes with energy and color during the five days before Ash Wednesday when millions of people take to the streets to participate in the world's largest carnival. The event begins on Friday when the mayor hands over the keys to the city to the man crowned King Momo, a mythical jester who acts as the head of the festivities. 6)
Rio is home to more than 1,000 slums, where nearly a quarter of the population lives. 7)
The slums of Rio de Janeiro are called favelas. 8)
The Christ the Redeemer statue was chosen as one of the seven new wonders of the world. 9)
Rio, with its white and golden sandy beaches, is the Brazilian capital of tourism. 10)
The most famous people from Rio de Janeiro are Ronaldo (soccer player), Anderson Silva (MMA), Tom Jobin (musician), Vinicius de Moraes (musician/), Oscar Niemeyer (architect). 11)
In 1555, French aristocrat Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon, sponsored by Henry IV, established a fort on an island in Guanabara Bay. 12)
In the 1690s, prospectors discovered gold in Brazil, and decades later, diamonds. As the closest port to the mines, Rio boomed. 13)
Rio is home to the seventh-largest library in the world. 14)
Rio has a nickname - Cidade Maravilhosa meaning 'wonderful city'. 15)
Rio residents are among the fastest to get on and off buses. 16)