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　　Brazil is a country in South America. It covers almost half of South America and is the fifth largest country in the world! Because the country was first a colony of Portugal, the main language is Portuguese. Its capital, Brasilia, is famous for its futuristic architecture. Some of the world's greatest architects worked on the plans for this city and the result is like something that usually emerges only in fantasy. The color and luminescence of the lighting at night are spectacular, and the layout of the buildings and roads is perfectly and beautifully organized.

　　More famous than its capital city, however, is the powerful Amazon River that runs through the country, carrying more water than any other river in the world. The Amazon Rainforest that is fed by the river has thousands of animal and plant species. Many of these plants form the basis of modern medicines. The forest provides a lot of the healthy oxygen that the earth's inhabitants need, and it is also the home of the Amazon Indians. Because of years of tree cutting by industries, the Rainforest has been in danger of destruction. Therefore, environmentalists from Brazil and from throughout the world are doing their best now to protect the forest and its many species.