Christina Sylvester, age 12, of Nampa, Ida., for her question:
IS RIO DE JANEIRO AN OLD CITY?
Rio de Janeiro, often simply called Rio, is one of the oldest cities in the New World. It started as a Portuguese colony in Brazil more than 400 years ago, in 1565. It was named Rio de Janeiro, which means "River of January."
Sailing for the king of Portugal in 1500 and thinking that he was heading for India, an explorer named Pedro Alvarez Cabral sighted the coast of Brazil. Guanabara Bay, one of the finest harbors in the world, was discovered by Portuguese explorers Amerigo Vespucci and Andre Goncalves in 1502.
When the colony of Rio de Janeiro was founded, it was on Guanabara Bay.
The city prospered but grew slowly until the late 1700s. Then in 1808 Napoleon's troops entered Portugal and King John VI moved the capital of the entire Portuguese empire to Rio de Janeiro. It isn't hard to understand why the city's population more than tripled during the next dozen years.
The first thing John VI did was to open the port to foreign commerce. His son, Pedro I, arranged in 1822 to be named emperor of Brazil. Then his son, Pedro II, ruled for almost 50 years from 1841 until 1889 and helped to make the city an important industrial center.
Brazil formed a republic and forced Pedro II off the throne in 1889.
As the 20th Century started, Rio de Janeiro's population was nearing the 1 million mark. It was a modern, commercial city although swamps, narrow streets and slums along the waterfront made it unhealthy as well as ugly. Yellow fever was common.
Then in 1902 campaigns were started to make the city both a beautiful one and a healthy one as well. Old structures were demolished and a wide, spectacularly beautiful street named Avenida Rio Branco was built. Next, fine residential areas were built along Copacabana Beach.
From 1762 until 1960 Rio was the capital of Brazil. Then in 19bU the capital was moved to the brand new city of Brasilia, located 600 miles inland.
Travelers say that Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in the world today. Its climate is fine all year arouna. Excellent beaches stretch for miles.
Almost guarding Rio in the harbor is Sugar Loaf Mountain, a spectacular spot on a peninsula in Guanabara Bay. Visitors can travel to the top on an aerial trolley.
Still higher above the city, on Corcovado Peak, is a concrete statue of Jesus Christ that is 130 feet tall.
Visitors especially enjoy seeing Rio's famous mosaic sidewalks and attending the many recreation centers. Soccer is the city's favorite sport but also popular are basketball, horse racing, tennis, golf, swimming and polo.
Each spring just before Lent starts, Rio holds a three day party that attracts worldwide attention: carnival. All stores, offices and factories close for the occasion. Music fills the city. There are parades and dancing with everyone in colorful costumes.