Why do they call it Rio de Janeiro?

The name was given to the city’s original site by Portuguese navigators who arrived on January 1, 1502, and mistook the entrance of the bay for the mouth of a river (rio is the Portuguese word for “river” and janeiro the word for “January”).

Where is Rio de Janeiro located and why is it important?

Rio de Janeiro is a large city of 11.7 million people situated on the south east coast of Brazil in South America. It is the second largest city in Brazil (after São Paulo), and is the 39th largest city in the world. It was the capital city of Brazil up until 1960, when it was replaced by Brasilia.

Who named Rio de Janeiro?

The city of Rio de Janeiro proper was founded on 1 March 1565 by the Portuguese, led by Estácio de Sá, including Antônio de Mariz. It was named São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, in honor of St. Sebastian, the saint who was the namesake and patron of the Portuguese then-monarch Sebastião.

What is Rio de Janeiro mean in English?

January River
The name Rio de Janeiro, which translates in English to literally ‘January River’, was the result of a mistake by Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos. Lemos left Portugal in 1501 on an expedition and arrived at a huge bay in Brazil, known nowadays as Guanabara Bay, the following January.

What does Rio Bravo mean in English?

• RIO BRAVO (noun) Meaning: A North American river; boundary between the United States and Mexico; flows into Gulf of Mexico. Classified under: Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Why is Rio an important city in Brazil?

Rio is important for its art and culture scene. It is also important as a transport hub, with its international airport and docks, which enable trade. Rio is important at the national (countrywide) level because many of Brazil’s most prominent companies have their headquarters located there.

Where is Rio located in the world?

Brazil
Satellite view showing São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro or shortened Rio de Janeiro, also just called Rio, is the second latgest city in Brazil. The city is located in the south east of Brazil at the South Atlantic Ocean, 220 mi (355 km) east of São Paulo and 580 mi (930 km) south east of Brasília, Brazil’s capital.

What is Rio de Janeiro called?

Cidade Maravilhosa
Of course in the present day the city is simply known as Rio de Janeiro or Cidade Maravilhosa (Wonderful or Marvellous City) as the locals fondly refer to it as.

What does Rio mean in Japanese?

The name Rio is a girl’s name of Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese origin meaning “place of the cherry blossoms”. Rio is one of Japan’s most popular girls names, constantly sitting in that country’s Top 10.