Ecocity BrasilAbout BrazilBRAZIL is without doubt one of the most beautiful, fun-loving and friendly countries in the world.
 Its eclectic cities burst with colour and energy all year-round; its streets pulsate to the Samba beat; its huge bio-diverse land is home to some of earth's most spectacular flora and fauna, and the world's largest river and rainforest - the Amazon - call Brazil home. And so, soon, might you - Brazil's economy is thriving and its overseas property market is gathering pace each day, displaying the flair of the country's famous footballers, the diversity of its wonderful wildlife and the endless appeal of Brazil's legendary carnivals.
The largest country in South America, Brazil does 'big' better than most. Its cities are sprawling, particularly São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro which are among the largest in the world, and the country is home to 22% of the world's arable land and the 6th largest global economy with 3% growth forecast for 2009 (source: International Monetary Fund). Its people are big-hearted and always waiting with a smile, while its beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. About PiauíThe state of Piauí is located toward the western edge of the Northeast of Brazil and claims two rather unique features. Firstly, Piauí is the only Northeastern state whose capital - Teresina - is located inland rather than on the coast (the area was colonised from within and expanded outwards, rather than the typical coastal colonisation of other states), and secondly, and perhaps because of the way it was colonised, Piauí has the shortest coastline of any Brazilian state, just 40 miles...albeit every inch is breathtakingly beautiful.
Piauí's Serra de Capivara National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the south-east region of the state, the world's largest concentration of ancient rock paintings can be found there.
Much like most of Brazil's Northeast, Piauí owes the majority of its cultural make-up to Europe, particularly Portugal. Teresina, however, is something of an exception. This large conurbation of almost one million people was actually Brazil's first planned city and, like a number of American cities for instance, is made up of various quarters and so is said to resemble a chess board. It is also known as the 'Green City' thanks to the verdant vistas provided by the innumerable mango trees that line many of the city's streets.
Elsewhere in Piauí, European-inspired festivals, architecture and cuisine dominate. Festa Junina is based around St. John's Day, with festivities beginning on June 12 and running until June 29, marking (as this is the Southern Hemisphere don't forget) the tropical winter - rather than summer - solstice. The festival comprises firework displays, bonfires, 17th, 18th and 19th century European folk dances and, this being Brazil, copious amounts of high spirits; both of the alcoholic and celebratory kind! The Parnaíba River Delta The Parnaíba River Delta is one of the largest in the world, comparable in size to the deltas of The Nile in Africa and The Mekong in Asia. An important wetland, the delta area is both a natural boundary between the states of Piauí and Maranhao and a valuable source of life for thousands of species.
Beautiful and unspoilt, it was inevitable that a region such as the 2,700 square kilometre Parnaíba River Delta - the Parnaíba River originates in the Chapada das Mangabeiras Mountain Range before flowing some 1,700 kilometres northwards - would, at some point, attract tourists keen to experience something a little different. However, the national and state government are keen to only promote the area as a location for ecotourism and sustainable real estate, and will only give full government-backing to developments and tour operators that toe the eco-friendly line, something Ecocity Brasil is doing at every step. Lençois Maranhenses National Park155,000 hectares of sweeping dunes and sparkling lagoons makes up the Lençois Maranhenses National Park which lies right next door to Ecocity Brasil. Flecked with crystal clear lagoons that attract migratory fish and birds to the nutrient-rich but temporary waters every year, the most notable are Laguna Azul - a crystal-clear pool of water; Laguna Boa Esperanca - perfect for swimming in; and the Laguna de Santo Amaro - the largest and most impressive lagoon found anywhere in Lençois. There are also pockets of humanity, such as the small, isolated hamlet of Baja Grande, where life has remained largely unchanged for centuries. True eco-living! Flora & FaunaBrazil's huge size makes it home for a wide range of unique plant and wildlife species. The Amazon rainforest is the largest 'jungle' in the world and home to 20% of all birds on earth, as well as over 6,000 different plant species in each square kilometre. The Amazon's animals are equally unique; it's the only place in the world where you'll find river dolphins, capybara and the majestic - and extremely rare - spotted Jaguar, which is larger than a lion. Bull sharks have even been spotted lurking in the Amazon's murky waters some 100 kilometres inland.
Brazil's Atlantic forest is an equally important and bio-diverse ecosystem, with much plantlife lining a narrow strip of land along the coast, from Rio Grande do Norte in the north the Rio Grande do Sul in the south. There are thousands of beautiful and unique animals, including lion tamarins - with the distinctive manes around their faces. Ranging from mangrove forest to tropical savannas and subtropical moist forest, this beautiful region is both distinctive and highly sought; extensive farming, sugar cane plantation and coffee production has led to massive deforestation, so much so that only 10% of the forest exists today.
With its vast protected areas, conservation centres and eco-conference facilities that will regularly highlight and educate, Ecocity Brasil's protection and preservation of the Parnaíba River Delta is therefore even more essential, so that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty of this stunning corner of the earth.
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