How did Rio de Janeiro get its name?

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”).

Who found present day 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.

Why did favelas develop in Rio de Janeiro?

Favelas grew because of migration into the city. While black Brazilians over the years felt pushed out of the downtown, migrants started coming into Rio looking for work in the 1930s and ’40s. They couldn’t afford proper housing, and sought refuge in the slapdash dwellings that the government considered illegal.

What is the nickname for Rio de Janeiro?

the Marvelous City
Rio de Janeiro Population Profile Nicknames: Rio de Janeiro is Portuguese for “river of January.” They thought the large entrance of what is now known as Guanabara Bay was the mouth of a river. In Brazil, Rio is known as the Cidade Maravilhosa, the Marvelous City.

What is Rio short for?

Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for “river”. When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil.

What does 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 percentage of people in Rio live in favelas?

23-24%
In the city of Rio, close to 1.5 million people – around 23-24% of the population – live in favelas. That’s comparable to the percentage living in affordable housing (public, rent controlled, cooperatives, community land trusts and other models) in major cities worldwide.

Is Copacabana beach safe at night?

There is no reason for you to be on Copacabana Beach after dark (especially not recommended for solo travelers). Although we found Copacabana Beach relatively safe during the day, we would not go there by no means at night. It is a completely different place, and you are too vulnerable there.