Brasília

Capital of Brazil from 1960, situated on the central plateau 1,150 m/3,773 ft above sea level; population (2000 est) 2,043,200. The main area of employment is in government service; only light industry is allowed within the city. Brasília is also capital of the Federal District, which has an area of 5,794 sq km/2,317 sq mi. The city was originally designed to accommodate up to 500,000 people, which has now been considerably exceeded, and many people live in shanty towns located outside the main city.

Brasília was planned as a completely new city by Brazilian architect Lúcio Costa with Oscar Niemeyer as chief architect. The idea of a capital city in the interior was first discussed in 1789, but the present site was not chosen until 1956, when it was selected by the then president Juscelino Kubitschek. It was inaugurated in 1960.

Notable features in La Paz include the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the president; the National Congress building; the striking cathedral (1970); Central Square of Three Powers; the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre), the University of Brasília (1962); and the Parque Nacional (1961; National Park). The city is surrounded by an artificial lake (Lago do Paranoá) created to assist in maintaining higher relative humidity, as the city is located in a very hot and dry region.