The Amazon River of South America is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total river flow greater than the next top ten largest rivers flowing into the ocean combined.

The Amazon River accounts for approximately 1/5 of the world’s total river flow, and it has the largest drainage basin in the world. There is an ongoing dispute regarding its length, and along with the Nile it is one of the contenders for the position as the longest river in the world. Because of its vast dimensions, it is sometimes called The River Sea (o rio-mar in Portuguese), and at no point is it crossed by bridges. In 1500, Vicente Yañez Pinzón was the first European to sail into the river. Pinzón called the river flow “Río Santa María de la Mar Dulce”, later shortened to “Mar Dulce” (sweet sea).

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is a moist broadleaf forest in the Amazon Basin of South America. The area, also known as Amazonia or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.2 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers, located within nine nations: Brazil (with 60 percent of the rainforest), Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. States or departments in four nations bear the name Amazonas after it. The Amazon represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.

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Ever Dream of visiting an amazing country? Have you ever wanted to learn Spanish in South America? If you answered ‘yes’ and are looking for the opportunity of a lifetime then now is your chance to study abroad in Latin America, more specifically, the beautiful country of Argentina. Imerse yourself into a beautiful Latin cultureand absorb all that Argentina has to offer. From studying Spanish to becoming a medical volunteer abroad we offer the most amazing opportunity that you just cant pass up.

Find out more NOW

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Baltic Travel Company even has Poland Holidays travel arrangements for individuals or group trips to the scenic cities of Poland. Krakow, Gdansk and Warsaw are just a few of the Poland destinations that Baltic Travel Company services. Start planning your trip to Poland with them today.

Estonia Holidays vacation can be enjoyed by visiting historic grand palaces and medieval architecture which have been restored to it original splendor. Baltic Travel can create amazing travel packages to Estonia where you’ll be able to visit 13th century Cathedrals and other breath taking medieval structures.

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Cuba Holidays are what you’re craving? Thinking of a vacation with the world’s best beaches and historic cities then come and experience the relaxing vaction that you’ve been deserving. Cuba Tours is your ticket to amazing travel to the tropical paradise of Cuba to lay out on the beaches and wash your worries away along with the tide.

Plan Your entire trip to Cuba with us. From tours of this countries hottest tourist attractions to the best in Cuba Hotels and accomadations, we’ve got you covered. Dont delay.

Your vacation of a Life Time is waiting for you right now in Cuba!!!

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The Gran Canaria carnival is a brilliant time on Gran Canaria. It’s a lot of fun and there’s a great atmosphere.  Some revellers take part at the very beginning of the carnival, in whichever town it starts, and follow it all over the island from town to town, only stopping when they are totally knackered! The timing of the carnival is flexible and alters each year but once it gets going, it is contagious and the whole island enjoys it. I’ve been to a few and it’s always plenty of fun!

Find more HERE

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Samba group Beija Flor was declared Brazil’s carnival champion for the fifth time in six years, wowing judges with gold-encrusted, winged dancers and green jungle display floats.

While Beija Flor’s dancers were topless, the judges drew the line at going bottomless, penalizing the rival Sao Clemente group for breaking a rule against display of genitalia during its 80-minute parade.

They didn’t name the offender, but she was widely believed to be samba queen Viviane Castro, who danced wearing only a 1.6-inch patch, believed to be the smallest in Rio parade history.

Beija Flor’s winning parade honored legends of the Amazon rain forest, receiving a near-perfect score of 399.3 out of a possible 400. The Salgueiro group came in second with a score of 398 for its parade, which honored the city of Rio de Janeiro.

During the title celebrations late Wednesday, three people were injured in a shooting in front of Beija Flor’s headquarters, according to Globo TV’s G1 Web site. Two had to be hospitalized. Police said they did not know what caused the shooting.

An earlier fight inside the headquarters had prompted the school to halt distribution of alcoholic drinks and the party was cut short, G1 said.

Beija Flor — which means “Hummingbird” in Portuguese — has dominated recent competitions, but its reputation was marred by accusations that directors conspired to steal last year’s championship by intimidating judges. An investigation yielded an inconclusive report.

Rio’s samba parade, which took place on Sunday and Monday nights, looks like a party, but is actually a hotly fought competition.

Forty judges grade each samba group in 10 categories, ranging from their floats and costumes to how well they move thousands of dancers through the half-mile Sambadrome stadium parade ground.

A less-than-perfect score in any category can doom a group’s chance of victory.

The Viradouro group, prohibited by a judge from parading with a dancer dressed as Hitler and float covered in naked Holocaust victims, came in seventh. After outcry from Jewish groups worldwide prompted the judge’s order, Viradouro changed the float into a free speech exhibit featuring dozens of gagged men and women in white robes.

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The theme for Porta da Pedra Samba School was 100 years of Japonese Presense in Brazil. With more than 3000 people dressed in beautiful costumes. Porta da Pedra danced down the Sambadromo with joy and pride and expressed their appreciation of Japonese culture. There were samurais and geishas dressed throughout their parade and even a float with a huge Golden Japonese style house.

Japonese Montage in Carnival Parade

Their Carnival Parade lasted 60minutes of song and Samba dancing in lights and sounds. The crowd went wild with the first Samba school going down the walk and fireworks in the air. Carnival 2008 was offically underway!! 

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Rio de Janeiro has officially exploded into Carnival madness. The streets of Rio are full of people in costumes heading to the Sambadromo to participate in the Samba Parades.

People are also dancing through the streets of Rio in the Carnival Street Parades all over the city. This is the happiest time in the Marvelous City.

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The city is completely ready for the 2008 Carnival. The streets are all a buzz. People from all around the world have already begun to arrive in the marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro.

Our luck must be changing because even the exchange rate on the US dollar rose. That means we can spend more on our Carnival celebration.

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This weekend the streets of Rio de Janeiro were full of Samba Schools and Carnival Parades. The Samba School bands drummed down the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema and the sexy dancers did the Samba to the beat. The entire city turned into one huge Carnival Party. Not even the light rain that came could dampen the spirits of party goers in the streets.

Get ready because this years Carnival is sure to be a wild one.

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