FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2024-209

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (November 15, 2024) – In this edition of Fun with Maps we celebrate the home of “thee” most iconic star of the sport of soccer.

Pele’s Home

Today is Brazil Republic Day (since 1889).  Brazil is by far the largest country in both area and population in South America, with over 202 million residents.

It boasts one of the most difficult to penetrate jungles in the Amazon basin to one of the most populous cities on Earth, Sao Paulo, with over 12 million people.  

Because of the tug of war battle between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro over which should be the permanent capital, a decision was reached to create a brand-new city in 1960, Brasilia, as the capital, well inland and far from both.

Football, or soccer to those in the US, is the primary sport.  They won five World Cups out of 22 since 1930, the most by any nation.

Mitchell’s map of Brazil is presented here from 1850.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.