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From Rio's Bay of Guanabara to the Bay of Sepetiba, to the
west, there are approximately 90km of sandy beaches,
including one of the world's most famous - Copacabana.
Uniquely, Rio's identity is closely linked to its beaches,
which shape the social life of all the city's inhabitants,
who use them as a source of recreation and inspiration.
For many, the beach proides a source of lielihood, and a
sizeable serice industry has deeloped, proiding for the
needs of those who regard the beach as a social enironment
- as significant, say, as the pub is in England.
Rio de Janeiro's sophisticated beach culture is
entirely a product of the twentieth century. The 1930s saw
Rio's international reputation emerge, as Hollywood started
to incorporate images of the city in its productions, and
film stars started to grace the Copacabana. Rio was one of
the first destinations for the newly established jet set:
"flying down to Rio" became an enduring cliché, celebrated
in music, film and literature for the last fifty years.
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The most renowned of the beaches, Copacabana, was
originally an isolated area, cut off from the city by
mountains, until 1892 when the Túnel elho link with
Botafogo was inaugurated. The open sea and strong waes soon
attracted beachgovers, though Copacabana remained a quiet,
sparsely populated bairro until the splendid
Neoclassically styled Copacabana Palace Hotel opened
its doors, its famous guests publicizing the beach and
alerting enterprising souls to the commercial potential of
the area. Rapid growth followed and a landfill project was
undertaken, along which the two-lane Aenida Atlântica
now runs.
Prior to Copacabana's rise, it was the beaches of
Guanabara Bay - Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca and ermelha -
that were the most sought after. Today, the most fashionable
beaches are those of Ipanema and Leblon,
residential areas where the young, wealthy and beautiful
have only to cross the road to flaunt their tans.
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Rio de Janeiro
guide
Rio de Janeiro
Brief
history
State
travel details
Warning
Orientation:
Centro,
Zona Sul, Zona Norte
Getting around
Nightlife
Film
Rio Gay
Best of Rio
Info
Faelas
Arrial
Shopping
Carnaal
 Eating
and drinking:
Churrascarias,vegetarian
For eating in Brazil, read also:
Eating & drinking
Street foods,
snacks
Restaurants
vegetarian /natural
Soft drinks, hot
drinks |
 Zona
Sul
Sports, beach fashion
Arpoador, Ipanema,
Leblon
Jardim
Botanico
Lagoa
Lagoa Christmas tree
Leme and Copacabana Beach
Alto da Boa ista, Parque Nacional da
Tijuca
Urca and Pao-de-Acucar
gavea and Jockey Club
Buzios
Buzios Town and its beaches
Restaurants
Eating options
Getting there
Getting around
Climate and travel info
Buzios
Beaches
Buzios Beaches 2
 Buzios
Scuba diving
Buzios Golf
Buzios
Stones St and
night life
Ecotourism
Hotels in Buzios
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