Rio de Janeiro

The sun feels so warm on my big green mountains. Down below, my blue water sparkles and wiggles. Can you hear the happy music. People love to sing and dance here all day long. My streets are full of smiles and happy feet that tap to the beat. I am a city called Rio de Janeiro.

A very long time ago, some friendly explorers came to visit me in their big boats. They arrived on January 1st, 1502. Wow. They saw my beautiful blue water and thought I was a giant river. So, they gave me a special name, “River of January,” which is “Rio de Janeiro” in their language. I started as a small place, but I grew and grew, like a big, happy flower. Then, high up on a mountain, a giant statue with open arms was built to watch over me. It was finished on October 12th, 1931. The statue is like a big, gentle hug for everyone who comes to see me.

Today, you can come and play with me. I have soft, sandy beaches where you can build big sandcastles and splash in the water. One of my beaches is called Copacabana. Every year, I have a giant party called Carnival. Everyone wears bright, colorful clothes and dances to happy music in the streets. It is the biggest, most joyful party in the world. I am a city full of sunshine and fun, and my arms are open wide to welcome you.