Rio de Janeiro, whose full name is Cidade de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, is a city and pier located on the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeast section of the tropical zone of South America, a city famous for being one of the most beautiful and interesting urban cities in the world. Even though the city is still the most notable icon of Brazil in the eyes of many, its architecture, people and way of life make it unique among other Brazilian cities. Rio de Janeiro got its name thanks to Portuguese sailors who, on 1st January 1502 wrongly interpreted their maps, thinking that there was an entrance to a river at the spot. This is why the city was named Rio de Janeiro (with Rio meaning river in Portuguese, and Janeiro being used to remember the day when the aforementioned sailors reached it).
