Rio de Janeiro

• Location of Rio


  Located in SE Brazil on Atlantic Coast
• Population of Rio


  6.7 million in the city itself and 13.6 million in greater metropolitan area. In the last year has increased by 0.6%.
• Natural increase in Rio

  High as population is of childbearing age.
• Inward migration in Rio

  High, largely from poorer areas of Amazonia where there are few job opportunities and drought.
• Urbanisation in Rio


  Increased in the 20th century linked to industrialisation. Urban growth has occurred as a result of natural increase and migration.
• Suburbanisation in Rio


  Public transport system in 19th century allowed expansion into new area. 40% of population live in the suburbs.
• Barra de Tijuca


  In 1960 there were 2500 inhabitants and by 1991 there were 98000. Has large condominiums with leisure facilities.
• Rio as a world city

  - Industrial and financial centre

  - UNESCO world heritage site

  - annual carnival

  - wonder of the world

  - 2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympics

  - Exports of coffee, sugar, iron ore
• National importance of Rio

  - Capital up until 1960

  - 2nd largest city

  - cultural capital of Brazil with 50 museums

  - produces 5% of Brazils GDP

  - provides 6% of employment
• Regional importance of Rio

  - City services needs of a large number of people who depend on it for jobs, education and health services, transport and entertainment.
• Impact of physical geography in Rio

  Mountains to north and west limit space for building, development of effective transport system difficult and costly. To south and east is the sea. Great Tijuca area susceptible to landslides and flooding due to low lying position.
• North Zone


  Industrial area, port, airport, football stadium. Low quality housing, poor services.
• Centre of Rio


  Oldest part, retailing, tall office blocks, large organisations e.g. Petrobas have HQ here
• West zone


  Barra de Tijuca, formerly lower class area, example of urban resurgence, gated communities, main Olympic stadiums and village.
• South Zone


  Developed after tunnels cut through mountains, most economically and socially polarised area. Rochina (largest favela), Copacabana beach, South Americas wealthiest postcode.
• Fortress developments in Rio

  South Zone - wealthiest postcode in South America, security entrance with CCTV, alarm systems and 24/7 security guards

  West Zone - Barra de Tijuca
• Edge cities in Rio

  Barra de Tijuca in the west zone, brown rapidly since middle class flight in 1960s. Attractive area with 20km of beaches. Luxury condominiums, malls, restaurants, tourist attractions and office complexes.
• Gentrified areas in Rio

  Olympics caused a property boom in some favelas e.g. Vidigal. Value of land rose 3-fold in 3 years. Became one of the most fashionable places in Rio. Austrian engineer bought a dilapidated home in 2009 for £10,000 and turned it into a hostel and nightclub with offers for £300,000.
• Views on gentrification in Rio


  Rooms could be rented out for higher prices, shops benefitted from increase business. Worries gentrification will change the community and concerns that people could be forced to relocate or priced out.
• Economic inequalities in Rio

  - Poorest 50% earn only 13% of income

  - Spatial pattern of inequality linking to 4 main zones

  - Favela residents have low to average incomes
• Social segregation in Rio

  - Inequalities in income

  - South zone is 80% white whereas city as a whole is 50% black or mixed race.

  - Favelas residentes are mixed with religious and cultural groups from across Brazil
• Issues with housing in Rio

  - Over 100,000 in-migrants each year and many squat on public or private land, often hazardous environments.
• Services in the favelas

  12% no running water,30% no electricity,50% no sewage connections

  Sewers are often open drains
• Health in Rio

  Over 40% do not have access to local family health clinic. Infant mortality high, over 50 per 1000, life expectancy 76
• Education in Rio


  Only half of children contin7ebtheir education beyond 14. Challenges include: shortage of nearby schools, shortage of teachers, low pay, poor training and low incomes so many need to work.
• Unemployment in Rio

  20% unemployment rate in favelas. 1/3 of Rio's workers work in the informal sectors
• Favela-Bairro Project overview


  Integrated over 250,000 residents in over 140 neighbourhoods
• Favela Bairro Project successes

  - Quality of life, mobility and employment prospects improved.

  - Recognised as a model by the UN
• Favela Bairro project problems

  - Budget may not cover every favela

  - Newly built infrastructure not being maintained

  - Residents lack skills to make repairs

  - Rent rises
• Teleférico de Alemao


  Cable car system allowing residents to get from one end of the favela to the other in just 16 minutes which is usually a 2 hour walk. Each local person got a free return ticket each day.
• Campo Grande


  800 houses a 90 minute drive from city centre to rehouse those displaced for the Olympics. Houses good quality but lacked sense of community.
• Causes of atmospheric pollution in Rio

  Heavy congestion and exhaust fumes, most congested city in South America. 4 million cars jam the roads daily. Number of cars in Rio has brown 40% in last decade.
• Impacts of atmospheric pollution in Rio

  5000 deaths a year, city often covered by a brown smog
• Solutions to air pollution in Rio

  - Major road improvements to reduce congestion

  - New toll roads into city centre

  - Metro system extended to 5 lines totalling 75km of track

  - 'Bike Rio', 600 bikes, 60 rental stations in 14 neighbourhoods