Image credit: Pixabay This number may vary depending on the source. But, according to the United Nations, there are currently 193 countries across the world. Did you know these biggest countries in the world?Studying geography and culture is part of the learning process for many language students. Park? Gain access to more information and knowledge about countries around the world by traveling and exchanging.
The biggest countries in the world have a lot in common. For example, these large cities are characterized by the diversity of their populations and it is common for many languages – sometimes many of them – to be spoken within their borders. Drastic historical changes are also part of what we do as a State, offering a pluralistic culture.
However, when we look deeper into the features and characteristics of these countries, we realize that they also have a wide range of experiences. In a conversation, we are talking about complex and interesting worlds.
Below, take a look at the world's largest countries and some of their most important landmarks and properties.
1. Russia – 17,098,242 km2 We often say (and hear) that Brazil is a country rich in land and one of the largest in the world, right? None of this is bad, but the reality is that Russia is twice the size of Brazil. In other words, the field is so vast that it is difficult to imagine its true value.
Russia is located in an area that occupies the eastern part of Europe, extending to the border of Asia. For this reason, it is often said that this is a land mass that includes Eurasia. Due to its size, the country spans 11 time zones and has a large population, estimated at 145,102,755 people.
In total, there are more than 120 members and, as a result, a variety of languages, languages, religions, cultures – and, inevitably, some violence. In this sense, the Russian Federation is a country made up of several autonomous republics, including Chechnya, Mordovia, Dagestan and Bashkortostan.
Russia is also a geographically and energetically rich country, being the main supplier of oil and gas to many countries. Despite their size, the Russians still want some space. In 2014, they invaded and occupied the territory of Crimea, until then part of Ukraine. The country is currently in a bitter war with neighboring Ukraine over territorial claims.
2. Canada – 9,984,670 km² Despite being the second largest country in the world, Canada has only 38 million inhabitants. The landscape is represented by a variety of natural landscapes and large conservation areas, with trees and other vegetation spread over hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.
The area has been inhabited by indigenous people for centuries, and European invasion began in the late 15th century when British, French and Portuguese explorers occupied the area. The first two left a rich legacy in the country, which today is divided into regions with predominantly English and French culture and languages.
With the aim of expanding its economy, the country is largely open to well-educated immigrants and has a very flexible economy. Canada is also known for its strong investment in education and technology, which provides a dynamic market and high quality of life for its residents.
Want more from this city? Canada is a leader in urban mobility, the use of clean and renewable energy and bicycles as a means of transport. Currently, one of the biggest challenges the government faces is the city's population growth, due to the low birth rate.
3. China – 9,596,960 km2 China is the third largest country in the world in terms of land area – and the second largest when it comes to global area. The population is impressive and approaches 1.5 billion people. For comparison purposes, this number is almost double the population of Brazil, Russia, the United States and Canada combined!
From a feudal state devastated by foreign invasions at the beginning of the 20th century, China reached the 21st century in an accelerated process of industrialization and integration, resulting from a series of government projects carried out seriously over many decades.
For this reason, there are allegations that the communist nation is fighting a “Cold War 2.0” with the Americans. And, of course, economic, political and military tensions are always present between the two most powerful countries in the world.
One of the biggest challenges the Chinese face is preventing waste and strengthening their food market. The site has been a reference in the development and distribution of luxury goods for decades and is slowly changing this trend.
To respond to environmental concerns, China has encouraged the development of green spaces and promoted the use of clean energy, with the increase in electric vehicles in the country.
4. United States – 9,833,517 km² (or 7,824,535 km²) Here we have a cutoff point. Globally, the territorial extent of the US, as shown above, is greater than that of China. However, this report looks at inland and coastal waters and the Great Lakes region. Speaking only in area, the real number is 7,824,535 km².
The United States is the greatest superpower in the world. Despite sharing similarities in the historical-political relationship with Brazil, the two countries had very different histories.
Like our country, Americans are diverse in race, ethnicity and culture. Indigenous, African and European populations are similar to what we see here.
Explaining North American success is a difficult task, but it's safe to say that its great export potential, combined with a healthy domestic market, is one of the most important factors.
One of the most curious things about the country is that, although English is the most spoken language, it is not an official language in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, its policy does not feature any language as an official statement.
5. Brazil – 8,510,345 km2 Ah, Brazil! Our country doesn't need an identity, does it? After all, we are all Brazilians and we know our little corner. But did you know how Brazil became the fifth largest economy in the world?
This is because it was built during Portuguese colonial times. First, according to the Treaty of Tordesillas, Portugal would only have the right to control a narrow strip of territory off the coast of what we now call Brazil.
However, in search of natural resources, European settlers traveled increasingly inland, to regions that were obviously Spanish possessions. It turns out that Spain was unable to penetrate these areas because it was too busy looking for silver and gold deposits on the Pacific coast of South America. Furthermore, the Andes, one of the highest mountain ranges in the world, were an insurmountable obstacle at the time.
Combine this with the fact that Brazil was, for some years, part of Spain through the Iberian Union, and we have the beginning of the recipe that explains our greatness. When Portugal regained independence from the Spanish and returned to the colonization of Brazil, several negotiations were carried out to keep the territories already occupied by Brazilians under the control of the Portuguese crown.
Centuries later, when Brazil became an independent empire, many wars broke out and attempts were made to divide parts of the country to create new territories. However, the Brazilian Army and Emperors D. Pedro I and D. Pedro II successfully maintained territorial integrity, and Spanish America was divided into many small islands.