RAILROADS: 29,694 km total; 25,268 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,339 km 1.600-meter gauge, 74 km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge, 13 km 0.760-meter gauge; 2,308 km electrified

HIGHWAYS: 1,448,000 km total; 48,000 km paved, 1,400,000 km gravel or earth

INLAND WATERWAYS: 50,000 km navigable

PIPELINES: crude oil, 2,000 km; refined products, 3,804 km; natural gas, 1,095 km

PORTS: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos

MERCHANT MARINE: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,855,708 GRT/9,909,097 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 68 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 12 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 56 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 15  chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 14 combination ore/oil, 82 bulk, 2 combination bulk

CIVIL AIR: 176 major transport aircraft

AIRPORTS: 3,774 total, 3,106 usable; 386 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,240-3,659 m; 503 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

TELECOMMUNICATIONS: good system; extensive radio relay facilities; 9.86 million telephones; stations--1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave; 3 coaxial submarine cables 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations with total of 3 antennas; 64 domestic satellite stations

A 40 per cent tax is added to cost of all international communications. Telephone Long-distance calls can be made from state telephone company offices, post offices and hotels. Trunk dialling system linking all main cities. Public telephone booths (orelhoes) operated by tokens and phone cards, which can be bought from newsagents, cafes etc. Dialling code for Brazil: IDD access code + 55 followed by area code (Belo Horizonte 31, Brasilia 61, Rio de Janeiro 21, Sao Paulo 11) followed by subscriber's number.

• Telex and telegram: Country telex code: BR. Telex messages can be sent from main post offices during business hours and from hotels at nights and weekends. Telegrams can be sent over the phone or at post offices and hotels.
  
• Telephone: The telecommunications systems are state-owned. Full IDD services available for the whole country and abroad. Country code: 55. Public telephones require metal discs called 'fichas', which can be obtained from cash desks or newspaper kiosks. All calls are liable to a 20% tax. Fax: Facilities are available in the main post offices of major cities and some 5-star hotels; because this technology is only just being introduced it is advisable to check that this facility is offered at your destination.
  
• Telex/telegram: International telegram and telex facilities exist in many cities. Offices of Embratel in Rio de Janerio (Praca Maua 7) and Sao Paulo. Rio's airport provides 24 hour telecommunication services. The domestic telex service now covers the whole of the country.
  
• Post: Services are reasonably reliable. Sending mail registered or franked will eliminate the risk of having the stamps steamed off. Airmail service to Europe takes four to six days. Surface mail takes at least four weeks.

• BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies and wavelengths: From time to time these change.
  
• BBC: MHz 17.76 15.18 9.915 6.005 Metres 16.89 19.76 30.26 49.96
  
• Voice of America: MHz 15.21 11.58 9.775 5.995 Metres 19.72 25.91 30.69 50.04

POSTAL SERVICE

Postal charges are high. PO Box (Caixa Postal) address and post code number should be used when possible.

MEDIA

Press Around 250 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of under 5m. Due to distribution difficulties in such a large country there are no national dailies. However, numerous regional papers are published. Main US and European newspapers available in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Brazil Herald (circulation 18,000) incorporating Daily Post is only local English language daily. Main papers are O Dia (261,653), Jornal do Brasil (170,151), O Globo (266,569) and Jornal do Comercio (in Rio de Janeiro, 31,000) and O Estado de Sao Paulo (222,173), Folha de Sao Paulo (283,048), Gazeta Mercantil (leading business paper, 80,000), Jornal da Tarde (100,151), Diario Popular (90,000) and Diario do Comercio e Industria (50,000). Numerous periodicals are also available.

Broadcasting

Over 1,000 radio stations (including AM, FM, SW and Tropical Wave) and 127 TV stations. Satellite connection with rest of world.

TIME:

Brazil spans several time zones:

• Brazilian Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 in summer). Amazon time zone (except Acre): GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 in summer). Acre State: GMT - 4 (throughout year).

Embassies and Consulates in Brazil

• British Embassy Caixa Postal 07-0586 Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Quadra 801 Conjunto K 70.408 Brasilia DF, Brazil Tel: (061) 225 2710.
• Consulates in: Belem, Manaus, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande and Santos.
• Embassy of the United States of America Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Av. das Nacoes Lote 3   70.403 Brasilia DF, Brazil Tel: (061) 321 7272.

Embassy

• 3006 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008 +1-202-745-2700, 2828

Consulates

• Miami Los Angeles 2601 Bayshore Dr #800 8484 Wilshire Blvd #730/711
• Miami, FL 33133 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 +1-305-285-6200 +1-213-651-2664, 5833, FAX 653-3903
• Boston San Francisco
• 20 Park Plaza, Suite 810 300 Montgomery St #1600 Boston, Mass. San Francisco, CA 94104 617-542-4000 +1-415-981-8170
• Chicago Puerto Rico
• 401 North Michigan Ave #3050 Av. Munoz Rivera, 268 8th Piso Chicago, IL 60611 Oficina 804  312-464-0269, 0244 Hato Rey, Ruerto Rico 00910 +1-809-754-7983
• Houston New York
• 13333 W Loop South #1100 630 Fifth Ave Houston, TX 77027 Room 2720    +1-713-961-3063, 3064, 3065 New York, NY 10020   +1-212-757-3080
• Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Brazilian

Information Office 32 Green Street   London W1Y 4AT   Tel: (071) 499 0877. Fax: (071) 493 5101.   Brochures and publicity material may be ordered via Country  Connect by keying *567# on ISTEL TravelGuide 999.

Brazilian Consulate General

6 St Alban's St   London SW1Y 4SG   Tel: (071) 930 9055. Opening hours: 1000-1600 Monday to Friday.

Brazilian newspapers and magazines?

Brazilian music:

• telnet cdconnection.com
• Brazil CD's, PO Box 382282, Cambridge, MA 02238-2282, +1-617524-5030, drumpler.aol.com
• The Music Planet, 6680 Alhambra Ave., #403, Martinez CA 94553, +1-510-372-0556

Brazilian newspapers and magazines:

• Brazil Review 141 Ne 3rd Ave Miami, Fl 33132 305-358-8822
• Brazilian Courier Miami, FL 305-377-1223
• Brazilian Times 70 Union Sq Somerville, Ma 02143 617-625-5559
• Brazilian Voice 53 Johnston Ave Kearny, NJ 07032 201-955-1137
• Folha do Brasil New York, NY 212-869-7022
• Brazil Today, Box 1121, El Cerrito, CA 94530 510-223-5190
• The Brasilians 15 W 46th St New York, NY 10036 212-382-1630 FAX 382-1632
• News from Brazil, Box 42536, Los Angeles, CA 90050-0536 800-354-4953, 213-255-4953, 718-746-0169, 415-648-5966, 305-566-7467
• Portugal Brazil News 212-228-2958
• The Brazilian Music Review 708-292-4545
• Brazil in Review 708-805-9025
• The Brazilian Press 212-691-7759
• The Samba Planet 510-372-0556, fax: 510-372-0575, EMail: jsierra@ix.netcom.com
• Books and videotapes: Luso Brazilian New York, NY

Food:

1. Emporium Brasil, 15 West 46th St., NY,NY 10036, Tel. 212-764-4646. Ask for a free catalog; no phone orders. There is a branch in Astoria, NY at 31-88 30th St. Zip 11102. Tel. 718-204-8181. Ask for a free catalog; no phone orders.

2. International Market, 365 Somerville Ave.; Somerville, MA, 02143. Tel. 617-776-1800. No catalog available. Will UPS orders over $20.

3. Supermercado Pepe II, 2333 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60647. Tel. 312-278-8756. No catalog available; will ship orders over $10. (COD).

Addresses of Brazilian associations and organizations:

• Brazilian Amercn Chmbr Commrce 80 Sw 8th St Miami, Fl 33130 305-579-9030
• Brazilian American Society 2161 Peachtree Rd Ne Atlanta, Ga 30309 404-351-6791
• Brazilian Amer C Of C Inc 22 W 48th St New York, Ny 10036 212-575-9030
• Brazilian American Lang Inst 19 Mill St Lowell, Ma 01852 508-937-7545
• Brazilian Cltrl Club Detroit 6556 Crabapple Dr Troy, Mi 48098 313-879-2303
• Brazilian Cultural Foundation 120 Park Ave New York, Ny 10017 212-661-9860
• Brazilian Government Trade 551 5th Ave New York, Ny 10176 212-867-3374
• How can I send money to Brazil? See BACC later.
• What are the telephone companies that provide service to Brazil and what are their costs?
• AT&T Standard(10288, 800-pick-att) high $2.50 first minute, $1.04 additional minute (8am-6pm)
• AT&T Standard(10288, 800-pick-att) low $1.56 first minute, $0.67 additional minute (12am-8am)
• AT&T reachout world plan (800-523-world) $0.69 (5pm-8am) $3 monthly fee
• Sprint Worldwide (10333, 800-877-4646) $0.78 (4pm-4am) $3 monthly fee
• Allnet (10444, 10444-0) high $1.79 first minute, $0.72 additional minute (12mid-8am) med $2.70 $1.13 (8am-6pm) low $2.05 $0.85 (6pm-12mid)
• Allnet International Optional Calling Plan $1.40 $0.60 (12mid-8am) $2.87/monthly fee $1.70 $0.71 (6pm-12mid)
• MCI Around the World (10222, 800-672-8054) $0.68 (5pm-8am) $3 monthly fee
• MCI Around the World (10222, 800-672-8054) $1.28 (8am-5pm) $3 monthly fee
• Cyberlink (800-661-0393) $0.75 (any time, any number, 6 sec billing) $0 monthly fee without switching carriers
• MCC (800-661-0393) $0.95 (anytime) no surcharges/fees/minimums

Brazil to USA

• Cyberlink (800-661-0393) Phone4less@aol.com $0.85 (anytime, 6 sec billing) $0 monthly fee $0 startup costs $0 monthly minimum $0 surcharges
• Radio broadcasts that carry Brazilian music
• Stations that carry "The Brazilian Hour" music program

STATION CITY STATE BROADCAST TIME

• KBRW-AM Barrow AK Tue 8 PM
• KAWC-FM Yuma AZ Mon 11 AM
• WLRN-FM Miami FL Fri 7 PM
• KIPO-FM Honolulu HI Sat 2 PM
• KBSU-AM Boise ID Fri 11 AM
• WSIU-FM Carbondale IL Sun Midnite
• WGLT-FM Normal IL Tue 7 PM
• WUSI-FM Olney IL Sun Midnite
• WAMQ-FM Great Barrington MA Fri Midnite
• WESM-FM Princess Anne MD Sun 4 PM
• KCMW-FM Warrensburg MO Sun 9 AM
• WPRL-FM Lorman MS Sat 6 PM
• KIOS-FM Omaha NE Tue 1 PM
• KRWG-FM Las Cruces NM Sat 1 PM
• WAMC-FM Albany NY Fri Midnite
• WCAN-FM Canajohare NY Fri Midnite
• WAMK-FM Kingston NY Fri Midnite
• WOSR-FM Middletown NY Fri Midnite
• WCFE-FM Plattsburgh NY Fri 7 PM
• WANC-FM Ticonderoga NY Fri Midnite
• KMBH-FM Harlingen TX Sun 2 PM
• KHID-FM McAllen TX Sun 2 PM
• KUOW-FM Seattle WA Sun 10 PM
• WYMS-FM Milwaukee WI Sat 7 PM

Programs:

• "The Sounds of Brazil!" with Scott Adams
  Satunlay lOpm-midnight WNUA FM 95.5, Chicago, IL
• "Samba Pagode" with Jose Moacyr
  Tuesday 3-4pm WHPK FM 88.5, Chicago, IL
• "Coracao Brasileiro" with Dennis Miller
  Sunday Noon-2pm WMBR FM 88.1, Boston, MA
• "Brasil Com "S" with Judy King
  Saturday 9pm-midnight WGBO FM 88.3, Newark, NJ
• "Brasilian Tropicale" with Alvin Griffin
  Wednesday 1-2pm WMNF FM 88.5, Tampa, FL
• "Brazilian Love Jazz" with Gina Martell
  Sunday 6-9pm WLVE FM 93.9, Miami, FL
• "A Taste Of Brazil" with Dick Conte
  Sunday 10-11pm KKSF FM 103.7, San Francisco CA
• "Sounds of Brasil" with Sergio Miemiczemko
  Thrursday 9:30-11:30 am KPFK FM 90.7, Los Angeles, CA
• "Agora Brasil"
  Every Staurday 3:00pm KPFA 94.1 FM San Francisco CA
• "Brasileirinho"
  Every Wednesday 9:30 pm KZSC, 88.1 FM San Francisco CA
• "OneOcean"
  Sunday 3-5pm KZYX FM 90.7, Philo, CA
• "Jazz Tropicale"
  Sunday 10pm-Mid WDCB FM 90.9 Glen Ellyn, IL
• "Brazilian Cool Jazz"
  Sunday 3-8pm FM 88.9 Panama City, Panama
• "Canta, Brasil"
  Every Sunday, 6-8pm KKUP 91.5 FM San Francisco CA
• "Tropicalia Brasiliana"
  Every Friday 8:00pm KUSF, 90.3 San Francisco CA
• "Horizontes" hosted by Michael Crocket on KUT-FM 90.5 in Austin, Texas.
  This program airs on Friday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:30 pm and features primarily Brasilian music for the first 1 1/2 to 2 hours and then Latin music from around the world.
• "Meu Brasil" on WERS in Boston
  Saturdays, 4-8 p.m.

Television broadcasts that carry Brazilian television

Many cable TV systems carry "Scola" which has a delayed broadcast of Journal Nacional. (This was discontinued in early 1994)

Views of Brazil on Cable in L.A. and San Francisco. Call 310-559-5382 or 415-648-5966