Red-eye Piranha - Brazil

The Amazon River is fed by the largest drainage basin in the world, over 7 million square kilometers. The discharge rate averages over 200,000 cubic meters per second. The volume of the discharge alters the salt content and color of the Atlantic Ocean for a distance of 320 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River.

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Serrasalmus rhombeus - Of the several species of piranha, or caribe as they are known in Venezuela, only four are considered dangerous. The carnivorous species have wedge shaped teeth to allow them to cut flesh from their prey, consisting primarily of smaller fish. The red-eye piranha ranges in length from 25 to 41 centimeters and is found throughout Amazonia. Although there have been incidents of piranha attacking people, reports of frenzied attacks on humans, cattle or small mammals are widely exaggerated..

Christmas Cactus - Brazil

Schlumbergera truncata - When cultivated as a house plant, it is referred to as a “Christmas cactus.” Schlumbergera consists of six species of plants endemic to Southeastern Brazil. These plants are leafless; the green stems serve as the source of the photosynthesis process. Schlumbergeras are either epiphytic, living with a tree in a nonparasitic relationship or epilithic, living in a rocky crevice. In both cases it derives its nutrients from the air or decaying matter falling within its space.

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The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in June of 1494 and divided the newly discovered lands of the Americas between Portugal and Spain. The dividing line fell 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. This was the halfway point between the Cape Verde Islands, already belonged to Portugal, and the territory Cristóbal Colón had claimed for Spain on his first voyage. The dividing line was not clearly defined nor strictly enforced; the current border of Brazil exceeds the limits of the treaty considerably.

Historical Flags of the Americas

Prior to independence, the Dutch colony of Suriname adopted its own flag in 1959. The five connected stars represented the five primary ethnic groups of Suriname. The flag was changed to the current design when independence was granted in 1975. As a British colony, Grenada had used the Union Jack in its flag design. The pattern changed when a new flag depicting a nutmeg was hoisted and used from 1967 until 1974. Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared himself Emperor Jacques I in 1804 and created the Empire of Haiti. His assassination in 1806 brought an end to the short-lived empire. Dom Pedro I founded the Empire of Brazil in 1822 and was succeeded by his son Dom Pedro II in 1831. Dom Pedro II reigned for 58 years. The flag featured 19 stars to represent the 19 Brazilian states. Another star was added in 1870. The flag and empire were replaced in 1889 by a republican form of government.