RIO DR JANEIRO, re-O di zha-nrrO, Brazil, one of the 'maritime states on the south east coast of the republic; area, according to official s returns, 26,634 squire miles. The cen tral part of this territory is mountainous, being traversed generally from east to west by a series of ranges, of which the loftiest and most con spicuous 'is • the Serra dos Orgaos or Organ Mountains (q.v.). They are almost entirely comosed of granite. The mountains slope down on the north and south— in the former direction toward the basin of the Parahyba, to which all the surface of the province on that side belongs and in the latter to the coast, which receives the drainage from a great number of. comparatively small streams, each carrying its waters directly to the ocean. The shore toward the northeast is lined by numerous lakes and lagoons. The soil does not seem to possess. much natural fertility. A great part of it• con sists of a retentive clay, ill-adapted for agricul tural operations; but the warmth and moisture of the climate are so favorable to vegetation that magnificent forests and valuable crops exist, and there are many tracts of the richest land which are turned to the best account. The crop
which attracts the largest share of. attention is coffee. The other leading crops are sugar, rice, millet, mandioca and cotton. The forests are rich in timber, both for ordinary and orna mental purposes, in dye-woods, gums, balsams and valuable medicines. The domestic animals, originally imported from Europe, have in creased considerably, and immense herds of cattle are reared. This province is not rich in precious metals. Iron, however, abounds, though it is not much worked; and the decom position of granite has formed extensive beds of the finest kaolin. The state assembly used to meet at Nictheroy, but Petropolis is the present capital. Under separate jurisdiction from the state is the federal district of Rio de Janeiro, embracing the city of the same name (q.v.) and its surroundings. The population of the state exclusive of the federal district is 1,250,000.