Theme 2: Settlement - Rio de Janeiro

Case Study 8: Rio de Janeiro (a changing settlement in a LEDC)

Location:
Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by picturesque mountains, coves, and beaches. It is a modern city and home to over 11 million inhabitants. Rio is located just north of the Tropic of Capricorn along the Brazilian Atlantic coast. The relief is characterized by steep hills and mountains. These hills are granite based and lead inland to form the Brazilian Highlands. One of the most famous is the coastal mountain Sugar Loaf, which is the landmark most commonly associated with Rio.

Landuse:
There are three distinct zones in Rio. These are known as the North Zone, the Central Zone and the South Zone. Each has a different land use, economic structure and social structure.

The South Zone:

• Sandy beaches, beautiful mountains and ocean views
• The most famous landmarks of Rio, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, are both here
• This area is very affluent
• The area is spread out for several miles, squeezed between the mountains to the north and the coastline to the south
• The South Zone is one of the most densely populated regions in the world

The Central Zone:

• The Central Business District
• Commerce, banking and business.
• Where the original city of Rio de Janeiro was founded and is now defined by its many skyscrapers.
• Accessed mostly by car, bus and partly by subway and streetcar.
• Congestion during rush hour periods and adds to the already severe problem of pollution.

The North Zone:

• the main port area and centre of industry of Rio.
• Located north and west of the Central Zone
• The airport and the main soccer stadium, holding over 200,000, is located here
• There is a poor inner-city ring between the CBD and the North Zone. Then the wealth increases in another ring further out
• Economic status drops the further away from the city you go

Migration into Rio:

• Rio de Janeiro is (and has) experiencing a dramatic increase in population
• Mostly in the form of the rural poor migrating to the cities
• Because of the high land values and the enormous demand for space, these poor are forced into squatter settlements known as favelas
• These settlements usually occur in two areas of Rio: one, along the steep hillsides or, two, along the outer fringes of urban expansion
• The houses are usually made first from wattle-and-daub, a mixture of sand and clay, and eventually to the use of wood, brick and sheet metal
• Usually the first settle near the bottom of the hills and as time goes by the hill fills upward

Despite efforts to clear and stop the in migration, people have just kept coming to Rio. As cleared rain forest land becomes un-farmable, farmers give up and move to the city. Despite being marginalized and blamed for all kinds of Rio's social problems, the 'Faveladors' have created a society based on cooperation to survive and have found a niche in the overpopulated city. Recently, the populations in the favelas has levelled off. Much of this is due to the lack of available land and the clearing of favela settlements. Despite this, the migration to the city still continues. In many ways, Rio does not wish to acknowledge the existence of the favelas and would rather passively ignores them instead. By doing this the problem only gets worse and the Faveladors are still subject to marginalization.

Rio:
11 million people. Overcrowded. Surrounded by sea and mountains. Congestion. Pollution. Noise. Middle class moving out of Rio looking for safety and security. Authorities are trying to improve Favelas by re-building, re-housing residents. Authorities are trying to encourage community to have faith in Police.
Rocinha:
100,000 people. Built on the hillside overlooking Rio. One of a number of Favelas (shanty towns). Self contained. Shops, schools and facilities. Migrants arrive and build homes from scrap and waste. Constant DIY taking place. Crime is an issue.
Barra:
Middle class moving out of the South Zone of Rio. New settlement. Shops, offices and employment opportunities. Transport (roads/motorways/public transport). Safety and security. Room for expansion and growth.