Rio at night

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, Carnival, samba, bossa nova and balneario beaches such as Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon.

In addition to the beaches, some of the city’s most famous landmarks include the giant Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums.

Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games — the first time a South American and Portuguese-speaking country will host these events, and the third time the Summer Olympics will be held in a Southern Hemisphere city.

Take a look at photos of the lights after dark in the Brazilian Olympic host city. (Reuters)

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