Water and mountains constitute the basis of the exuberant geography of Rio de Janeiro with its exceptional scenic beauty.
The topographic diversity of Rio includes the vegetation. Forests cover hillsides and remaining species of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlãntica) are preserved in the Tijuca National Park (Parque Nacional da Tijuca). The vegetation of lowlands, sandbanks and mangroves are preserved in the areas of environmental protection of Grumari and Prainha.
Despite having developed into one of the largest urban areas in the world, the city has grown around a big green blotch called Tijuca Forest (Floresta da Tijuca), the largest urban forest in the world, which continues to preserve valuable remnants of its original ecosystems although it was replanted in the 19th century. It was the first example of reforesting with native species. Human interference brought even more nature into the city with the construction of parks, squares and gardens.
Gradually the ecosystems came under the protection of environmental legislation and a great number of parks, reserves and areas of environmental protection were created to ensure conservation.

Geographical Position
The city of Rio de Janeiro is situated at 22°54’23” latitude south and 43°10121” longitude west, in the municipality of the same name; it is the capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro and part of the Southeastern Region of Brazil. To the north it borders on several municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro. To the south lies the Atlantic Ocean, to the east Guanabara Bay (Baía de Guanabara) and to the west Sepetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba).
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Metropolitan Area
The Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro consists of 17 other municipalities - Duque de Caxias, Itaguaí, Mangaratiba, Nilópolis, Nova Iguaçu, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Magé, Maricá, Niterói, Paracambi, Petrópolis, São João de Meriti, Japeri, Queimados, Belford Roxo, Guapimirim – constituents of the Greater Rio, with an area of 5,384km.
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Dimensions
The municipality of Rio de Janeiro is 1,255,3km² in area, including the islands and continental waters. It measures 70km from east to west and 44km from north to south. The municipality is divided into 32 Administrative Regions with 159 districts.
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Physical Features
The city’s physical features are products of the mountain range (Serra do Mar), covered by the Mata Atlântica forest. They are characterized by marked contrasts: mountains and sea, forests and beaches, stone walls rising abruptly from extended lowlands, all forming the landscape of rare beauty that has made Rio famous all over the world as the Wonderful City (Cidade Maravilhosa).
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Rivers
The largest genuinely carioca river is the Cabuçu or Piraquê flowing over 22km into Spetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba). The best known rivers are: the Carioca, first to supply water to the population, a historical river now virtually wholly canalized, and the Cachoeira, origin of the loveliest waterfalls in the Tijuca Forest (Floresta da Tijuca), such as Cascatinha Taunay and Salto Gabriela. The Guandu, which rises in the neighboring municipality, is of major importance as a supplier of potable water.
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Lagoons
There are few lagoons and they are small and coastal. The largest, the Jacarepaguá Lagoon (Lagoa de Jacarepaguá), also known as Camorim and Tijuca, has an area of 11km² In an area of 3,765m², the Marapendi Lagoon (Lagoa de Marapendi) is separated from the previous one by the Jacarepaguá sandbank and from the ocean by the Itapeba sandbank. Besides these two, there is the Lagoinha with approximately 172m², in the Jacarepaguá Lowlands.
The Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas), one of the most beautiful sceneries in Rio, shaped as a heart and known as the “Heart of Rio”, has an area of 2.4 million square meters. Surrounded by parks, courts for games, kiosks selling food, walking and cycling tracks it is it is an extremely attractive site.
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Coast
Measuring 246,22 km in extension, the coast of Rio is divided into three sectors: Guanabara Bay (Baía de Guanabara), the Atlantic Ocean itself and Sepetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba). The first sector mentioned is the largest, the most indented and of longest occupation. It goes from the estuary of the river São João do Meriti to the Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar). The coastline is low and it has been deeply altered by the earthwork done over the years. Several islands decorate this sector. Other important features are: the Caju and Calabouço Promontories (Pontas do Caju and Calabouço), both extended by earthwork. Some important beaches are found on this stretch: Ramos, Flamengo, Botafogo and Urca.
The second sector goes from the Sugar Loaf to Barra de Guaratiba. The coastline is elevated where ramifications of the Tijuca and Pedra Branca Massifs approach the shore; elsewhere it is low. It is straight in the plains, with lovely beaches and sandbanks, and indented near the mountains. From Leblon eastward the seaside strip is more densely populated; to the west it is a region mostly of tourism and leisure. Nevertheless, the human occupation of the west zone has been growing lately. The tourist attractions have motivated the concentration of high class hotels in this area. Two beaches are specially outstanding: one for its extension of 18 km along Semambetiba Avenue (Avenida Semambetiba), from the pier of Barra da Tijuca to Recreio dos Bamdeirantes, and the other, Copacabana (4.15 km) for its internationally famous beauty.
The third sector goes from Barra de Guaratiba to the estuary of the Guandu River. It is not very indented and presents a single important feature: the Marambaia Sandbank (Restinga de Marambaia). Three beaches stand out: Sepetiba, Pedra de Guaratiba and Barra de Guaratiba. The human occupation of this stretch is less dense, due not only to the distance from the center of town but also to the extended marshes covered with mangroves. It is an area of fishing colonies.
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Islands
More than 37 km² of the 1,255.3 km² of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro are occupied by islands.
Main islands in Guanabara Bay:
Laje; Villegaignon; Cobras; Fiscal; Enxadas; Governador (it is the largest with an area of approximately 30 Km²); Paquetá; Cidade Universitária (known as Ilha do Fundão).
Main islands in the Atlantic Ocean:
Cotunduba - opposite Copacabana beach, near the shoal at the mouth of Guanabara Bay;
Arquipélago das Cagarras - opposite Ipanema;
Rasa – it has an important lighthouse
Arquipélago da Redonda – outside theshaol to the left;
Arquipélago das Tijucas – opposite Barra da Tijuca;
Palmas e Peças - between Pontal Tim Maia (previously Sernambetiba) and Praia Funda;
Frade – next to Barra de Guaratiba:
Main islands in Sepetiba Bay
Bom Jardim; Nova; Cavado; Guaraquessaba; Tatu; Pescaria (a bridge links it to the continent).
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Climate
Tropical, warm and humid, with local variations, due to differences in altitude, vegetation and proximity to the ocean; the average annual temperature is 22° centigrade, with daily averages high in summer (from 30° to 32°); rains vary from an annual 1,200 to 2,800 mm. In the four months of the so-called high summer – from December to March – the very hot days are followed by luminous evenings when heavy and rapid rains usually fall bringing relief and starlit nights.
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Crédito: Riotur