Bralia, city and capital of Brazil, in the Federal District, south central Brazil. It is situated in a savanna at an elevation of about 1005 m (about 3300 ft) and has a mild, dry climate. Bralia is a city of striking modern appearance and was constructed (beginning in 1957) on an uninhabited site to replace crowded Rio de Janeiro as the national capital.The city layout, which was designed by the Brazilian urban planner L cio Costa, resembles a jetliner in shape. Along thefuselage,? which is the city's main axis, are the offices of the national government; thewings? contain blocks of residential apartment buildings and foreign embassies. At the nose of thefuselage? is the Plaza of the Three Powers, in which is set a circular, largely underground cathedral; this, and all the city's other major buildings, were designed by the noted Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Beyond the cathedral is the Palace of the Dawn, the presidential residence; it is set at the edge of a lake, which was formed by the damming of the Paraná River and borders the city on three sides.Bralia is served by a growing network of roads linking it to all parts of the country and is connected by railroad with Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Only light manufacturing is permitted in the city. Outside the city proper are a number of rapidly growing satellite communities, many of which, although lacking in facilities, have a more vital commercial life than Bralia. Located in the city are the University of Bralia (1961), the National Theater, botanical gardens, a zoo, and a sports stadium.The idea of an inland capital was suggested as early as 1789 and was included in the provisions of the constitution of 1891. In 1957, during the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek, construction of the new city was begun and its dedication took place on April 21, 1960. Although initially suffering from geographical isolation and the disdain of many civil servants, the city has grown rapidly by in-migration, especially from the poorer regions of the country, and has begun to achieve its goal of furthering the development of the interior of Brazil.
