Thecoastline ofBrazil measures 7,491 km,[1][a] making it the16th longest national coastline in the world. The coastline touches exclusively theAtlantic Ocean. Brazil's coastline has many geographical features such as islands, reefs, bays, and its 2,095 beaches.[2][3][4]
9 ofBrazil's 26 states are landlocked, including theFederal District. The capitals of the 17 coastal states are close to the ocean, with the exceptions ofCuritiba inParaná,Porto Alegre inRio Grande do Sul,Teresina inPiauí,Belém inPará, andMacapá inAmapá.
Despite the popularity of the expression "fromOiapoque toChuí",[4] which refers to the country's southernmost and northernmost points, Brazil's true northernmost and southernmost points are located atMonte Caburaí inRoraima and inSanta Vitória do Palmar, respectively.
The southernmost point of Brazil is located near theBrazil-Uruguay border, within the municipality of Santa Vitória do Palmar. A few kilometers to the north lies thePraia do Cassino, which is 212 to 254 km long.[5][2] Variation among sources in measurements of the beach's length has raised debate regarding whether the Praia do Cassino is the longestbeach in the world, but it is indisputably the longest in Brazil.[5] The only island on Rio Grande do Sul's coastline is the small, rockyIlha dos Lobos inTorres.[6]
The state ofSanta Catarina's capital isFlorianópolis, located on Santa Catarina Island. The island, which spans an area of 424.4 km2, is one of the largest in Brazil.[7] TheSerra do Mar mountain range starts in Santa Catarina, and follows the coastline north, ending inEspírito Santo.
Paraná's coastline is small compared to other states, but it is very diverse geographically, containing a considerable number of islands and bays.
São Paulo, contains famous coastal cities such asGuarujá,São Sebastião andIlhabela. The northern portions of the coastlines of São Paulo andRio de Janeiro are the only southern-facing stretches of Brazil's coast, not including small islands and bays.
The state of Rio de Janeiro is known for its capital's beaches such asIpanema andCopacabana. The state also contains theCampos Basin, the largest petroleum-rich area in Brazil. Covering an area of 100,000 km2 and extending to Espírito Santo, the basin produces 1.49 million barrels of oil every day.[8] 1,200 km east ofVitória, in Espírito Santo, lie the islands ofTrindade and Martim Vaz.
Bahia has the longest coastline of the Brazilian states, and also the greatest number of coastal municipalities.Porto Seguro is regarded as the first place in which the explorerPedro Álvares Cabral set foot.
FromSergipe toCeará, the landscape changes little, remaining relatively flat. Most of their islands are separated from the continent by narrow channels.
Piauí has a coastline of only some 60 km, the smallest of any Brazilian state. It contains the cities ofCajueiro da Praia,Ilha GrandeLuís Correia andParnaíba.
Maranhão is noted for its unique geographical features such asLençóis Maranhenses. The area between Maranhão andPará is dominated by the "Reentrâncias Maranhenses", a landform similar to afjord but shorter, narrower and lower. There are almost no beaches in this part of the coast.
Half the coastline of Pará is characterized by theAmazon Delta, which flows into the Atlantic aroundMarajó, the largest fluvial island in the world.[9] The outflow of the Amazon River is so strong that the ocean waters in the north and northeast faces of the island have lowsalinity.
Amapá's coastline is almost 600 km long, but there are only three beaches: Fazendinha, Boca do Inferno and Goiabal. The coastline of Brazil ends inCape Orange, in the city ofOiapoque.