Brazil has a land mass area of about 8.5 million square miles and is roughly the size of the United States. It is interesting to note that much of Brazil's territory is not inhabitable by humans. Composed of five distinct geographic regions, Brazil is divided into 26 states and one Federal District. The state of Minas Gerais, home to the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto , is approximately the same size as France.
Brazil is located in a tropical climatic zone just south of the equator.
Humidity is higher along the coasts and in the forested regions, while more moderate in the highlands. Only in the most southern part of the country do the temperatures get below freezing. When compared to the United States, Ouro Preto has a very moderate and welcoming climate which changes little between the dry and rainy seasons. But, because of its location in the mountains, daily weather conditions in Ouro Preto can change rapidly and often with little warning. Geographically, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and is also the fifth most populous.