Jacarezinho, Rio de Janeiro

Jacarezinho is a Brazilian favela with more than 60,300 residents living in an area of 40 ha. The place is located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro city, and it borders the neighborhoods of Jacaré, Méier, Engenho Novo and Triagem. It is the second largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, only behind Rocinha. The favela expanded along with the city's industrializationref|industria, and it became the biggest favela in Rio de Janeiro by the mid-20th century, with a population of 23,000 in 1960. The crucial element in its growth was the industrial boom in the nearby Méier district after World War II, according to historian by Julio César Pino, author of a book about Jacarezinho.

It suffers common favela problems, like violence, poverty and drug dealing ref|violence.

Jacarezinho means "Little Jacaré", and it is named after Jacaré River. Jacaré is also the Portuguese language name of the Yacare Caiman, but the river name actually means tortuous, sinuous, and it is not named after the animal ref|name.

The favela's samba school is called Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos do Jacarezinho, and it was founded on June 16, 1966. Its colors are pink and white ref|samba.

The famous football player Romário was born in Jacarezinho, and he is proud of it ref|romario.

References

# [http://www.neticoop.org.uy/documentos/dc0186.html netcoop]
# [http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI308593-EI306,00.html Terra]
# [http://www.favelatemmemoria.com.br/publique/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=39&sid=3 Favela tem Memória]
# [http://www.tradicaodosamba.com.br/escolas-jacarezinho.html Tradição do Samba]
# [http://www.netvasco.com.br/news/noticias12/26844.shtml Netvasco]

External links

* [http://epoca.globo.com/edic/20020408/soci2a.htm Revista Época]
* [http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/habitacao/grd_favelas.htm Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro]
* [http://www.brazilmax.com/news.cfm/tborigem/pl_southcentral/id/3 An excerpt from Julio César Pino’s book about Jacarezinho, “Family and Favela: The Reproduction of Poverty in Rio de Janeiro”]