View source for Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

{{Short description|Neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil}}
{{About|the bairro in Rio de Janeiro|other uses|Copacabana (disambiguation){{!}}Copacabana}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Copacabana
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = Neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro
| image_skyline      = Praia_de_Copacabana_-_Rio_de_Janeiro,_Brasil.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = 
| pushpin_map        = Brazil Rio de Janeiro#Brazil
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Rio de Janeiro
| coordinates        = {{coord|22|58|1|S|43|10|50|W|region:BR|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Brazil}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States of Brazil|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = Municipality/City
| subdivision_type3  = Zone
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name1  = [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro (RJ)]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Rio de Janeiro]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[South Zone (Rio de Janeiro)|South Zone]]
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| area_total_km2     = 5.220
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 
| population_total   = 160,000
| population_as_of   = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 20,400
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = 
| utc_offset         = 
}}

[[File:Bairros de Copacabana e Leme, early 20th century.tif|thumb|Copacabana, early 20th century]]
[[File:Copacabana Beach 1971.jpg|thumb|Copacabana Beach in 1971]]
[[File:Praia de Copacabana rio.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Copacabana]]
[[Image:Calçadão de Copacabana.JPG|thumb|The [[Portuguese pavement]] wave pattern at Copacabana beach]]
[[File:Location map Rio de Janeiro Copacabana.png|thumb|Map of Copacabana]]
[[File:Copacabana Rooftop View.jpg|thumb|Copacabana at dusk]]
[[Image:Copacabana Palace Hotel Rio.jpg|thumb|The [[Copacabana Palace|Copacabana Palace Hotel]]]]
[[File:Rio New Year Fireworks.jpg|thumb|Fireworks during the celebrations of the New Year]]
[[File:Copacabana Beach.jpg|thumb|right|Copacabana sea waters]]
[[File:Participação_da_Defesa_na_JMJ_(9400719501).jpg|thumb|right|Copacabana Beach during [[World Youth Day 2013]]]]

'''Copacabana''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|əʊ|p|ə|k|ə|ˈ|b|æ|n|ə}} {{respell|KOH|pə|kə|BAN|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|-|ˈ|b|ɑː|n|ə}} {{respell|-|BAH|nə}}, {{IPA|pt-BR|ˌkɔpakaˈbɐnɐ|lang}}) is a Brazilian {{lang|pt|[[bairro]]}} (neighbourhood) located in the [[South Zone (Rio de Janeiro)|South Zone]] of the city of [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil. It is most prominently known for its 4&nbsp;km (2.5&nbsp;miles) [[balneario]] beach, which is one of the most famous in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.photos4travel.com/destination-ideas/top-10-most-popular-beaches-in-the-world |title=Top 10 Most Popular Beaches in the World, Beach Vacation |website=Photos4travel |date=2008-11-25 |access-date=2016-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610113515/http://www.photos4travel.com/destination-ideas/top-10-most-popular-beaches-in-the-world |archive-date=2016-06-10 }}</ref>

== History ==
The district was originally called {{Lang|tpn|Sacopenapã}} (translated from the [[Tupi language]], meaning "the way of the {{Lang|tpn|socós}}", the {{Lang|tpn|socós}} being a kind of heron) until the mid-18th century. It was renamed after the construction of a chapel holding a replica of the [[Virgen de Copacabana]], the [[patron saint]] of [[Bolivia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoescola.com/geografia/copacabana/ |title=Copacabana - InfoEscola |website=www.infoescola.com |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126092925/http://www.infoescola.com/geografia/copacabana/ |archive-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
Copacabana begins at Princesa Isabel Avenue and ends at Posto Seis (lifeguard watchtower six). Beyond Copacabana, there are two small beaches: one, inside [[Fort Copacabana]] and the other, right after it: Diabo ("Devil") Beach. [[Arpoador]] beach, where surfers go after its perfect waves, comes next, followed by the famous borough of [[Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro|Ipanema]]. The area served as one of the four "Olympic Zones" during the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]. According to Riotur, the Tourism Secretariat of Rio de Janeiro, as of 2007 there were 63 hotels and 10 [[hostel]]s in Copacabana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur/en/hotel/?Canal%3D184 |title=Riotur |access-date=October 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901083626/http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur/en/hotel/?Canal=184 |archive-date=September 1, 2007 }}</ref>

== Copacabana Beach ==
Copacabana beach, located at the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] shore, stretches from Posto Dois (lifeguard watchtower Two) to Posto Seis (lifeguard watchtower Six). [[Leme, Rio de Janeiro|Leme]] is at Posto Um (lifeguard watchtower One). There are historic forts at both ends of Copacabana beach; Fort Copacabana, built in 1914, is at the south end by Posto Seis and Fort Duque de Caxias, built in 1779, at the north end. Many hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and residential buildings are located in the area. On Sundays and holidays, one side of Avenida Atlântica is closed to cars, giving residents and tourists more space for activities along the beach.

Copacabana Beach plays host to millions of revellers during the annual [[New Year's Eve]] celebrations, and for the first three editions of the tournament, has been the official venue of the [[FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup]]. 
{{wide image|Panorama of Copacabana Beach - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil.jpg|1280px|Panorama of the Copacabana beach}}

==Copacabana promenade==
The Copacabana promenade is a pavement landscape in large scale (4 kilometres long). It was rebuilt in 1970 and has used a black and white [[Portuguese pavement]] design since its origin in the 1930s: a geometric wave. The Copacabana promenade was designed by [[Roberto Burle Marx]].

==Living standard==
Copacabana has the 12th highest [[Human Development Index]] in Rio; the 2000 census put the [[Human Development Index|HDI]] of Copacabana at 0.902.<ref>{{cite web|last=Graham |first=Maria |url=http://www.copacabana.com/copafato.shtml |title=História de Copacabana UMRIO.NET |website=Copacabana.com |access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>

==Neighbourhood==
According to the [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]], 160,000 people live in Copacabana and 44,000 or 27.5% of them are 60 years old or older.<ref>[http://spl.camara.rj.gov.br/spl/spl_docdownjsessionid=D87126B13F258E820EA8A71A891194B3?id=8449]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/vejarj/070606/comportamento.html |title=Veja Rio on-line |access-date=October 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031005847/http://veja.abril.com.br/vejarj/070606/comportamento.html |archive-date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> Copacabana covers an area of 5.220&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Copacabana (Municipal Subdistrict, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/brazil/rio/_/33045570510__copacabana/ |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> which gives the borough a [[population density]] of 20,400 people per km{{sup|2}}. Residential buildings eleven to thirteen stories high built next to each other dominate the borough. Houses and two-story buildings are rare.

When Rio was the capital of Brazil, Copacabana was considered one of the best neighborhoods in the country.

==Transportation==
More than 40 different bus routes serve Copacabana,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rioonibus.com/guia_de_itinerarios/consultas/consulta-todos-numeros.asp |title=Rio Ônibus |access-date=October 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005195012/http://www.rioonibus.com/guia_de_itinerarios/consultas/consulta-todos-numeros.asp |archive-date=October 5, 2007 }}</ref> as do three subway [[Rio de Janeiro Metro|Metro]] stations: [[Cantagalo Station|Cantagalo]], [[Siqueira Campos Station|Siqueira Campos]] and [[Cardeal Arcoverde Station|Cardeal Arcoverde]].

Three major arteries parallel to each other cut across the entire borough: [[Avenida Atlântica]] (Atlantic Avenue), which is a 6-lane, 4&nbsp;km avenue by the beachside, Nossa Senhora de Copacabana Avenue and Barata Ribeiro/Raul Pompéia Street both of which are 4 lanes and 3.5&nbsp;km in length. Barata Ribeiro Street changes its name to Raul Pompéia Street after the Sá Freire Alvim Tunnel. Twenty-four streets intersect all three major arteries, and seven other streets intersect some of the three.

==Notable events==
* On 26 April 1949, {{RMS|Magdalena|1948|6}} broke in two as she was being towed into Rio de Janeiro harbour. Much of her cargo of [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]] was washed up upon the beach.
* On December 31, 1994, the New Year's Eve celebrations featured a [[Rod Stewart]] concert with an attendance of 4.5 million, making it the largest concert crowd ever.<ref>{{cite news | title = Rolling Stones hold giant Rio gig | work = BBC News | date = 19 February 2006 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4725050.stm | access-date = 21 January 2009 | location=London}}</ref> More recently, the beach has been a site for huge free concerts unrelated to the year-end festivities. On March 21, 2005, [[Lenny Kravitz]] performed there in front of 300,000 people, on a Monday night as part of his [[Electric Church Tour]]. On February 18, 2006, a Saturday, [[The Rolling Stones]] brought their [[A Bigger Bang Tour]], surpassing that mark by far and attracting over 1.5 million people to the beach.
* On July 7, 2007, the beach hosted the [[Live Earth concert, Rio de Janeiro|Brazilian leg]] of the [[Live Earth (2007 concert)|Live Earth concerts]], which attracted 400,000 people. As the headliner, [[Lenny Kravitz]] got to play the venue a second time, with [[Jorge Benjor]], [[Macy Gray]], [[O Rappa]] and [[Pharrell Williams|Pharrell]] as the main opening acts.
* On October 2, 2009, 100,000 people filled the beach for a huge party waiting for the IOC announcement of the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
* 11 of the 15 [[FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup]]s have taken place here.

* On July 28, 2013, the beach hosted the final event of the [[World Youth Day 2013]]. About 3 million people including 3 presidents joined [[Pope Francis]] when he celebrated the holy mass. 
* From May to July, 2014, the [[United Buddy Bears]] exhibit was held on the Copacabana promenade and attracted more than 1,000,000 people. The presentation consisted of more than 140 bear sculptures, each two metres high and designed by a different artist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Buddy Bears Exhibitions {{!}} Saoudi |url=http://saoudi.org/en/node/209 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=saoudi.org}}</ref>
* In August 2016, Copacabana Beach was the site of [[Beach volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics|beach volleyball]] in the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].
* On May 4, 2024, [[Madonna]] performed the final show of [[the Celebration Tour]] as a free event and part of "[[Todo Mundo no Rio]]", a new initiative highlighting the economic benefits of entertainment in Rio de Janeiro, to audience of more than 1,600,000 attendees, the largest live crowd of her career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/show-da-madonna/noticia/2024/05/05/madonna-leva-16-milhao-a-copacabana.ghtml|title=Madonna leva 1,6 milhão a Copacabana, diz Riotur|trans-title=Riotur says Madonna took 1.6 million to Copacabana|work=[[G1 (website)|G1]]|publisher=[[Grupo Globo]]|date=May 5, 2024|access-date=May 5, 2024|language=pt|archive-date=May 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505044943/https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/show-da-madonna/noticia/2024/05/05/madonna-leva-16-milhao-a-copacabana.ghtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On May 3, 2025, [[Lady Gaga]] performed a "[[Mayhem promotional concerts|Mayhem on the Beach]]" concert as a free event and also part of the "Todo Mundo no Rio" project, attracting an estimated 2,500,000 attendees, the largest crowd for a female artist in history.<ref name="GAGACABANA">{{cite magazine|last=Peters|first=Mitchell|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-copacabana-beach-rio-concert-record-breaking-1235961924/|title=Lady Gaga Draws 2.5 Million Fans to Record-Breaking Free Concert at Rio's Copacabana Beach|magazine=Billboard|date=May 4, 2025|access-date=May 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505075256/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-copacabana-beach-rio-concert-record-breaking-1235961924/|archive-date=May 5, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

==New Year's Eve in Copacabana==
{{Main|New Year's Eve in Copacabana}}
The fireworks display in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate [[New Year's Eve]] is one of the largest in the world, lasting 15 to 20 minutes. It is estimated that 2 million people go to Copacabana Beach to see the spectacle. The festival also includes a concert that extends throughout the night. The celebration has become one of the biggest tourist attractions of Rio de Janeiro, attracting visitors from all over Brazil as well as from different parts of the world, and the city hotels generally stay fully booked. The celebration is broadcast live on major Brazilian radio and television networks, including [[TV Globo]].

===History===
[[New Year's Eve]] has been celebrated on Copacabana beach since the 1950s when cults of [[Africa]]n origin such as [[Candomblé]] and [[Umbanda]] gathered in small groups dressed in white for ritual celebrations. The first [[fireworks]] display occurred in 1976, sponsored by a hotel on the waterfront and this has been repeated ever since. In the 1990s the city saw it as a great opportunity to promote the city and organized and expanded the event.

An assessment made during the New Year's Eve 1992 highlighted the risks associated with increasing crowd numbers on Copacabana beach after the fireworks display. Since the 1993-94 event concerts have been held on the beach to retain the public. The result was a success with egress spaced out over a period of 2 hours without the previous turmoil, although critics claimed that it denied the spirit of the New Year's tradition of a religious festival with fireworks by the sea. The following year [[Rod Stewart]] beat attendance records. Finally, the Tribute to [[Tom Jobim]] - with [[Gal Costa]], [[Gilberto Gil]], [[Caetano Veloso]], [[Chico Buarque]], and [[Paulinho da Viola]] - consolidated the shows at the Copacabana [[Réveillon]].

There was a need to transform the fireworks display in a show of the same quality. The fireworks display was created by entrepreneurs Ricardo Amaral and Marius. From the previous 8–10 minutes the time was extended to 20 minutes and the quality and diversity of the fireworks was improved. A technical problem in fireworks 2000 required the use of ferries from New Year's Eve 2001–02. New Year's Eve has begun to compete with the [[Rio Carnival|Carnival]], and since 1992 it has been a tourist attraction in its own right.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodorio.com/a-histria-do-rveillon-de-copacabana/ |title=A História do Réveillon de Copacabana |website=Diariodorio.com |date=2012-12-29 |access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>

There was no celebration in 2020–21 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], but the fireworks show went on.
{{wide image|Rèveillon 2013 (8333332944).jpg|800px|Fireworks in Copacabana}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)}}

{{Rio de Janeiro city neighbourhoods}}
{{2016 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro| ]]
[[Category:Beaches of Rio de Janeiro (city)]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro (city)]]
[[Category:Venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic Parks]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro (city)]]