Guanabara Bay

Portuguese explorers arrived at Guanabara Bay in January 1502 and mistakenly identified it as the mouth of a large river, naming it 'Rio de Janeiro,' meaning 'River of January.' The name persisted despite the geographic error, as no major river actually feeds into the bay.

Guanabara Bay is recognized as one of the largest bays in the world by water volume, located in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. It measures approximately 31 kilometers in length and contains numerous islands, including Ilha Governador, which houses Rio's main international airport.

Guanabara Bay has significant pollution problems, with untreated sewage and industrial waste flowing into its waters from the surrounding Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. These issues gained international attention during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when sailing events were held on the bay.

Guanabara Bay is flanked by some of Brazil's most iconic landmarks, including Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) at its western entrance and the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain overlooking the area. The bay's entrance is also marked by historic fortresses dating back to the colonial era.