Source: Old tourist photo of Rio de Janeiro.
Comment: Huge economic growth came to SE Brazil in the 1950's. During this decade, São Paulo (actual population 12,000,000; metropolitan population 23,000,000) replaced Rio as Brazil's largest and most industrial city. And in 1960, Brazil's capital was moved from Rio to Brasília. Nowadays, Rio's largest industry is tourist, and its most significant role in Brazilian national life is politics.