Rio de Janeiro became Brazil’s 24th largest state after merging with Guanabara State in 1975! It’s named after the Guanabara Bay, formerly January Bay (Ria de Janeiro) because Portuguese explorers, Gaspar de Lemos and Gonçalo Coelho, came across it on January 1, 1502! Its capital and largest city is Rio de Janeiro! Rio de Janeiro’s state motto is “Recte Rem Publicam Gerere,” which is Latin for “Conduct the affairs of the public with righteousness!” This state is famous for Carnival, the Christ Redeemer, Maracaná Stadium, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Copacabana & Ipanema beaches!