The three distinct zones that exist in Rio are known as the North Zone, the Central Zone and the South Zone. Each has a different land use, economic and social structure. Each will be described beginning with the famous South Zone.

When Rio is described as sandy beaches, beautiful mountains and ocean views, this is essentially what is known as the South Zone. The most famous landmarks of Rio, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, are both here. This area is very affluent and is defined by the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and just recently, Sao Corrado and Barra da Tijuca to the west. The area is spread out for several miles, squeezed between the mountains to the north and thecoastline to the south. The South Zone is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and is characterized by its many apartments buildings. Nowhere along this region does anyonelive further than a half mile from the beach.

This South Zone was originally fishing towns not yet connected to the city of Rio. With the connection of tunnels and streetcars to this area, the South Zone grew. The main commercial strip emerged along the shore and runs along its length, containing the best hotels, galleries and theaters in the world. As the demand to live in this region grew, houses were replaced with apartments and condominiums allowing for a higher concentration of people to live here. Though the density changed, the economic class, upper-middle to upper class, still remained. This is compared to the favelas located also in the South Zone along the steep mountain sides next to the wealthy.

The Central Zone, also known as the Central Business District, is the downtown of Rio and the center for all of the commerce, banking and business. It is where the original city of Rio de Janeiro was founded and is now defined by its many skyscrapers. The municipal and state governments are both located here. Along with over 30 museums, the Central Zone is a lso known for its expanse of retail and commercial along the Avenida Rio Branco. Unfortunately, this incredible growth came at a great expense. To accommodate the modernization of Rio, much of the original colonial architecture, Second Empire and Art Nouveau styles were destroyed. This also took place with the narrow, winding streets that characterized the city. The Central Zone is accessed mostly by automobile, bus and partly by subway and streetcar. This creates incredible congestion during rush hour periods and adds to the already severe problem of pollution. Despite the emerging power of Sao Paulo and Brasilia, the business of the Central Zone continue to be the base of many Brazilian companies.

The North Zone is the main port area and center of industry of Rio. It is located north and west of the Central Zone and boarders along Guanabara Bay on the east. The airport and the main soccer stadium, holding over 200,000, is located here. Tijuca, Meier and Madureia are different centers for the North Zone, that vary in economic status by location. There is a poor inner-city ring between the CBD and the North Zone. Then the wealth increases in another ring furth er out. From here, economic status drops the further away from the city one gets, until the very poor suburbios are reached on the outer ring of development. This pattern of stratification is just the opposite of what is experienced in most western cities.

The North Zone was first developed off the street car routes that created fingers of development away from the core of the city. As Rio removed the street cars and replaced them with busses, spaces between each route filled in. This made it hard to keep up with the expansion of utilities and public services. Even today, the North Zone is characterized by its lack of utilities. This area is also has the fastest growing population. Most are poor migrants from the rural areas of Brazil that settle here because land values are cheaper.

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