the bay of botafogo is one of the most characteristic of rio de janeiro, just across from the well-known hills of pão de açúcar (sugar loaf) and urca, and home to botafogo beach.

it lends its name to the neighborhood which envelops it, and to one of the most well-known soccer clubs in brazil - the Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, normally called just  Botafogo.

an important canoeing club was founded there in 1894, and it went on to become one of the best in the city.

a soccer club was created ten years later, and it was very successful as well.