Dazzling costumes and elaborate floats continued to mesmerise the onlookers as the dancers kept on performing on the second night of Rio's iconic Sambadrome on Monday.

Several Samba schools paraded their lavishly costumed dancers to get the top honour, the Carnival Champion title. Up to 13 Samba schools are competing for the title which is to be decided on Wednesday.

Major Samba schools such as Salgueiro, Mangueira and Unidos da Tijuca are among the contenders for the title at the Rio Carnival, termed as the "the greatest show on Earth".

The carnival is expected to create 250,000 jobs and revenues of $640 million for hotels, bars and restaurants, according to the government estimates.

Take a look at the latest pictures of the Rio Carnival:

Brazil Carnival
A reveller from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 21, 2012. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A performer at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
Revelers at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
Revellers from the Uniao da Ilha samba school take part in the parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 20, 2012. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A float at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
Revellers from the Salgueiro samba school take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, Feb. 20, 2012. The Brazilian Carnival, which is held 46 days before Easter, is marked by samba parades on the streets of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The Carnival, the most famous holiday event in Brazil, is happened from Feb. 17 to 21. Brazil receives about 70 percent of its annual visitors during the Carnival, according to officials. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
Revellers from the Salgueiro samba school takes part in the parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 20, 2012. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A performer at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A reveller from the Grande Rio samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 21, 2012. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A reveller from the Grande Rio samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 21, 2012. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A reveller at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A performer at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A float at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A reveler at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters
Brazil Carnival
A reveler at the Brazil Carnival. Reuters