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:
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.ReutersA performer at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersRevelers at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersRevellers 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.ReutersA float at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersRevellers 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.ReutersRevellers 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.ReutersA performer at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersA 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.ReutersA 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.ReutersA reveller at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersA performer at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersA float at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersA reveler at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersA reveler at the Brazil Carnival.Reuters
