Final answer:
Brazil is the fifth largest country and the largest in Latin America, discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 and initially claimed for Portugal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country discovered by Pedro Álvares Cabral that is the fifth largest country and also the largest in Latin America is Brazil. Cabral, who was an explorer from Portugal, originally set out for India but was blown off course, landing on the coast of South America in 1500. He claimed the land for Portugal under the authority of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which had divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. Brazil was a Portuguese colony until it became an independent nation in 1822. Due to its history of colonization, Brazil developed a diverse culture with influences from European immigration, African slave labor, and indigenous traditions.