Brazil: Lesson 1

Physical Geography of Brazil

Waterways and Landforms

• Brazil is the largest country in South America.

• The Amazon river has more than 1,000 tributaries. These smaller rivers feed into the Amazon and drain into an area called a basin.

• Much of the Amazon basin is covered by the large rain forest.

• The tall trees form a canopy, or an umbrella-like covering.

Waterways and Landforms

• Brazil's Highlands is mainly a region of rolling hills and plateaus - areas of high, flat land.

• The western highlands is largely grassland.

• The eastern highlands has low mountain ranges and in some places escarpments - steep slopes

• Farther south are grassy, treeless plains called pampas.

A Tropical Climate

• Most of Brazil is located in the Tropics - a zone along Earth's equator that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

• Brazil has a variety of climates.

• Southeastern Brazil is in a temperate zone - the region between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.

Natural Resources

• Brazil has some of the world's most plentiful natural resources.

• Abundant forests cover about 60% of Brazil.

• Brazil's rich mineral resources are only partly developed. They include iron ore, tin, copper etc.

• They are the world's largest producer of coffee, sugarcane, and tropical fruits. AS well as soybeans, corn, and cotton.