Brazil |
The Country and Environment
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and forms part of South America (also known as Latin America). Its landmass is bigger than the United States of America, if you exclude Alaska. Its capital city is Brasilia although big cities like Rio de Janeiro (famous for the large statue of Christ) and São Paulo are better known.
Because Brazil is so big, there is great variation in land and climate. Its dramatic scenery includes mountain ranges, a tropical rainforest, beautiful coastal areas and deserts. The rainforest in Brazil is the largest in the world (3.3 million sq km) and is home to two million species of animals and birds – that is over half of the world’s species!
The country is made up of five main regions – North, Northeast, Centre-West, Southeast and South.
The ‘Amazon Basin’ is situated in the North and mainly consists of low-lying ground, covered with rainforests and rivers (including the Amazon). This region has the lowest number of inhabitants, many of whom are indigenous It is home to the largest deposit of fresh water as well as being the most bio-diverse region in the world.
The Northeast is home to a third of Brazil’s population and is the country’s poorest region. It has a very large African population – in fact, Brazil has the second largest black population in the world after Nigeria. This area is made up of rocky plateaux and scrub vegetation, with a very hot and dry climate, often suffering from severe drought.The Central-West region, where Brasilia (the capital of Brazil) is located, is made up of vast plains where cattle-raising predominates. Not many people live in this area, as most of Brazil’s population is concentrated in the larger cities.
The Southeast and the South are the richest and most populated regions of Brazil. In fact, the Southeast has more inhabitants than any other South American country! The major business centre of São Paulo is located in the Southeast, alongside the historical cities of Minas Gerais.
Many European immigrants (mainly Germans and Italians) live in the South region, as well as a large Japanese population and huge numbers of Lebanese people too. The area shows clear influences from many of these different cultures.
Which famous river flows through Brazil?
Who lives in the Amazon Basin?
Which region is the poorest?
Which region is the richest?
Landmass
a large area of land
people who originally come from a country and/or region and have lived there for centuries
Statue of Christ - Rio
Jungle in the Northeast
