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| General Information |
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| The largest country in South America, Brazil has a land area of 3,265,060 square miles. Because it covers such a large area, Brazil has many different land forms. Brazil has lowland, river valleys as well as highland areas and coastal plains.The Amazon is the world's second longest river, winding almost 4,000 miles from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the Amaozon basin is covered with thick tropical forests, which Brazilians call the selva. Brazil is not just forests. Highlands, in fact, cover more than half of the country. Low mountain ranges in the highlands drop sharply to the Atlantic Ocean, known as the Great Escarpment. Brazil's climate is varied, just like its landforms. With its tropical rain forest climate, the basin has hot, steamy temperatures and lost of rain year-round. In most of Brazil's highland areas, you will find a tropical savanna climate, with wet and dry seasons. |
| Brazil makes a living by agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries. Agriculture has been important in the country for centuries, and rapid industrial growth has made Brazil the leading manufacturing nation in South America.The north is rich in mahogany, teak, and other forest woods. The area also contains minerals such as bauxite and iron ore. As a result, th Brazilian government has encouraged logging and mining in the north, for the rain forest were guarded by the Native Americans. In the northeast region, farmers and ranchers have cleared coastal rain forests to grow crops and raise cattle. SuagarCane, cotton, cacao, and sisal are this regions major farm products. But too much overgrazing in this dry area has ruined much of the land. The southeast is rich in mineral resoures and fertile farmland. This region is one of the largest iron-ore deposits in the world, and also supplies coffee. The towering forests of the north are matched by the towering skycrapers of the southeast. Here stand Brazil's major cities and centers of industry. Sao Paulo is home to more than 21 million people, making it one of the fastest-urban areas in the world. It is also Brazil's leading trade and industrial center. Rio de Janeiro with a population of about 13 million, is a favorite tourist spot. The south's vast plains support huge herds of cattle. Brazilian beef is exported all over the world. Another product of the south is yerba mate, a tealike drink that is popular throughout the southern part of South America. |
| Brazil has a population of over 162 million people, which makes it the fastest and largest growing population of any Latin American country. Most of Brazilians live along the coast. Because the Brazilian government wanted people to move inland, they changed the capitol from Rio de Janeiro to Brasila. Today Brasila is a rapidly growing city at a population of 2 million. About 76 percent of Brazilians live in cities. Many city dwellers are poor, and live in favelas, or slum areas. Others have good jobs in industry and government. Some Brazilians work on plantations or ranches, too, and alsocultivate subsistence farms. In rural areas the people live in one or two room houses made of stone or brick. As you may know, Brazilians love futbol, or soccer. There are soccer fields almost everywhere. In Rio de Janeiro, the stadium can seat 220,000 fans! Brazilians enjoy many celebrations. The festival known as Carnival is celebrated just before the beginning of Lent, a Christian holy season. The best Carnival is held in Rio de Janeiro. |
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