Brazil's Geography
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America by far. Brazil is divided into five different regions: the Northeast, the Southeast, the South, the Central West, and the North.
The North
The North consists of seven different states, Amapa, Acre, Amazonas, Tocantins, Para, Rondonia, and Roraima. They are all composed of the Amazon River Basin and its tributaries. The Guina Highlands are part of them as well(Bourne p. 3).
The Central West
The Central West has four states, Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sol, and the Federal District. Brazil's capital, Brasilia, is located in the Federal District. Except for a few cities, the Central West is a huge, sparsely populated area with floodplains, grasslands, and plateaus that have a large variety
of wildlife( Bourne p.3).
The South
The South is composed of three different states, Santa Catarina, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sol. The South has grasslands in the middle, and a plain along the coast. The beaches on the coastline of this region are known for their beauty(Bourne p.3).
The Southeast
The Southeast has 4 states, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Sao Paulo. All the states in this region are rich and important(except Espirito Santo), because of their natural treasures such as fertile soil, and favorable climate. Rio de Janeiro, better known as just Rio, is a tourism hotspot, because of its beautiful city, forests, and Christ the Redeemer statue that has watched over Rio since 1931(Bourne p.3).
The Northeast
The Northeast is composed of nine states, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas,
Sergipe, and Bahia. Inland of this region is a dry and rocky area where cactuses and other drought-loving plants thrive(Bourne p.3).
The North
The North consists of seven different states, Amapa, Acre, Amazonas, Tocantins, Para, Rondonia, and Roraima. They are all composed of the Amazon River Basin and its tributaries. The Guina Highlands are part of them as well(Bourne p. 3).
The Central West
The Central West has four states, Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sol, and the Federal District. Brazil's capital, Brasilia, is located in the Federal District. Except for a few cities, the Central West is a huge, sparsely populated area with floodplains, grasslands, and plateaus that have a large variety
of wildlife( Bourne p.3).
The South
The South is composed of three different states, Santa Catarina, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sol. The South has grasslands in the middle, and a plain along the coast. The beaches on the coastline of this region are known for their beauty(Bourne p.3).
The Southeast
The Southeast has 4 states, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Sao Paulo. All the states in this region are rich and important(except Espirito Santo), because of their natural treasures such as fertile soil, and favorable climate. Rio de Janeiro, better known as just Rio, is a tourism hotspot, because of its beautiful city, forests, and Christ the Redeemer statue that has watched over Rio since 1931(Bourne p.3).
The Northeast
The Northeast is composed of nine states, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas,
Sergipe, and Bahia. Inland of this region is a dry and rocky area where cactuses and other drought-loving plants thrive(Bourne p.3).
Physical Features
There are two main upland areas in Brazil, the Brazilian highlands, and the Guina highlands, which cover more than a half of Brazil. There are also three major lowland areas in Brazil, "...the Amazon Basin, a small area in southern Brazil drained by the Rio de la Plata system, and the small area of the upper Paraguay river system in the southwest(Bourne p.3)." The main river in Brazil is the Amazon(the longest river in the world), that crosses through the middle of South America. Steep mountains run along most of Brazil's Atlantic Coast. The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, being a major natural resource for Brazil. This prosperous country holds a sheer 12 percent of the world's freshwater in its borders(Pearson Ed. 1)!
Photo courtesy of http://www.free-extras.com/search/1/amazon+river.html