Geography

Brazil

• Largest country in South America and the Southern Hemisphere

• Fifth largest country in the world– US covers 3,717,813 square miles– Brazil covers 3,287,612 square miles– Brazil is larger than the 48 US contiguous states

• Fifth most populated country– US population is 312,931,000– Brazil’s population is 192,376,496

Five Major Regions in Brazil

• Northeast• Amazon• Pantanal Wetlands• Planalto Highlands• Southern

Northeast (Nordeste) Brazil

Northeast Brazil

• From Salvador north to São Luis• First part of Brazil to be settled• Warm year-round– Low 80s to mid-90s– Winter months (June-July) are slightly wetter

• Coast is dominated by midsize cities, sugar cane and long, white sandy beaches

• Interior is arid semi-desert with cattle

Salvador

• First capital of Brazil• Sugar cane grew well in Salvador, leading to

the importing of slaves from West Africa beginning in the 16th century

• Slaves freed in 1888 and settled in Salvador – 80% of population are of Afro-Brazilian descent

• Strong African influence in food, music and religion

Food

• Food flavored with coconut milk and red dendê (palm) oil

• Samples of Cocada – dessert made with sugar and coconut

Baiana in traditional white costume selling Acarajé

Colonial History

Amazon• Largest rainforest in the

world• Covers 30% of South

America• Amazon is the second

longest river in the world• During the wet season, an

additional 100,000 square miles are flooded

• Sparsely populated with indigenous peoples

Amazon Wildlife

Meeting of the Waters

Pantanal Wetlands

• World’s largest wetland - approximately 75,000 square miles

• 80% of area submerged during rainy season

• Protected biosphere reserve

Pantanal Wetlands

• Result of runoff from Planalto highlands

• Annual rainfall of 39-55 inches

• Average temperate 77ºF• Drastic seasonal

variations of water levels – from 80% submerged to dry phases where water level is below root region

Pantanal Wetlands• Pantanal ecosystem

thought to be home to:– 1000 bird species– 400 fish species– 300 mammalian

species– 480 reptile species– 9800 subspecies of

invertebrates.• Home to over 3500

plant species

Planalto Highlands (Plateau)• Formed from ancient

basaltic lava flows • Highlands and the narrow

coastal region adjacent to highlands are home to majority of Brazil’s population

• Covers most of eastern, southern and central portions of Brazil

• Highest point – Pico da Bandiera (9,485 feet)

Planalto Highlands (Plateau)

• Home to Brazilian Seat of Government• Capital City, Brasilia• Palacio do Planalto –

official government building for Brazil’s president.

Southern Brazil

Region European African Native American

Southeast Brazil 84.20% 17.30% 7.30%

Southern Brazil 95.50% 10.30% 9.40%

South and Southeastern Brazil

•It is the richest region of the country, responsible for approximately 60% of the Brazilian GDP

•The Southeast region leads the country in population, industries, highways and ports

•Made mostly of Brazilians of Italian, Portuguese and German descent

Iguaçu Falls

• Along the Iguazu River and the southern border of Brazil and Argentina

•One of the new seven Wonders of Nature

Iguaçu Falls

Florianópolis

•Capital city of Santa Catarina State

•City has 42 beaches with a big surf influence

•Party destination of the Year in 2009

•Considered one of the top places to live in Brazil

Florianópolis

`Sáo Paulo

Population: 18,850,000

7th most populous city in the world

• Advertising campaigns were run in rural areas in the 1950s and 1960s to attract workers to the city

Sáo Paulo

Known for having more 12+ story buildings than any city in the world!

ReligionPopulation

(million)Proportion (%)

Roman Catholicism 122 68%

Protestantism 20 12.4%

No religious affiliation 23 15.4%

Spiritism 8 3.3%

Afro-Brazilian Religion 1 0.3%

Other religions 4 1.7%

Religions of Brazil

São Paulo Metropolitan Cathedral

Sáo Paulo Environment

Sáo Paulo Transportation

Sáo Paulo Transportation

Sáo Paulo Transportation

Sáo Paulo Guarulhos International Airport

Rio de Janeiro

Population: 10,556,000

22nd most populous city in the world

¡Hasta Brazil!