1. Brazil
Geography

2. Introduction Two major types of land forms in Brazil
Plains
Plateaus
Escarpment – steep cliff between two level areas at different heights
Located behind the coastal plains is a plateau
The escarpment is located where these two areas meet

3. Escarpment

4. Northeast Region

5. Northeast Region Bulges out into the Atlantic Ocean
Portuguese colonists in the 1500s
Built sugar plantations
Lots of port cities
Lots of slaves were brought to work on plantations
Severe poverty, chronic malnutrition
Life expectancy of 49 years

6. Sugar Plantations

7. Southeast Region

8. Southeast Region 40% of population lives here
Brazil’s economic heartland
Humid, subtropical climate, rich soil
Cash crops  cotton, sugar cane, rice, cacao
Coffee = most important crop
Brazil grows ¼ of the world’s coffee supply

9. Southeast Region Most people live in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo
Beauty, excitement, good economy  draw people to these cities
Migrants are undereducated, inexperienced
Many find no jobs, or low paying ones
Live in favelas – slum communities

10. Favelas

11. Southeast Region Most people associate Rio de Janeiro with Carnival
Famous festival
Takes place during the four days before Lent
Music, dancing (particularly samba), floats, costumes
Giant parties in the streets
Samba (in beginning) Serena Cuevas & Jonia

12. Carnival

13. Brazilian Highlands

14. Brazilian Highlands Lots of hills located on the central plateau
Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, is in this area
Capital used to be Rio de Janeiro
Government decided to change it in hopes of developing the interior of the country

15. Rio and Brasilia
View of Rio de Janeiro
Cathedral in Brasilia

16. Amazon River Region

17. Amazon River Region Largest and least explored region
Never ending growing season
Amazon Rainforest is home to thousands of species of plants and animals
Orchids
Palms
Monkeys
Jaguars
Toucans
Piranha
Dolphins

18. Amazon River

19. The Amazon Indians 200,00 Indians from 180 different tribes live here
Linked through trade networks
There used to be many more (2-5 million), but they were killed by the Portuguese or their diseases
Tribes are often isolated, not always exposed to modern diseases
Panara tribe was devastated when a highway was built through their tribe and they were exposed to disease
Government has tried to preserve Indian communities by setting up reservations
Opponents argue that this will CAUSE Indians to lose their culture as their way of life changes

20. Amazon Indians