1. Brazil’s Amazon River Basin
Ch. 3
Brazil’s Amazon River Basin

2. Basin = area drained by river & tributaries
Covers more than 50% of Brazil
Moist Trade Winds = 80” of rain/year
Rain + constant 80º temp = Constant Growing Season

3. Home to Thousands of Species of Plants & Animals (from many of which valuable products are made)
Chili Pepper
Ginger
Nutmeg
Orchids
Bamboo
Rattan
Jute (rope, burlap)
Curare (muscle relaxant)
Diosgenin (birth control, asthma, arthritis)
Ouabain (heart medication)
Quinine (malaria, pneumonia)
Emetine (bronchitis)
Chewing gum
Varnish
Printing ink
Latex (used to make rubber)
Petroleum (used to make gasoline)
Coffee
Camphor (insect repellent)
Tangerine
Coconut
Lime
Banana
Pepper
Avocado

4. Also home to Amazon Indigenous People:
1% of Brazilians (200,000)
180 different tribes
Disappearing due to:
government regulations, environment, diseases from outside visitors, movement to reservations

5. 1960: Brazilian gov’t built roads to interior for easier access to valuable hardwoods and farmland
Slash/burn
crops only
grow well for
a few years
Valuable medical
resources lost forever

6. Reasons for Destruction
Farming and Ranching
Oil drilling, iron ore &
gold mining
Logging
Hydroelectric
Urbanization –
growth of cities