Brazil

BRAZIL IS THE LARGEST and most populous country in South America. The country occupies almost half of the continent. Slightly smaller than the UNITED STATES, it is the fifth-largest country in the world. Brazil has become the leading economic power in South America, due to its vast natural resources, a large labor force, and impressive developments in industry and agriculture. At the same time, income distribution in the country is highly unequal.

The ATLANTIC OCEAN borders Brazil to the east. The country shares a border with every country in South America except for CHILE and ECUADOR. A majority of Brazil is tropical, as it is located between 5 degrees north and 33 degrees south latitude. A small percentage of the country is below the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.

By the end of the 20th century, the population of Brazil had reached about 180 million. The population has grown extremely fast since 1950, with annual growth rates greater than 2.2 percent. Because of the recent and rapid population growth, Brazil possesses a young population, with two-thirds of the people under age 25. The population is unevenly distributed, as it concentrates along the coast. Coastal areas have a population density of about 12 inhabitants per square mile, while in the interior that figure is a mere 2 people per square mile. Brazil is also a highly urbanized country, with two-thirds of the population living in cities.

Population growth has been accompanied by significant rural-to-urban migration. The population of Brazil is a mixture of Native American, European, African, and Asian peoples. Brazil had no large Native American civilizations as in MEXICO or PERU. At the time of the arrival of Europeans in 1500, there were perhaps 1 million indigenous people in Brazil. These native inhabitants can be divided into two main categories: the Tupí-Guaraní and the Tapuya. In 1500, the Portuguese became the first Europeans to encounter Brazil, which became a Portuguese colony until 1822. In the 19th and 20th centuries, numerous European immigrants came to Brazil from countries such as PORTUGAL and ITALY. Brazil also possesses a large African population as a result of the slave trade. Brazil received more African slaves than any other New World colony. In 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery.

The Guyana Highlands in northern Brazil extend into the neighboring countries of VENEZUELA, GUYANA, SURINAME, and FRENCH GUIANA. The region is rugged and transportation is difficult. Many parts are still very inaccessible, and the Guyana Highlands are one of the world’s last natural and cultural preserves. The highest peak in the region is Mount Roraima, which reaches 9,432 ft (2,875 m). While the area is rich in mineral resources, few have been exploited until recently. Some

parts of the northern highlands are now heavily mined for gold, diamonds, iron-ore, and bauxite. 

There are also many rapids and waterfalls in the Guyana Highlands, most of which drain into the AMAZON system. The Amazon is the dominant river system in Brazil. The river is so large that it is often referred to as the “river-sea” in Portuguese. The Amazon River has a greater volume of water than any river, containing 14 times the volume of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The river’s width varies from 1.9 to 8.8 mi (3 to 14 km), making it impossible to see from shore to shore at many points. The Amazon begins high in the ANDES mountains in Peru and flows eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean for some 4,000 mi (6,437 km). More than 1,000 tributaries join the river along the way. The Amazon and its tributaries provide more than 25,000 mi (40,233 km) of navigable routes. At 200 mi (322 km) across and 200 ft (61 m) deep, the mouth of the Amazon is so wide that it holds the Ilha de Marajó, an island the size of SWITZERLAND. Ocean-going ships can reach the city of Manaus, located 1,000 mi (1,609 km) inland.