Chapter 8 Brazil and its Neighbors

Brazil

Brazil The Land Largest country in South America Covers 3,265,060 square miles Rivers and Lowlands The Amazon winds 4,000 miles from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean The Amazon passes through a flat basin (a low area surrounded by a higher land

The Land

Largest country in South America

Covers 3,265,060 square miles

Rivers and Lowlands

The Amazon winds 4,000 miles from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean

The Amazon passes through a flat basin (a low area surrounded by a higher land

Brazil Rivers and Lowlands The Amazon is covered with thick tropical forests Two other low areas (Parana River and Sao Francisco River) flows in different directions The Brazilian Highlands Covers more than ½ the country Located mostly in eastern Brazil Low mountain ranges drop sharply at the Atlantic Ocean (Great Escarpment) Escarpment- steep cliff between high & low surfaces

Rivers and Lowlands

The Amazon is covered with thick tropical forests

Two other low areas (Parana River and Sao Francisco River) flows in different directions

The Brazilian Highlands

Covers more than ½ the country

Located mostly in eastern Brazil

Low mountain ranges drop sharply at the Atlantic Ocean (Great Escarpment)

Escarpment- steep cliff between high & low surfaces

Brazil The climate Amazon Basin- tropical rain forest Steamy temperatures, rain year around Brazil’s Highlands Tropical savanna, wet and dry seasons Southern Brazil Drier climate and moderate temperatures

The climate

Amazon Basin- tropical rain forest

Steamy temperatures, rain year around

Brazil’s Highlands

Tropical savanna, wet and dry seasons

Southern Brazil

Drier climate and moderate temperatures

Brazil’s Economic Regions The North Native Americans discouraged use of land in this area Brazilian government has encouraged logging and mining (bauxite and iron ore) Many worry about the overuse of land The Northeast Farmers and ranchers have cleared coastal rainforests to raise cattle and grow crops Overgrazing has ruined much of the land

The North

Native Americans discouraged use of land in this area

Brazilian government has encouraged logging and mining (bauxite and iron ore)

Many worry about the overuse of land

The Northeast

Farmers and ranchers have cleared coastal rainforests to raise cattle and grow crops

Overgrazing has ruined much of the land

Brazil’s Economic Regions The Southeast Rich In fertile farm land and mineral resources One of the largest iron ore deposits in the world Home of Brazil’s major cities and industry The South Vast plains support huge herds of cattle (exported around the world)

The Southeast

Rich In fertile farm land and mineral resources

One of the largest iron ore deposits in the world

Home of Brazil’s major cities and industry

The South

Vast plains support huge herds of cattle (exported around the world)

Brazil’s Economic Regions West-central Inland highlands and plateaus cover most of the area Very isolated and few settlers Very poor soil

West-central

Inland highlands and plateaus cover most of the area

Very isolated and few settlers

Very poor soil

Brazil People Largest and fastest growing population in Latin America Culture is more Portuguese than Spanish

People

Largest and fastest growing population in Latin America

Culture is more Portuguese than Spanish

Brazil (Influences of the Past) 1500s- Portuguese took control and forced natives to work in the sugar plantations and mines Many natives died due to disease and being overworked Portuguese purchased slaves and shipped them to Brazil Enslavement ended in 1888

1500s- Portuguese took control and forced natives to work in the sugar plantations and mines

Many natives died due to disease and being overworked

Portuguese purchased slaves and shipped them to Brazil

Enslavement ended in 1888

Brazil (Influences of the Past) 6% of the population is of African ancestry African customs and traditions have influenced Brazil’s culture 1822- Brazil became a monarchy 1892- Brazil became a republic

6% of the population is of African ancestry

African customs and traditions have influenced Brazil’s culture

1822- Brazil became a monarchy

1892- Brazil became a republic

Brazilian’s Today Most live along the Atlantic Coast The government has encouraged people to move inland 76% of people live in cities (some live in favela’s (slum areas) Futbol (soccer) is a way of life in Brazil

Most live along the Atlantic Coast

The government has encouraged people to move inland

76% of people live in cities (some live in favela’s (slum areas)

Futbol (soccer) is a way of life in Brazil

Section 2 Caribbean South America

Venezuela

Venezuela The Land Northwest- Maracaibo basin Lowland coastal area surrounds Lake Maracaibo Andean Highlands- home to most of Venezuelan people Guiana Highlands- dense rainforests, low population Grassy plains (llanos) lie between Guiana and Andean Highlands Orinoco River flows through the plain and is a great source for hydroelectric power (water generated electricity)

The Land

Northwest- Maracaibo basin

Lowland coastal area surrounds Lake Maracaibo

Andean Highlands- home to most of Venezuelan people

Guiana Highlands- dense rainforests, low population

Grassy plains (llanos) lie between Guiana and Andean Highlands

Orinoco River flows through the plain and is a great source for hydroelectric power (water generated electricity)

Angel Falls Drops 2,421 feet to the river below, making it the tallest waterfalls on earth. Is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls Very difficult to reach due to the mountainous terrain

Drops 2,421 feet to the river below, making it the tallest waterfalls on earth.

Is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls

Very difficult to reach due to the mountainous terrain

Venezuela (The Climate) Mostly tropical rainforest Temperatures vary with altitude (height above sea level) Lowland Maracaibo basin and inland river valleys are hot and rainy Highland areas are warm during the day and cold at night

Mostly tropical rainforest

Temperatures vary with altitude (height above sea level)

Lowland Maracaibo basin and inland river valleys are hot and rainy

Highland areas are warm during the day and cold at night

Venezuela (Economy) Once depended on coffee and cocao to earn a living 1920s- oil was discovered and became a world oil producer 90% work in service or manufacturing Agriculture still remains a large part of the economy

Once depended on coffee and cocao to earn a living

1920s- oil was discovered and became a world oil producer

90% work in service or manufacturing

Agriculture still remains a large part of the economy

Venezuela (The Past) 1500s to 1800s- was a Spanish colony 1821- Simon Bolivar freed the northern part of the continent from Spanish rule 1800s-1900s- ruled by harsh military leaders or caudillos

1500s to 1800s- was a Spanish colony

1821- Simon Bolivar freed the northern part of the continent from Spanish rule

1800s-1900s- ruled by harsh military leaders or caudillos

Venezuela (The People) Most are a mix of European, African, and Native American background Spanish is the major language Roman Catholicism is the major religion 86% of the population live in cities Enjoy the highest living standards in South America because of oil

Most are a mix of European, African, and Native American background

Spanish is the major language

Roman Catholicism is the major religion

86% of the population live in cities

Enjoy the highest living standards in South America because of oil

Venezuela Today Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998 Chavez is opposite the U.S. on several issues: Friendly with Communist Cuba and Castro Lobbied oil-producing nations to raise the price of oil Praised guerilla movements in neighboring countries Denounced the U.S. involvement in the Colombian Drug war

Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998

Chavez is opposite the U.S. on several issues:

Friendly with Communist Cuba and Castro

Lobbied oil-producing nations to raise the price of oil

Praised guerilla movements in neighboring countries

Denounced the U.S. involvement in the Colombian Drug war

Venezuela Today Chavez is getting close to turning Venezuela into a dictatorship Is being criticized by labor leaders and human rights groups The United States is watching Chavez very closely

Chavez is getting close to turning Venezuela into a dictatorship

Is being criticized by labor leaders and human rights groups

The United States is watching Chavez very closely

Guyana

Guyana Lies just north of the equator High plateaus covered by thick rainforests Low flat land near the coast Mostly rainforest Won independence in 1966 ½ of population of Asian ancestry 1/3 of population of African ancestry

Lies just north of the equator

High plateaus covered by thick rainforests

Low flat land near the coast

Mostly rainforest

Won independence in 1966

½ of population of Asian ancestry

1/3 of population of African ancestry

Suriname

Suriname Smallest independent country in South America Settled by native Americans Late 1600s- became under Dutch rule 1975- became independent from Dutch Economy depends on agriculture and mining

Smallest independent country in South America

Settled by native Americans

Late 1600s- became under Dutch rule

1975- became independent from Dutch

Economy depends on agriculture and mining

French Guiana

French Guiana Low coastal plain-ocean winds keep areas around 80 degrees Inland rainforests- hot and humid 1600s- French settled area Enslaved Africans to work in mines on sugarcane plantations Served as a place for French prisoners from 1790s to 1940s Still considered part of France today

Low coastal plain-ocean winds keep areas around 80 degrees

Inland rainforests- hot and humid

1600s- French settled area

Enslaved Africans to work in mines on sugarcane plantations

Served as a place for French prisoners from 1790s to 1940s

Still considered part of France today