The document provides information about Brazil, the largest country in Latin America. It discusses Brazil's colonial history beginning with Portuguese colonization in 1500 led by Pedro Álvares Cabral. It also mentions the distinctive Brazilian culture that evolved over centuries from the initial cultural exchange between indigenous peoples and Portuguese colonizers. Additional topics covered include Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon River which flows through northern Brazil, and the tropical rainforests that cover much of the country.

1. Land of the Amazon Brazil

2. South America Discarding its colonial heritage Land of cultural, physical, and ecological diversity

3. Brazil At 3.27 million miles, Brazil is the largest territory in Latin America, just slightly smaller than the U.S. BRAZIL

4. Cabral colonizes for Portugal On April 22, 1500, the 13-ship fleet under Pedro Álvares Cabral anchored off the mouth of the Rio Buranhém on the Bahian coast. The chronicler of the discovery, wrote that immediately they saw men walking on the beach, and by the time a longboat reached the shore twenty or so had assembled. Entirely naked and dark skinned, they laid down their bows and arrows as a sign of peace, while responding to offers of Portuguese hats by giving over a parrot-feathered headdress and a long string of white seed pearls. Thus did the cultural exchange begin that would evolve over the next five centuries into the distinctive Brazilian culture.

5. Portugese colonization The Garcia D´Ávila Castle was built in the XVI century with medieval characteristics and has been used as residence of Portuguese nobles and soldiers. Its ruins have been recently refurbished and archeological research has been done the area.

6. Rio De Janeiro Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) gestures to a samba dancer at the during a visit to the Mangueira Samba School's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, 2004. Chavez was in Brazil to attend the 18th annual Rio Group summit. World Photos - Reuters News Photos Prev. | Start | Next Fri Nov 5, 8:02 PM ET Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) gestures to a samba dancer at the Mangueira Samba School during a visit to the school's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, November 5, 2004. Chavez is in Brazil to attend the 18th annual Rio Group summit. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos

7. Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro

8. North Brazil The Amazon drains an area equivalent to more than two thirds of the continental United States. It pours into the Atlantic Ocean about one-fifth of the freshwater that flows into all the world's oceans, a volume so gigantic that it alters ocean salt levels 200 miles from its mouth.

9. Rio Negro Confluence with Rio Solimões

10. Amazon River The second-longest river in the world, the Amazon is 3,900 miles long flowing across North Brazil before entering the Atlantic Ocean near Belem. It carries more water than any other river in the world. The source is the Andes Mountains. A school of sharp-teethed piranha can devour a cow in minutes

11. Rain forest Tropical rain forests are mainly the product of climatic interactions, particularly temperature and rainfall. In general, tropical rain forests occur where a mean monthly temperature of between 20 and 28 degrees C is combined with an annual rainfall of between 1.5 and 10m, evenly distributed throughout the year. This last proviso is very important because it is only to those tropical forests which experience little seasonal variation in terms of rainfall that the term rain forest can legitimately be applied.

12. “ Rainforests are the finest celebration of nature ever known on the planet.” The author of this statement would most likely be opposed to which of these projects: A. A plan to reforest 200,000 acres of Brazil. B. A plan by the government of Brazil to allow the clearing of 300,000 acres for commercial farming. C. The development of a tourist resort on the coast of Chile. D. The building of a hydroelectric dam in southern Argentina.

13. “ I strongly am proposing a plan to protect the rain forest and the indigenous people of Brazil because there is a direct connection between the rain forest and the local cultures who inhabit it.” The author of this statement is most likely a A. World Bank representative B. Brazilian government official C. Oil company executive D. Environmental activist

14. The Itaipu hydroelectric power plant on the Parana River is a joint development project with Brazil and Paraguay. With 18 units of 700 megawatts each, it is the largest hydroelectric plant currently in operation in the world

15. Amazon Rainforest Conference

16. The Amazon Basin

17. Amazon Rainforest Canopy

18. Animals of the Amazon

19. Cattle grazing in Para, Brazil.

20. Images of Native Amazonians

21. Development Road in Brazil

22. Satillite Image of Deforestation in Brazil

23. Directions for Preparing for the Rainforest Conference Make sure your group members have copies of handouts 3.1A , 3.1C , 3.1D and 3.1E. Read and discuss the information for your interest group. Answer the discussion questions. Read and discuss the Summary of Rainforest Interest Groups. Determine whether or not your group’s interests conflict with the interests of other groups.

24. Designing a Group Banner Design a banner representing your interest group to display on the desks in front of you during the conference. Include the following: The name of your interest group, written large enough so everyone in the room can read it. A catchy slogan that reveals how your interest wants rainforest land to be used. A visual symbol that represents your group. RANCHERS “ LAND FOR BEEF!”

25. Introductory Statement Write a brief (30 second) introduction for your interest group to be read at the start of the conference. Include the following: Who you are Who you think is to blame for the conflict in the rainforest How you think the rainforest to be used What the elements of your banner represent.

26. Links “ The Columbian Exchange” from the series Columbus & the Age of Discovery http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/nattrans/ntecoindian/essays/columbian.htm "The Great Disease Migration," by Geoffrey Cowley http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/his/COWLEY01.HIS http://www.ddbstock.com/index.html http://community.webshots.com/album/103318559IkAyZv http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=21901 http://www.jouvay.com/guyana/guyana/ South American experience: Guyana http://www.southamericanexperience.co.uk/guyana/guyana_rainforestandfalls.html Grassland bione: The Pampas http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/pampas.htm Ecuador: frigate bird http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Ecuador/Galapagos/FrigateBird/FrigateBirds.htm Ecuador: hoatzin http://www.photobirder.com/Bird_Photos/hoatzin.jpg Pics4Learning http://www.pics4learning.com/ Alpaca wool throw http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=83812 South American biodiversity http://www.ecuador-travel.net/biodiversity.birds.egret.htm