Brazil has diverse geography including the longest river in the world, the Amazon River, and half of the world's rainforests. It has a diverse population due to immigration from Portugal, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Portugal colonized Brazil in the 1500s, but Brazil gained independence in 1823 after a war of independence. Today, Brazil struggles with uneven distribution of wealth.

1. Brazil
Nation Report-Part 1
By Jessica Jefferson
History 141

2. Geography
Making up almost half of South America, Brazil is home
to many amazing geographic features.
One of the longest and most
famous of our worlds rivers, the
Amazon, runs throughout it’s
tropical climate.
Rain forests in Brazil
make up for almost half of
the worlds total tropics.

3. Geography
The Pico da Neblina is Brazil’s highest point, reaching 9,823 ft.
Pico da Neblina National Park is bordered by Serrania de la
Neblina National Park in Venezuela. Together these parks total
more than 80,000 km². The geology of Brazil is very old,
Precambrian crust makes up the central one third of the
landmass. Waterfalls, highlands, and an extensive river systems
make for a diverse landscape.

4. Geography
Due to its climate, Brazil is able to produce up to 70
million tons of grain crops in a year. But rapid clearing
of the rain forest does not leave for sustainable soils.
Efforts have been
made to reduce
deforestation and
restore natural
vegetation
in many areas.

5. People
Brazils people are diverse. Several distinct ethnic
groups inhabit the area in addition to the natives.
• Portuguese • Chinese
• Africans • Paraguayans
• Europeans • Bolivians
• Arab
• Japanese
• Koreans

6. People
The diversity is a
result of several mass
immigrations during
different periods.
Portuguese, Italian,
Spanish, and even
German arrived
during the 19th and
20th centuries in what
is referred to as the
Great Immigration.

7. People
Races in Brazil are often tied to geographic areas. European
immigration was heavier in the Southern portion of the region
resulting in a higher percentage of whites within this area. The
Northern and Northeastern regions, however, have a much
more mixed race make-up.
The most diverse
region is the
Southeastern portion
of Brazil, home to the
oldest Portuguese
settlement in the
Americas.

8. History
People first came to Brazil across the Bering Land Bridge.
Fossil evidence points to at least 8000 years of habitation
prior to European arrival. During the 1500s several
explores visited Brazil. Duarte Pacheco Pereira, Pedro
Alvares Cabral, and Vicente Yanez Pinzon, to name a few.

9. History
It was Pedro Alvares Cabral, in command of the
Portuguese fleet, who in 1500, claimed the land
for Portugal. From the 16th through the 19th
centuries, Brail would remain under Portuguese
command.

10. History
Portuguese surrendered Brazil in 1823
as a result of the the Brazilian
Independence war.
The first Emperors faced many challenges, and in 1889
republican government was established. Dictatorship and
military rule preceded the first Brazilian president in 1989,
Fernando Collor de Mello.
Brazil’s biggest problem today is it’s uneven
distribution of wealth. Programs such as
Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) work
to help those in need.

11. Sources
• Geography of Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Brazil
• Pico da Neblina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_da_Neblina
• Race and ethnicity in Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_Brazil
• Independence of Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_War_of_Independence#The_Indep
endence_War