GEOSouthAmerica1

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

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

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

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

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)

Brazil’s Economic Regions

• 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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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