Brazil

A Cultural Region

Brazil

• A large country with much diversity

• Like Canada, Brazilians celebrate this diversity through its many expressions of its culture

• Brazil has a number of cultural groups each exhibiting their own culture, yet all groups show a blended culture that is uniquely Brazilian

Brazil - Carnival• Carnival is the annual

festival in Brazil which marks the beginning of the Lent season for Roman Catholics

• Carnival is the most lavish festival in all of South America

• Carnival involves dancing (samba), parade floats, and elaborate costumes

• Most spectacular display of cultural identity; draws thousands of tourists year after year

Left: Samba Dancing

In Salvador, bands known as trios electricos play on the tops of trucks that parade the streets. They carry giant amplifiers that send the dance rhythms into the massivecrowds

Brazil : Physical Environment

• 5th largest country in the world by area

• 5 different physical regions

• Significant variations in climate and vegetation

Brazil : Administrative Regions

• Administrative regions are political areas such as provinces or states

• In 1944, the National Geographic Council of Brazil separated Brazil into 5 administrative regions each with its own states.

Brazil : The North

• Contains 42% of Brazil’s land area

• Contains the Amazon Rain Forest

• Least populated and least developed region

• Home to many of Brazil’s indigenous population

Brazil : The North-East

• Poorest of Brazil’s region, economically• Agriculture is the main economic driver• Coastal lowlands contain rich soil,

however the soil of the interior is not as fertile

• “Caatinga” main type of vegetation which grows in the interior. It is a mixture of cacti, short grasses, thorn bushes and weeds

Brazil : Centre-West

• Once called “mato – grosso” meaning “thick forest”

• Region that is developing rapidly• New capital – Brasilia• Agriculture is important but it is not the main

economic driver of the region• New industries such as gold and diamond

mining are emerging• New business bring a level of diversification of

economy

Brazil - Southeast

• Contains 10% of Brazil’s land area but 48% of its population

• Most developed region of Brazil• Accounts of 65% of Brazil’s industrial production• Biggest cities: Rio de Janiero and Sao Paolo• Economic activities include: high-tech, auto,

steel, aircraft, computer, rubber, chemical, paper, engineering, and oil industries as well as agriculture

Brazil : South

• Smallest & coolest region

• Contains a mostly fair climate, almost temperate

• Contains Brazil’s most fertile soils. Ideal for growing a wide variety of crops: coffee, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, and fruit.