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Brazil

Brazil. Chapter 8 Section 1. Rain Forests & Highlands. Diverse landforms and climates Narrow coastal plains, highland areas, lowland river valleys Home to 2 nd largest river: Amazon River: almost 4,000 miles. Rain Forests & Highlands.

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Brazil

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  1. Brazil Chapter 8 Section 1

  2. Rain Forests & Highlands • Diverse landforms and climates • Narrow coastal plains, highland areas, lowland river valleys • Home to 2nd largest river: Amazon River: almost 4,000 miles

  3. Rain Forests & Highlands • Amazon drains water from a wide, flat BASIN—low area surrounded by higher land– as it makes its way towards the Atlantic Ocean • SELVAS– what Brazilians call rain forests • Lowlands along Paraná and São Francisco Rivers

  4. Economy • Important for centuries: agriculture, mining, forestry • Amazon Basin unexplored by Europeans for a long time • World demand for rubber from the basin’s trees gave way to exploration in this area during the mid 1800’s

  5. Economy • Mining companies dig for the following minerals: bauxite, tin, and iron ore • Logging companies harvest mahogany and other woods from the rain forest • Farmers use the cleared land to grow soybeans and tobacco, & to graze cattle • South of the Amazon Basin are mineral resources & rich farm land

  6. Economy • Brazil exports much more coffee than other countries • Exports beef all over the world

  7. Economy • Major cities located in the South • Rio de Janeiro: more than 11.2 million people • São Paulo: more than 18.5 million people, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world; leading trade and industrial center for Brazil

  8. Economic Challenges • Brazil’s Economy today is diverse & productive, yet still faces severe economic challenges • It has a large, strong middle class; many citizens have become well off because its economy • Yet 1/5 live in extreme poverty

  9. Economic Challenges • FAVELAS—slum areas that surround many Brazilian cities • Thousands of poor people move to the cities, looking for work in the many factories; they live in crude shacks w/ no running water nor sewer systems…. • City governments have tried to clean up the FAVELAS, but to no avail • Kids as young as 10 work at tough jobs for their families

  10. Economic Challenges • Brazil has the largest area of remaining rain forest & the highest rate of DEFORESTATION– the destroying of large areas of forest. • Government has supported this somewhat for job growth & products for export: mining, logging, & farming in the rain forest • DEFORESTATION leads to soil erosion, harms the rain forest ecosystem & biodiversity situation

  11. Economic Challenges • As deforestation happens, roads are built, companies & farmers follow • This brings about drastic change for the native Amazonians; it becomes hard for them to follow their traditional cultures • Rain forests also contribute to a large amount of the earth’s oxygen & play a role in regulating the planet’s climate • Even though the Amazon rain forest belongs to the world, the effects of deforestation are felt world wide

  12. Brazil’s History & Culture • 176.5 million people = largest population of all Latin American nations • Portuguese is the dominant cultural influence • Portugal was the largest European group to colonize Brazil

  13. Brazil’s History & Culture • Heritage: European, African, Native American, Asian, or mixed ancestry • Language: Almost all speak a Brazilian form of Portuguese that has influences of African and Native American languages • Most are Roman Catholic; many mix practices from African and Native American religions

  14. Influence of History • Native Americans were the first to live in Brazil • In the 1500’s Portuguese forced Native Americans to work on large plantations that grew tobacco &, later, sugarcane • Many died from disease & over work • To replace them, the Portuguese brought Africans and enslaved them

  15. Influence of History • Slavery was finally banned in 1888; most stayed in in the northeastern part of the country • African tradition has had great influence on Brazilian culture: religion, music, dance, & food specifically

  16. Moving to the Cities • Much of Brazil is sparsely populated • Millions move from rural areas to coastal urban areas to find jobs • Government is trying to get citizens to move away from cities; highways crisscross the country, reaching many formerly remote regions • In 1960 Brazil moved its capital from the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro to Brasília– a newly built city that is very modern and rapidly growing

  17. The Government • Declared independence from Portugal in 1822 • Started out as an empire, emperors ruled until 1889 • Like some other countries in Central & South America, Brazil was a military dictatorship

  18. The Government • Today Brazil is a democratic republic; citizens 18-70 must vote by law • More than 12 political parties • Central government is more powerful than the 26 state governments; Brazil’s president has more power over the country than an American President in the U.S.

  19. Leisure Time • Brazilians really enjoy fútbol AKA soccer in the U.S. • Every village has soccer fields • Brazil is also famous for Carnival—the celebration that is held just before Lent, the Christian holy season that comes before Easter.

  20. Leisure Time • Brazil has one of the largest television networks in the world • This network produces prime-time soap operas called telenovelas • These are extremely popular in Brazil & viewers in more than 60 other nations enjoy them as well

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