The country is divided into five regions. The Amazon to the north is made up of plains covered by tropical forests and run through by huge rivers. The northeastern region is marked by tablelands with desert-like climate and grazing pastures for cattle. The southeastern region is the country’s most economically developed area and huge tablelands also jut out in its relief. The South embraces extensive croplands of coffee, soybeans, wheat and corn. And the Central-Western region is covered by large prairies good enough for cattle grazing. Weather conditions vary from tropical to mild. Mean temperature range from 22.3 to 19.8 degrees Celsius respectively. Tropical conditions prevail over most of the coastal plain. Annual average rainfall is below 1,016mm in the coastal plain’s southern region.
The country’s territorial surface is approximately 8,511,965 square kilometers.
The nation is approximately divided into 5,000 municipalities comprised in 26 states and one federal district.
Except Chile and Ecuador, Brazil abuts the rest of all South American nations: Colombia to the northwest; Paraguay and Argentina to the southwest; Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana to the north; Uruguay to the south; Peru, Bolivia to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, northeast, southeast and south.
Brazilian coastlines stretch for approximately 8,000 kilometers, running ruggedly along the northern shore, featuring several coves and gullies that serve as perfect natural bays.
Brazil’s territory is run through by countless rivers, most of them flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon River is the country’s main watercourse and the world’s largest. Some of its major tributaries are Javari, Jundiani, Jutai, Jurua, Tefe, Coari, Purus, Madeira, Tapajos, Xingu, Tocantis and Anapu on the right bank; Iça or Putumayo, Japura, Negro, Uatuma, Jamunda, Trombetas, Maicuru, Paru, Jari and Araguari on the left bank. From source to mouth, the Parana River runs for roughly 4,000 kilometers, with 520 kilometers of navigational waters. The Parnaiba River serves as a borderline between the states of Maranhao and Piaui. Other major rivers are the Paraguay, starting off its watercourse in the State of Mato Grosso, the Araguaia River, the Uruguay and the Sao Francisco.
The most important hydrographic basins of the Southamerican continent are the Amazonian Basin, Silver Basin and San Francisco Basin. It has two important hydrographic basins: São Francisco and Paraná.
Flora is widely diverse, especially in the mouth of the Amazon River. Hundreds of vegetable species abound in this region, featuring mimosas, laurels, bignonias and myrtle. Palms and hardwood trees are equally abundant. Mangroves, cocoa trees, dwarf palms and Brazilian rosewoods grow along the coastline. Among Brazilian fruits widely grown pineapples, figs, cashew nuts, mangos, bananas, guavas, grapes and oranges can be counted.
The country’s wildlife is equally diverse and different in many aspects to the North American fauna. The largest animals here are cougars, pumas, ocelots and foxes. Peccaries, giant anteaters, sloth, opossums and armadillos are broadly scattered, too. Deer are numerous in the southern region and different monkey and ape species are also countless in the jungle. There are several Brazilian-only bird species, as well as crawlers such as alligators and numerous snakes. Fish and turtles are plentiful in rivers, lakes and all along the Brazilian shores.
