9781422286395

10

Brazil

uplands of the Brazilian Highlands to the south. The Amazon River, with its surrounding lowland basin of 1,544,400 square miles (3,998,451 sq km), forms the largest rain forest in the world. In the south and southeast, the Brazilian Highlands—an eroded plateau dotted with irregular mountains and crossed by river valleys—forms the major feature of the landscape. A network of mountains runs from the south through the northeast, dividing the interior of Brazil from the Atlantic Ocean. The most extensive lowland is the Amazon Basin. Most of the area is gently rolling terrain, rarely rising more than 490 feet (149 meters) above sea level. Seasonal flooding occurs along the Amazon River through stretches of flat, swampy land called varzeas . A second major lowland is the Pantanal in the western Mato Grosso area near the border with Bolivia and Paraguay. Seasonal flooding occurs in this region along the headwaters of the Paraná and Paraguay river system. The third lowland area is the coastal plain . In northeastern Brazil it may be up to 40 miles (64 km) wide, but in some places it is very narrow. Between Rio de Janeiro and Santos it disappears entirely. The

coastal plain— flat land adjacent to a coast. fauna— an area’s animal life. flora— an area’s plant life. plateau— an elevated, level expanse of land. trade winds— prevailing winds of the Tropics that blow toward the equator. tributaries— rivers and streams that feed larger bodies of water. Words to Understand in this Chapter