Discovering South America: Brazil

Giant of South America 13

Generally Mild Climate Although 90 percent of the country lies in the tropical zone, most of the popu- lation lives in areas where altitude, sea winds, or cold fronts create moderate temperatures. Plateau cities such as São Paulo, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte have very mild climates averaging 66ºF (19ºC). Coastal cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador have warm climates balanced by the regular trade winds . Farther south, in cities such as Curitiba and PôrtoAlegre, the cool- er subtropical climate resembles many areas of the United States and Europe. In summer (December to March), Rio de Janeiro is hot and humid with tem- peratures near 90°F (32ºC). The rest of the year, temperatures usually hover around 77°F (25ºC). The northeast coast gets as hot as Rio in the summer, but tropical breezes make it less humid and stifling. Northeast Brazil is the hottest part of the country. In the dry season, between May and November, tempera- tures frequently rise above 100ºF (38ºC).The Brazilian winter, which lasts from June to September, is comparatively mild. The coolest southern states enjoy average winter temperatures that range between 55°F (13ºC) and 64°F (18ºC). The Amazon Basin is the rainiest part of Brazil. While this area is quite humid, temperatures are surprisingly moderate, averaging only 80°F (27ºC). The heaviest rainfall in Brazil occurs around the mouth of the Amazon River, near the city of Belém, and also in upper Amazonia, where more than 78 inches (198 cm) of rain falls every year. Unlike the Amazon region, however, most of Brazil experiences moderate rainfall, usually between 39 inches (99 cm) and 59 inches (150 cm) a year. Most of this rain falls between December and April, while the winter months tend to be dry.