Brazil is the largest state in Latin America, which occupies almost half of mainland South America. In the east and north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil, whose natural resources and conditions are diverse, is a country favorable for farming and living.
Relief
The Amazonian lowland is located in the northern part of the country . It gradually passes into the hilly plains of the Guiana Plateau surrounded by steep cliffs. Almost the entire remaining territory of the country is occupied by the Brazilian plateau, rising to the north-east and south and abruptly breaking off at the Atlantic lowland. To the west of the residual ridge and the Atlantic masses lies the belt of monoclinic stratum and stratum plains; in the north and in the center, basement plains and plateaus dominate, alternating with a plateau.
Climate
Brazil has a hot climate. Natural resources are largely determined by climatic conditions. The average monthly temperature varies from 16 to 29 degrees, and only on high massifs in the eastern part frosts are possible. At the same time, different types of climate and precipitation regimes are characteristic of the country.
Inland waters
Speaking about the natural features of Brazil, it should be noted its very dense river network. The Amazon system irrigates the entire Amazon lowland, the northern part of Brazil and the south of the Guiana plateau. The southern part of the Brazilian plateau is irrigated by the systems of the Parana and Uruguay rivers , the western - by the Paraguay river, the eastern - by the San Francisco river. Of these, only the Amazon and its western and eastern tributaries are full-flowing throughout the year.
The rivers of the Brazilian plateau are characterized by large fluctuations in water flow and floods. The water arteries of the plateaus have significant reserves of hydropower, however, as a rule, they are navigable only in short sections.
Vegetation and soil
The country is dominated by forests on laterite (ferralitic) red soils. First in the world in terms of hardwood reserves is Brazil. Natural resources in the western part of Amazonia are represented by dense evergreen moist-equatorial forests with valuable trees (over 4 thousand species) under which lateritic podzolic soils are located.
In the hills framing the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus, deciduous-evergreen forests are widespread due to dry weather, the process of podzolization in soils is unstable and less pronounced. Similar types of vegetation and soil, taking into account altitudinal zonality, are characteristic of the windward, eastern and high massifs and hills of the Brazilian plateau. The western slopes are characterized mainly by humid seasonal forests. The center of the plateau is occupied by savannah on lateritic red soils, the most common are small-tree shrub savannas. There are gallery forests along the rivers where the valuable wax palm of Carnauba grows. The northeast of the plateau is occupied by a semi-desert woodland consisting of succulent and xerophytic shrubs and trees on red-brown and red-brown soils. For a uniformly humid south, evergreen mixed and deciduous forests from Brazilian coniferous araucaria are characteristic. Grassy treeless savannas on reddish-black soils are common in the lowlands.
Animal world
The great diversity of fauna can be explained by the diversity of ecosystems and the significant size of the territory occupied by Brazil. The overview of the fauna in different sources is different, because even taxonomists sometimes disagree on the classification of animals living in the country. New species are being revealed with enviable regularity, while others, unfortunately, are dying.
Of all countries, Brazil is characterized by the largest number of species of primates (about 77) and freshwater fish (more than 3 thousand). By the number of amphibians, the country takes the second place in the world, by the number of species of birds - third, by the number of species of reptiles - fifth. Many animals are threatened, especially those living in ecosystems that are now largely destroyed, such as the Atlantic Forest.
Brazilian economy
Due to the high level of development of the manufacturing and mining industries, agriculture, the services sector and a large number of able-bodied people, Brazil is far ahead of all other Latin American countries in terms of GDP. Currently, it is expanding its presence in global markets even more. The main export items are coffee, aircraft, vehicles, iron ore, soybeans, steel, orange juice, shoes, fabrics, sugar, electrical equipment.
Brazil's economy is very diverse and has significant variations between regions. In terms of entrepreneurial activities, cities are very different from each other. Although the state economy is quite developed, widespread problems of poverty, illiteracy and corruption are still significant development barriers.
Brazil minerals
The country produces more than forty types of minerals. The most significant are manganese and iron ore. So, more than two hundred million tons of iron ore are mined annually, of which about 80 percent is exported. The state takes one of the first places in the world in the extraction of bauxite. Brazil's minerals are also represented by copper, zinc, nickel, the deposits of which are used for the domestic market. The country is a supplier of strategic raw materials: niobium, tungsten, mica, zirconium. The annual oil demand of 75 million tons is only half provided, so Brazil is forced to import it. In Amazonia in the 1970s large reserves of gold were found, now its extraction is about 80 tons per year. Coal deposits have also been discovered, but these are low-quality raw materials; its annual production is approximately 5 million tons.
Industry
The most developed industry in Brazil is concentrated in the south-east and south of the country. The poorest region is considered to be the northeast, but even now it is starting to attract investment. Of the Latin American countries, Brazil has the most developed industrial sector, accounting for one third of GDP. The state produces a variety of products, from steel, automobiles and petroleum products to airplanes, computers and consumer goods.
Brazil's manufacturing sector accounts for over a quarter of GDP. The main industries are oil refining and chemical production. After the United States, the country is the largest producer of bioethanol, which provides about 30 percent of the fuel demand. For refueling cars in Brazil, ethanol is used in its pure form, as well as mixed with gasoline. Sugarcane is the raw material for its production . Brazilian enterprises annually produce ethanol in the amount of 16-20 billion liters.
More than 1.5 million cars are produced annually in the country. The main manufacturers are Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Fiat.
The main light industry is textile. Brazil ranks 6-7th in the world in the production of textiles. About 80 percent of cotton is imported from abroad, due to the low quality of Brazilian raw materials.
The shoe industry is also developed - more than 4 thousand shoe factories are operating.
Finally
Among the Latin American countries, Brazil undoubtedly has the greatest economic potential. The natural resources of this country provide tremendous opportunities for growth. However, the country is still characterized by a significant differentiation in income and a large difference in the level of development of the western and eastern regions.