Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in Latin America, and the fifth largest in the world. Spanning a vast area between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, it borders Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, France (French Guiana) — every South American nation except for Ecuador and Chile. Named after brazilwood, a tree highly valued by early colonists, Brazil is home to both extensive agricultural lands and rain forests. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it has the biggest GDP in South America (10th in the world) and is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Portuguese is the national language of Brazil.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Brazil

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Brazil is characterized by the extensive low-lying Amazon Rainforest in the north, and a more open terrain of hills and (low) mountains to the south, home to most of Brazil's population and its agricultural base. Along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean are also found several mountain ranges, which can reach roughly 2,900m high. However, the highest peak is the Pico da Neblina at 3,014 m, in Guiana's highlands. Major rivers include the Amazon, the largest river in the world by volume, and considered by many specialists also the longest of the world; the Paraná and its major tributary, the Iguaçu River, where the impressive Iguaçu falls are located; the Rio Negro, São Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and the Tapajós rivers.

Related Topics:
Amazon Rainforest - Atlantic Ocean - Pico da Neblina - Guiana - Highlands - Amazon - Paraná - Iguaçu - Rio Negro - São Francisco - Xingu - Madeira - Tapajós

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Situated along the equator, Brazil's climate is predominantly tropical, with little seasonal variation, though the subtropical south is more temperate and can occasionally experience frost and snow. Precipitation is abundant in the humid Amazon Basin, though more arid landscapes are found as well, in particular in the northeast.

Related Topics:
Equator - Climate - Tropical - Precipitation - Amazon Basin

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A number of islands in the Atlantic Ocean are part of Brazil:

Related Topics:
Island - Atlantic Ocean

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• Saint Peter and Paul Rocks
• Rocas Atoll
• Fernando de Noronha
• Trindade and Martim Vaz

See also:

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• National parks (Brazil)
• List of Brazilian National Forests
• List of mountains in Brazil