Brazil is a country located in the South American continent. It is the fifth largest country in the world as almost half of South America is covered by Brazil.
Landforms
Brazil has varied landforms – the Brazilian Highlands in the east and centre comprise of steep cliffs, plateaus well as continuous hills. Rainfall is maximum during summers (November to April) in the central parts of the highlands. Southwest Brazil is made of a marshy area called Pantanal. During rainy season, river water overflows through the riverbanks and floods this plain forming shallow ponds and swamps. Made up of tiny islands, Pantanal is the world’s greatest swamp. With a tropical climate, the area is very hot and sultry in summers. Brazil houses the world’s largest rainforest – Amazon rainforest. Amazon River is in the northern part of Brazil with a network of many streams. Spread across 6,840 kms, the Amazon River is the longest river in the world. The Amazon Basin has a hot and humid climate. To the north of Amazon rainforest are the Guiana Highlands. They are typically flat highlands covered by dense forest. Breathtaking waterfalls find a place in this part of the country. Finally the coastal lowlands make up a small part of the country. They have an amazing coastline with bays, swamps, coral reefs and white sandy beaches. The lowlands are extensive in the north, gradually narrow down towards the northeast and vanish in some areas in the southeast. The climate of the coastal lowland is humid in the northern areas whereas moderate in the south.
Cuisine
Brazilian cuisine has influences from European, African and native population. As one can find a great deal of freshwater rivers and forest in the northern states, fish and cassava form part of the main cuisine. The cuisine in the states of Amazonas, Para in North Brazil is influenced by native cuisine. There is a dish in Para called “Pato no tucupi” (duck in yellow sauce made out of manioc root) which is popular. The food of the coastal areas of Pernambuco to Bahia in northeast Brazil has an African influence. In Southern Brazil, due to the German population, more red meat is consumed. Also, churrasco finds its roots in southern Brazil, which is nothing but barbeque.
Culture
Brazil was a Portuguese settlement for more than three centuries. Being a Portuguese colony, many immigrants from Portugal arrived in Brazil and mixed with the native population. About 99 percent of the population speaks Portuguese thus making it the official language of Brazil. Brazilian Art can be seen in terms of cave paintings in a national park called “Serra da Capivara.” This form of art goes back to 13,000 B.C. The 16th century saw writings in the form of literature by the initial Portuguese travellers in Brazil. Also, Samba is a well-known music style in Brazil and a national music genre too. It is a blend of African and European music. Brazil is synonymous with Soccer (football). The Brazil national football team is rated as one of the best teams in the world. Many famous players – Pele, Ronaldo, Neymar are part of this prestigious soccer team.
