Natural resources of Brazil. Economic zones of Brazil

Brazil – big country with a rich list of natural resources. Brazil's geographical location allows the country to afford minimal imports of foreign goods. Brazil really has a lot of its own forests, reservoirs and mineral resources. Let's take a closer look at the wealth of the Brazilian state.

Freshwater reserves

The Amazon River flows through Brazil. It is the largest in the country and contains strategic fresh water reserves.

The state's hydropower reserves can be estimated at 120 million kW. This figure is not too large in relation to the country's area; the Brazilian government is working to increase the number of hydroelectric power plants.

There are almost no lake reservoirs in these areas. But other large rivers successfully replenish the country’s freshwater reserves.

Land wealth

The Brazilian state is located several climatic zones. Agriculture there is quite developed.

Brazilians can boast that sugar cane, coffee and traditional cocoa are grown on their lands. There are also a lot of fruits and vegetables on agricultural lands, which, thanks to the climate, ripen almost all year round. The country's grain reserves are quite impressive.

Only 20% of the land in the state is allocated for agricultural needs. But even these percentages are enough to get excellent yields.

Brazilian forests

The lead in the amount of forest resources belongs to Russia, but Brazil is the second country in the world with more forests than anywhere else on the globe.

Equatorial forests occupy 5 million square kilometers in Brazil. In addition, a quarter of all plant species known to science grow on the territory of the state..

Not only sugar is produced from sugar cane in the state. Ethanol is successfully produced from it, which is used as automobile fuel. This is how Brazilians cover a fifth of society's need for their own fuel.

Natural resources

The country's mineral resources include the following:

  • Manganese ore;
  • Iron ore;
  • Bauxite;
  • Zinc ore;
  • Uranus;
  • Tantalum;
  • Nickel;
  • Tungsten;
  • Zinc;
  • And much more.

In the southern states of the state, impressive reserves of gold are hidden underground. Emeralds, sapphires and diamonds are also mined in Brazil.

alternative energy

In Brazil, in addition standard methods energy production, solar energy is also being actively developed. Wind power plants are also regularly built on Brazilian lands. While these areas are in the initial stages of development, they are already being actively implemented in large centers of the state.

Brazil is a sunny and multinational country, capable of providing its citizens with all the resources necessary for life. Natural values ​​are also harvested on its territories, which are successfully exported to neighboring countries.

Mineral, water, recreational resources of Brazil

Together with Russian Federation, USA, Canada, China and Australia, Brazil is one of the countries with the largest mineral reserves. It is known that Brazil has rich, although not yet well explored, mineral deposits. Iron ore reserves in Brazil are estimated at 48 billion tons, of which 18 billion are located in the Carajas mountain range, in the eastern Amazon in the state of Pará. The Karazhas field has been in operation since 1985. The iron ore reserves found to date in Brazil are sufficient to satisfy the demands of the entire world community for this type of natural resource in the next 100 years (taking into account the current level and planned growth rates). In addition to iron ore, reserves of manganese ore (208 billion tons), 2 billion tons of bauxite, 53 million tons of nickel have been found in Brazil, the amount of which can increase to 400 million tons. Important also has a recently confirmed fact of the presence of a large deposit of uranium ore - 265 thousand tons, with a high uranium content (1.3%) in the states of Minas, Gerais and Goias. Brazil has reserves of potassium, phosphates, tungsten (which is used in the smelting of strong steel), cassiterite (tin ore), lead, graphite, chromium, gold, zirconium and the rare radioactive mineral thorium. Several large oil fields have been discovered in Brazil (Basia dos Campos, Basia dos Santos), which are estimated at 2 - 2.5 billion barrels, coal - 21 billion tons.

Brazil has one seventh of the world's forest resources. The bulk of forests are concentrated in the Amazon and the Atlantic coastal zone. The development of the forestry industry is hampered by poorly developed transport infrastructure.

Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of gemstones such as diamonds, aquamarines, topazes, amethysts, tourmalines and emeralds.

Brazil has one of the longest water systems in the world, which includes eight river basins (water resources). The Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia basins, in the north, account for 56% of the country's total water resources. The Amazon is the largest river in the world by volume of water and the second longest (6,577 km) after the Nile, with 3,615 km of it flowing through Brazil. Over a distance of 3,885 km. the river is navigable, allowing ocean-going ships to enter the Peruvian port of Iquitos. The Parana-Paraguay river system covers the southwestern part of the state of Minas Gerais, and extends further south. Merging with the Argentine Rio da Prata, near Buenos Aires, this system reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The Uruguay River, also part of the Prata Basin, flows through the two southernmost states of Brazil. Sao Francisco is the country's largest river system, located entirely within its borders. Its length until it flows into Atlantic Ocean equal to 1.609 km. Like the Paraná and Tocantins rivers, it originates in the Central Plateau. In the upper reaches the river is navigable for small vessels. Navigation for large-tonnage vessels is open only for 277 km. in the lower reaches of the river.

The concept of creating real resort areas has not yet found its application (recreational resources). The tourist complex is limited to a few large and expensive hotels in Rio de Janeiro and mountain resorts in Minas Gerais. The main entertainment centers are located in city centers or nearby. The number of foreign tourists visiting Brazil lags significantly behind the number of domestic tourists. Brazilians move around the country by car, although air transport is in high demand during holidays and vacations.

National economies operate on economic resources - natural, labor, capital - and all world economy. Economic resources in their totality form the potential of a national economy, a region of the world or the entire world economy. The natural resource potential of the world economy is diverse. It contains energy, land and soil, water, forest, biological (plant and animal world), mineral (mineral resources), climatic and recreational resources. All natural resources - necessary condition economic development.

The influence of the natural resource factor on the economies of developed countries is noticeably weakening. The achievements of scientific and technological progress lead to this. All natural resources are interconnected. So, land resources(agricultural land), as a rule, produce a larger volume of production if they are processed with equipment driven by fuel (mineral resources), as well as with the use of artificial fertilizers (made from mineral resources).

Most often, natural raw materials are identified with mineral resources (minerals such as coal, oil, natural gas, metal ores, non-metallic raw materials - phosphates, potassium salts, asbestos, etc.). Natural resource potential of the world economy Natural resource resources are most often identified with mineral resources (minerals such as coal, oil, natural gas, metal ores, non-metallic raw materials - phosphates, potassium salts, asbestos, etc.). Often, due to the special importance of fuel, a combination of “mineral raw materials and fuel” is used. Geological reserves of mineral resources have varying degrees knowledge.

Based on the degree of reliability of determining reserves, they are divided into categories. In Russia, there are four categories of reserves: A, B, C1 and C2. Category A includes thoroughly explored deposits with precisely defined boundaries; B - explored deposits with approximately defined boundaries; C1 - generally explored deposits with reserves calculated taking into account extrapolation of data on well-known deposits; C2 - pre-estimated reserves. There is also a category of predicted geological reserves, assessed as possible. IN foreign countries However, a different classification of reserves is used: explored (ultimately recoverable), i.e. those that are proven by geological exploration; reliable (extracted at the current level of technology development); predictive, or geological (the presence of which in the bowels of the Earth is assumed on the basis of scientific forecasts and hypotheses).

The uneven distribution of mineral resources in the bowels of the Earth, as well as the different provision of countries with land and forest resources contribute to the development international division labor and on this basis - international economic relations. In the early 90s. % of extraction or production was realized through export channels: tin - 97, iron ore - about 70, manganese ore - over 60, oil - more than 50, aluminum - about 50, coal and natural gas-11, lumber - 34, coffee - 83, grain - 11. As a result of a decrease in the resource intensity and material intensity of the economy of developed countries and the development of their own mining in some of them (USA, Canada, Australia, Norway), there was a significant weakening of the dependence of Western countries on imports from developing countries.

At the same time, the industrialization of a number of developing countries (newly industrialized countries South-East Asia, India, Pakistan) leads to a significant increase in the consumption of raw materials and fuel, and, consequently, to a reduction in raw material exports from these countries and an increase in imports of these goods. Reduction specific gravity fuel and raw materials in world trade is due to a decrease in material and energy intensity of production in developed countries. Moreover, along with a relative decrease in the export of unprocessed raw materials, the export of specially prepared raw materials of improved quality (for example, pellets instead of iron ore) and semi-finished products is gaining priority. The decline in food exports is explained by the increase in the level of self-sufficiency of a number of the largest regions and countries ( Western Europe, China, India), which previously imported grain, as a result of development activities Agriculture, including through the “green revolution”. Decrease in the share of raw materials in global exports plant origin related to the implementation synthetic materials, fibers and plastics.

In general, exports of mineral raw materials, fuel and food have special meaning mainly for developing countries, since these product groups constitute the bulk of their exports. Conclusion: production in the developed countries of the world is becoming less resource-intensive, their GDP depends less and less on the resource component, but developing countries are taking the path of industrialization and need natural resources more and more, which can lead to a change in the balance of forces and goals in the world. Features of the distribution of natural resources in the world economy. As we can see from these tables 5, 6 of the appendix, Saudi Arabia is the absolute leader in oil reserves and production. And although in other countries (Iraq, Kuwait, UAE) oil reserves will last for a longer period, this is mostly insufficiently expressed high level its production in these countries.

The concern is the discrepancy between high production rates and relatively small reserves in countries such as the USA and China, because they are unlikely to peacefully accept the fact that oil reserves on their territory have come to an end, while other countries have them for another 100 years. American aggression against Iraq is an alarm signal for the entire free world! Northern European countries produce offshore oil in limited quantities.

As for Latin America, Venezuela stands out here, and what is good news is that the socialist Hugo Chavez, who takes a strong anti-American position, won there in the last elections. As for natural gas (Tables 7, 8), the picture here is somewhat different: Russia ranks first in production, but at this level of gas production it will last for a maximum of 80 years, and this is not the necessary level of production to support life in the country, it is mainly the export of raw materials, which cannot but cause indignation. In the US, the picture is the same as with oil: the level of production is high, and the balance is only 10 years old.

The global financial oligarchy is unlikely to limit itself to exclusively peaceful actions, because as history shows, it never hesitated to start another war, as long as it had a beneficial effect on financial condition their TNCs and other organizations formed through investments of international capital. Regarding mining coal(Table 9), it is being carried out very unevenly: the incomparable leader is China (40%), followed by the USA (20%). This is an integral component of the steel industry, and, therefore, in this industry these countries have the greatest tendency to maintain leadership.

Russia ranks only sixth in terms of coal production (4.5%), behind countries such as Australia and South Africa. Consider the mining of brown coal (Table 10): we see that almost all mining of brown coal is carried out in Europe, due to the lack of known reserves in other parts of the world. The absolute leader is Germany (20%).

In addition to European countries, the USA, China and Australia hold some of the leading positions in the industry. European deposits of brown coal also extend to the western part of Russia, which gives us this moment 8% of its global production. Looking at tables 11-17, one can judge a certain leadership of China in the production of many ore minerals (iron, zinc, lead and tin ores). As for copper ores, the undisputed leader is Chile, a country that emerged from a deep economic crisis and became one of the leading industrial countries in Latin America thanks to the harsh regime of Augusto Pinochet.

But in the field of nickel ore mining, our country takes first place, ahead of Australia and Canada. It should be noted that this resource is present in Latin America, as evidenced by its concentrated production in Colombia, Brazil and even small countries such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. It cannot be said that Australia is rich in all types of ores and occupies a leading position in the extraction of almost all types of ores, except tin. It must be said that Australia is still in the top ten in terms of tin ore production (0.3% of world production). Let us turn to the data in Table 18, which reflects the level of gold production.

The Republic of South Africa ranks first in production. This rather promising colony was still at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. defended its independence on the fronts of the Anglo-Boer War and is now the most economically developed African country. Approximately 10% of production each comes from Australia and the USA. Australia, as we see, is a resource-rich continent in every respect.

Next come China, Peru and Russia. Let's consider the level of production of non-ferrous metals (Tables 19-26). Here we can see that in addition to the former leaders, there are also countries in which there are no ore deposits of these metals, which indicates their imported component metallurgical industry. Such countries include, for example, Japan, Germany, and the Republic of Korea.

Russia, however, holds first place in nickel production, although Japan confidently holds second place due to the import of raw materials, since nickel is not mined in Japan itself. China ranks first in the world in the production of primary aluminum, which indicates great prospects for its development. aviation industry, including military. In ferrous metallurgy, the absolute leader is China, which may indicate many things, but the main thing is that the heavy military industry has received enormous opportunities for development, which cannot but cause concern, including in Russia. But on the other hand, such a powerful ally in the struggle for geopolitical superiority over Western countries– this is an incomparable advantage. The share of Russia, the USA, Japan and Germany in the industry is high, which is explained by structural changes in the economies of these countries during the Second World War, as well as the Cold War.

Conclusion: energy resources are very limited and can cause many conflicts; China comes out on top in many indicators, which indicates the emergence of a new force in a unipolar world, and, taking into account political regime in China, one can expect aggressive actions on the part of the latter. Features of regulating the use of natural resource potential in the global economy In the context of increasing interconnection and interdependence of states, world social progress increasingly depends on the decision global problems - universal problems, affecting the interests and destinies of all countries and peoples that are important for the progress of human civilization as a whole. In the new century, it is the successful solution of major global problems that will lay the foundation and will determine the possibility of the world community transitioning to sustainable development. One of the main global problems is raw materials.

There is so much literature devoted to this problem that even mentioning the main works would require a special publication. At the same time, in all the diversity of concepts regarding the future of the raw materials component of the world economy, two main directions can be distinguished - pessimistic and optimistic. Supporters of the pessimistic approach believe that already in the 20-30s. In the beginning of the century, it will become impossible to provide the developing world economy with the necessary raw materials and, above all, energy resources, which could subsequently lead to the catastrophe of human civilization. “Optimists” consider the very problem of providing the world economy with mineral raw materials far-fetched. In their opinion, humanity will never exhaust natural resources, and if one mineral is produced, there will always be some kind of substitute.

Proponents of the first approach are certainly right when they express genuine concern about the possible depletion of natural resources and concern for their more rational use. But they make a mistake by not taking into account the progress of science and technology, which counteracts the depletion of mineral resources, allowing the development of new deposits, the extraction of mineral raw materials from the bottom of the seas and oceans, the use of new energy sources, and helps to increase the efficiency of energy use. Thus, over the past thirty years, the economic efficiency of using energy resources, according to our estimates, has increased by more than 1.4 times (Table 2). But even today the reserves for increasing it are by no means exhausted.

Overall efficiency of energy use (including all stages from production to final consumption) at the end of the 20th century. was 40% in industrialized countries, 25-30% in developing countries. This means that at least 60% of economically viable energy resources are still lost during extraction, processing, transportation, distribution and final consumption. Economists with an “optimistic bias,” while absolutizing the capabilities of the human mind and scientific and technological progress, underestimate the objective difficulties in searching for and developing mineral resources, as well as the enormous increase in associated costs.

Although they are right in that they consider the category of raw materials not as a frozen given, but in dynamics, taking into account the development of science and technology. We will not analyze in more detail the pros and cons of pessimistic and optimistic approaches to assessing the future of the raw materials component of the world economy. Let us only note that the truth lies, as usual, between extreme concepts.

In other words, there is no reason to talk about an inevitable global catastrophe as a result of a shortage of raw materials, but at the same time one cannot help but share concerns about the tendency towards the depletion of non-renewable natural resources, which will lead to the emergence and aggravation of crisis situations if the natural resources accumulated over the entire history of the Earth people will not use their wealth carefully and rationally. The development of the economies of individual countries and the world economy as a whole largely depends on how fully their needs for raw materials are met. This is due to the fact that in almost all industries material production the main substance of manufactured products is raw materials, either consumed in the form auxiliary materials, or ensuring the flow of the production process. And although in recent decades, due to the entry of a number of countries into the post-industrial stage, the need for materials and raw materials has been reduced in favor of an increase in the national product of the share of industries producing knowledge and information products, nevertheless, on the scale of the world economy, the role of the raw material factor remains very significant. Thus, the cost of raw materials and supplies accounts for more than half of the world’s GDP, and in the world industrial production this share exceeds 70%.

As the data in table shows. 1, the expansion of the scale of world production is inextricably linked with the absolute increase in the consumption of fuel and energy resources. With the growth of world GDP in 1950-2000. consumption of fuel and energy raw materials increased 4.9 times by 6.4 times. With the average annual growth rate of world GDP (3.8%) and the average annual growth rate of industrial production (4.0%), the consumption of fuel and energy resources increased annually by an average of 3.2%. At the same time, there was a tendency towards a decrease in the growth rate of GDP and industrial output and, accordingly, to a decrease in the increase in energy consumption.

The structure of global consumption of primary energy resources in the period under review changed towards an increase in the share of highly efficient energy sources - oil and gas. The share of oil in the structure of world consumption of primary energy resources increased from 26% in 1950 to 39% by the end of the century, and natural gas - from 10 to 24%. Despite the significant increase in absolute volumes of coal consumption, its share in global energy consumption during this period fell from 61 to 25%. The share of renewable energy consumption (mainly hydroelectric power) has increased from just over 3% in 1950 to 5% today.

Concerning nuclear energy, then today it provides about 6% of total energy consumption, while 27.6% of the energy produced by nuclear power units comes from the United States; 17.9 - France; 12.4 - Japan; 5.6% - Russia. Table 1 Dynamics of world consumption of fuel and energy resources, world GDP in world industrial production

Among all Latin American countries, Brazil is the most endowed with a variety of natural resources. According to the reference book “Socio-economic geography foreign world“The country holds 1st place in the region in reserves of iron and manganese ore, bauxite, copper, chromite, beryllium, niobium, zirconium, rock crystal, 2nd place in the region in reserves of cobalt, tungsten, tin, asbestos, graphite. There are large reserves of gold, uranium, and nickel.

At the same time, there is a shortage of fuel resources; geological exploration is constantly being carried out, especially in the coastal zone of the continental shelf, where oil and natural gas reserves have been discovered. The extraction of shale is promising; the country ranks second among foreign countries in terms of reserves. Coal deposits are small and concentrated mainly in the south. According to British Petroleum in 2007. proven natural gas reserves in Brazil amounted to 350 billion cubic meters. m., coal - 10.113 billion tons and oil - 11.7 billion barrels. Natural gas reserves in Brazil are very small. Thus, in terms of reserves of this energy carrier, Brazil ranks only third, even within South America. It is the leader in this region in terms of coal reserves. In terms of oil reserves in Latin America today, the republic is inferior to Mexico and, of course, Venezuela. However, even with their current volumes, Brazil ranks 17th in the world. Compared to 1980, when oil production was only 8.9 million tons, in 2001 it reached 56.3 million tons. The main oil reserves are located in the Southeast, but they satisfy the country’s needs by less than 50%. Oil and petroleum products account for about 25% of the value of imports. 28% of imported oil comes from Nigeria, 26% from Saudi Arabia. Moreover, in November 2007, on the shelf of the Atlantic coast, south of Rio de Janeiro, another such deposit was found, the largest of all previously explored. According to experts, the capacity of the new field is about 6 billion barrels. After the development and start of operation of the field, Brazil will be able to fully provide itself with energy resources.

Table 1.1 - Combustible minerals

Iron ore reserves in Brazil are estimated at 26.13 billion tons, - 7.1% of all world reserves (in terms of iron ore reserves, Brazil ranks fifth in the world after Ukraine, Russia, China and Australia), and manganese ore at 345 million tons, - 9% of all world reserves of manganese ore. Distinctive feature iron ore of the country is the high iron content in hematite ores - 60-68%. Their rich reserves are concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais, Para, and Mato Grosso. The world's largest iron ore deposit, Carajas (18 billion tons), is located in the state of Pará. The second largest iron ore basin is located in the southeast of the country in the state of Minas Gerais, which means “Main Mines”. It was here that until recently the main ore mining took place. A large iron ore region is also located in the west of the country near the borders with Bolivia and Paraguay. The main importers are Japan, Germany, China, and the Republic of Korea.

Manganese ore is mined in the country 324 thousand tons per year. Most of the manganese ores are concentrated in the deposits of Carajas (Para state) and Serra do Navio (Amapa state). Nickel ore deposits are located in the states of Pará, Goiás and Minas Gerais. Brazil has 6.7% of the world's nickel ore reserves, which is 9.5 billion tons, which allows it to produce 82.5 thousand tons of nickel per year. Brazil is not rich in chromites: it is estimated that there are 5 million tons of them, which is 0.3% of the world reserves of this mineral, but it is the only country in Latin America that has chromites. Bauxite occurs mainly in the state of Para (Trombetas, Paragominas, Carajas deposits), in the state of Minas Gerais near the cities of Ouro Preto, Nova Lima, Belo Horizonte, in the east of the country, and deposits of aluminum ore can be found in the states of Maranhão , Bahia, Sao Paulo and Amapa. World bauxite reserves are estimated at 31 million tons, of which 7.7% are located in Brazil. Large deposits of bauxite have been discovered in the north of the country, in the Amazon. They are part of a vast bauxite-bearing zone stretching across Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. The alumina content in bauxite is 50-60%; they occur at shallow depths, which makes it possible to mine them open method. 22 million tons of aluminum ore are mined in Brazil per year, from which 1.6 million tons of aluminum are smelted per year. The main consumers of Brazilian bauxite are Canada, the USA and Ukraine. More than 100 deposits of polymetallic ores are known. Most of them are located in the river valley. Ribeira south of Sao Paulo.

Brazil has significant reserves of phosphates, tungsten (which is used in the smelting of strong steel), cassiterite (tin ore), lead, graphite, zirconium and the rare radioactive mineral thorium. Brazil's mineral resources also include semi-precious and gems: diamonds, aquamarines, topazes, amethysts, tourmalines and emeralds. The Republic is also secured precious metals: gold reserves in the country in 2006 totaled 1,720 tons (1.9% of all world reserves of this metal), and silver - 11,689 tons (2.1%). Deposits of Brazilian gold and silver are concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais, Pará, Mato Grosso, Bahia and Santa Catarina.

Table 1.2 - Ore minerals

The indigenous inhabitants of Brazil were already firmly established in these lands when the navigator Cabral Pedro Alvares landed on the shores of the country in 1500, thus marking the beginning of many years of Portuguese rule. Portuguese settlers built cities along the coast and then began moving inland. They set up huge sugar cane plantations, for which they brought slaves from Africa to work. Over the course of two centuries, more than 4 million black slaves were brought to Brazil. In 1807, the French Emperor Napoleon led his troops to Portugal. In 1808, Prince Regent Don Juan (from 1816 King Juan IV) fled to Brazil, where he founded an empire. He returned to his homeland in 1821, leaving Brazil under the rule of his son Pedro. IN next year Pedro declared the Brazilian Empire an independent state. In 1889, the royal family had to flee the country to escape persecution by wealthy landowners caused by the abolition of slavery. The Brazilian Republic, founded in 1889, flourished for 40 years. This period of prosperity ended in 1929, when the global economic crisis broke out. Since then, the country has seen several governments, including military ones. The last military government resigned in 1985, and a civilian government returned to power. That same year, a law on democratic presidential elections was adopted.

The benefits of Brazil's economic and geographical position are determined by:

the opportunity to develop international relations with neighboring countries of Latin America;

the possibility of developing intercontinental connections thanks to access to the Atlantic Ocean.

coastal position of the country.

proximity to the USA, but at the same time great distance from other regions.

Brazil's maritime border is the Atlantic Ocean. A major ports are: Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Ithaca, Tuburan.

Climate and geological structure of Brazil

The Amazonian lowland lies in the region of equatorial and subequatorial climate. The temperature all year round is 24 – 28C, precipitation is 2500 – 3500 mm per year. The Amazon River is the largest in the world in terms of basin size (7.2 million sq. km) and water content. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers - the Marañon and the Ucayali. The length of the Amazon from the source of Marañon is 6,400 km, and from the source of Ucayali - more than 7,000 km. The Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming the world's largest delta (over 100 thousand sq. km) and funnel-shaped mouths - branches, covering the huge island of Marajo. In its lower reaches, the width of the Amazon reaches 80 km, and its depth is 1335 m.

Selva - humid equatorial forests of the Amazonian lowland. This is over 4 thousand species of trees, which is 1/4 of all species existing in the world. The animals, each in their own way, have adapted to their existence among a dense forest intertwined with vines. Monkeys - howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, marmosets, thin-bodied arachnid saimiri monkeys with a skull-like face coloring - spend their entire lives in trees, holding onto branches with a strong tail. Even arboreal porcupines and anteaters, raccoons and marsupial possums have prehensile tails. Felines – jaguars and ocelots – feel confident in the forest thicket. Forest thickets are not a hindrance for bats either. Peccaries and tapirs prefer swampy river floodplains. The capybara, the largest rodent in the world, hangs near the water. There is a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles, including poisonous snakes (bushmaster snakes, coral adders, rattlers), boa constrictors, and huge anacondas. In the rivers, caimans and schools of bloodthirsty piranha fish lie in wait for unwary prey. Predatory harpies and Urubu vultures - carrion eaters - hover over the forest; colorful parrots fly in the treetops; and toucans, the owners of a huge beak, sit on the branches. The smallest birds on earth – hummingbirds – flash in the air with bright, motley sparks and hover over the flowers.

To the east of the Amazon, the green forest sea is gradually replaced by rocky open forest - caatinga. Poor soils barely cover the rocks, and there is almost no grass. There are thorny bushes and all kinds of cacti everywhere. And above them are dry-loving shrubs and trees, columnar cacti and tree-like euphorbias. At some distance from each other, like skittles, they grow bottle trees. These thickets are almost devoid of foliage and provide no shelter at all from the burning rays of the sun or from downpours. During the winter-spring dry period, which lasts 8–9 months, precipitation falls less than 10 mm per month. At the same time, the average air temperature is 26 - 28 C. At this time, many plants shed their leaves. Life freezes until the autumn rains, when more than 300 mm of precipitation falls per month with an annual amount of 700 - 1000 mm. As a result of rainfall, the water level in rivers rises rapidly. Floods occur regularly, destroying houses and washing away topsoil from fields.

Natural conditions of Brazil

Brazil has diverse natural conditions. It is distinguished by: the Amazonian lowland and the Brazilian plateau, which differ in relief, moisture conditions, vegetation, etc. In general natural conditions favorable for population living and farming.

Natural resources of Brazil

Brazil is extremely rich in natural resources. Among them, the main place belongs to forest resources - moist equatorial forests, which occupy 2/3 of the country's territory and are actively used at present. IN lately These forests are being ruthlessly destroyed, which leads to changes in the entire natural complex as a whole. The Amazon forests are called “the lungs of the planet,” and their destruction is a problem not only in Brazil, but throughout the world.

Brazil's mineral resource base

About 50 types of mineral raw materials are mined here. These are primarily iron, manganese ores, bauxite and non-ferrous metal ores. The main reserves are concentrated in the eastern part of the country on the Brazilian Plateau. In addition, Brazil has oil and potash salts.

Water resources of Brazil

represented by a huge number of rivers, the main of which is the Amazon ( greatest river worldwide). Almost a third of this big country occupies the Amazon River basin, which includes the Amazon itself and more than two hundred of its tributaries. This gigantic system contains a fifth of all river waters peace. The landscape in the Amazon basin is flat. The rivers and their tributaries flow slowly, often overflowing their banks during the rainy seasons and flooding vast areas of tropical forests. The rivers of the Brazilian Plateau have significant hydroelectric potential. The largest lakes in the country are Mirim and Patos. Main rivers: Amazon, Madeira, Rio Negro, Parana, Sao Francisco.

Agroclimatic and soil resources of Brazil

There are great agroclimatic and soil resources that contribute to the development of agriculture. Brazil has fertile soil that grows coffee, cocoa, bananas, grains, citrus fruits, sugar cane, soybeans, cotton and tobacco. Brazil occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of arable land area. Due to the fact that the main part of the country is located in the intertropical zone with a predominance of low altitudes, Brazil is characterized by average temperatures exceeding 20 degrees. Brazil has six climate types: equatorial, tropical, tropical highland, tropical Atlantic, semi-arid and subtropical. In the north-eastern reaches of Brazil, rainforests give way to deserts and scrub steppes, but the humid Atlantic coasts are lush with vegetation. Between the coastal cities of Porto Alegre in the south of the country and El Salvador in the east, a narrow strip of land only 110 kilometers wide stretches, and immediately beyond it the central and southern plateaus begin. The northern regions of the country are in the equatorial zone, and Rio de Janeiro lies just north of the Tropic of Capricorn - so the climate in most of Brazil is very warm. In the Amazon River basin, the year-round temperature is about 27 degrees. The seasons of Brazil are distributed as follows: spring - from September 22 to December 21, summer - from December 22 to March 21, autumn - from March 22 to June 21, winter - from June 22 to September 21.

58.46% of Brazil's topography is formed by plateaus. The main ones in the north are Guiana, in the south – Brazilian, which occupies most territory and is divided into the Atlantic, Central, Southern and the plateau of Rio - Grande do Sul. The remaining 41% of the territory is occupied by plains, the most important among them being the Amazon, La Plata, San Francisco and Tocantins.

Bibliography

To prepare this work, materials from the website http://brasil.org.ru/ were used