Assessing the natural conditions and resources of Brazil. Natural resources of Brazil

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. Thus, 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 (also made on the basis of 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, 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 sold 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 and material intensity of the economies 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 mainly expressed by the insufficiently high level of 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. As for coal mining (Table 9), it is 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 the imported component of their 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 the development of its aviation industry, including the 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, given the political regime in China, one can also 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 material 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 branches of material production, the main substance of the products produced is raw materials, either consumed in the form of auxiliary materials, or ensuring the flow of the production process itself. 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 world GDP, and in global 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.

As for nuclear energy, today it provides about 6% of total energy consumption, with 27.6% of the energy produced by nuclear power units coming 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

Brazil has a huge amount of mineral resources. There are reserves of manganese ore, nickel, bauxite, iron and uranium ore. In Brazil, potassium, phosphates, tungsten, cassiterite, lead, graphite, and chromium are mined. There is also gold, zirconium and the rare radioactive mineral thorium.

Brazil accounts for 90% of the world's production of diamonds, aquamarine, topaz, amethyst, tourmaline and emerald.

Brazil's mineral resources are diversified: oil, natural gas, coal, iron (one of the world's richest reserves) and manganese ores, chromites, titanium raw materials (ilmenite), copper, lead, bauxite (third largest in the world in reserves), zinc, nickel, tin, cobalt, tungsten, tantalum, zirconium, niobium (first place in the world in reserves of columbite), beryllium (first place in the world in reserves), uranium, thorium, gold, silver, platinum, phosphates, apatites, magnesite, barite , asbestos, graphite, mica, salt, soda, diamonds, emeralds, amethysts, aquamarines, topazes, crystal quartz (first place in the world in reserves), marble. In terms of reserves of iron, beryllium and niobium ores, rock crystal, bituminous shale, bauxite, and rare earth ores, Brazil occupies one of the leading places among the industrialized countries of the world.

Brazil has (2001) relatively small proven reserves of oil (1.1 billion tons) and natural gas (230 billion cubic meters). About 150 deposits have been discovered. The largest are Don Juan, Agua Grande, Aracas, Carmopolis, Sirizinho, Namorado, etc. A large sedimentary basin, Solimões, has been discovered in the Amazon, promising for possible oil and gas reserves.

There are three main oil and gas reservoirs on the Brazilian shelf: Campos, Santos and Espirito Santo. Less promising basins are Sergipe-Alagoas, Potiguar and Ceara. The largest basin in Brazil in terms of hydrocarbon reserves is considered to be the Campus oceanic basin with an area of ​​about 100 thousand km2. Its proven reserves of natural gas are estimated at 105 billion cubic meters. The country's main proven oil reserves are concentrated here. Each of the seven deepwater oil fields contains up to 100 million tons of oil and condensate. Probable reserves of oil and gas basins at the end of 1999 were estimated at 1.5 billion tons of oil. In the Campus basin there are 4 giant gas and oil fields (proven reserves in brackets, million tons): Albacora (about 270), Marlin (270), Barracuda (110) and Marlin-Sul and the giant oil deposit Roncador (356).

The main oil reservoirs are associated with turbidite sands of shelf origin, occurring both in the lower and in upper parts modern continental slope, or with peripheral turbidites open sea transported through the straits to the lower part of the continental slope. There are close similarities between the oil and gas basins on both sides of the Atlantic, especially the southern parts of the Campus and Kwanza-Cameroon basins.

All oil and gas bearing areas of eastern Brazil were formed on divergent passive continental margins, the tectonic development of which is complicated by rifting processes. Oil and gas traps, as a rule, are of the stratigraphic type and are most often confined to subducted horst blocks. In the zone of the modern deep and ultra-deep shelf, the phenomena of salt diapirism are developed.

In 2003, the Petrobras company made the largest gas discovery in the country. The reserves of the new field are estimated at 70 billion cubic meters. m, which increases the total volume of gas reserves in Brazil by 30%. The field is located on the shelf of the province of Paulo, at a distance of 137 km from the coast at a sea depth of 485 m. The production potential of the pioneer well is 3 million cubic meters. m of gas per day. As of 2002, the total volume of natural gas reserves in Brazil is estimated at 231 billion cubic meters. m.

The bituminous shales of Brazil are confined to the Permian Irati formation, represented by argillic and limestone facies with basalt and diabase intrusions. The deposits are Sao Mateus do Sul, San Gabriel and Don Pedro. Coal reserves in Brazil are small - 2 billion tons (25% is coking coal). The country's iron ore reserves account for about 26% of those of developed Western countries. The main part of the ores is associated with Precambrian itabirites of the Brazilian platform. The main industrial deposits (over 25 billion tons) are concentrated in the Minais Gerais iron ore basin, within the so-called “iron ore quadrangle”.

The supply of chrome ores with their proven reserves, calculated based on the maximum level of production in the period 1995-1997, taking into account losses during mining and enrichment in Brazil, is 33 years.

In 2000, Brazil ranked 5th in terms of proven uranium reserves (262 thousand tons, world share 7.8%). The main deposits of uranium ores are concentrated in the Serra di Jacobina mountains, together with gold-bearing conglomerates (Jacobina deposit).

In terms of explored reserves of tin at the end of the twentieth century, Brazil ranks 1st in America and 2nd in the world (after China). Brazil ranks first in the world in terms of total tin reserves. In terms of tin resources, Brazil ranks 1st among the countries of the world - 12.6% of the world's resources (6 million tons). About 40% of the total proven reserves are contained in alluvial deposits located in 15 tin mining regions of the country. Alluvial placers predominate.

The Pitinga ore cluster is located in the tin-bearing region of Mapuera (Amazonas state). Ore veins and stockworks are localized in albitized granites. The ores are complex and include cassiterite, columbite, tantalite, pyrite, cryolite, and fluorite. Reserves of primary tin ores - 1.19 million tons; sir. The metal content in the ores here is 0.141%.

The ores also contain 6 million tons of cryolite, 4 million tons of zircon (average content 1.5%), industrial concentrations of columbite-tantalite (average content of Ni pentoxide 0.223%, Ta pentoxide - 0.028%), fluorite, as well as yttrium, mainly in the composition of xenotime . The main reserves are concentrated in weathering crusts and placers that arose due to them and occupy an area of ​​​​about 250 km2.

The main ones are the alluvial placers of Little Madeira, Jabuti and Queixada. Ore sands lie at a depth of about 6 m. Ore reserves in placers amount to 195 million tons, tin - 343 thousand tons with an average cassiterite content of 2.0 kg / cubic meter. m, niobium pentoxide - 435 thousand tons with an average Nb2O5 content of 4.3%, tantalum pentoxide - 55 thousand tons with an average Ta2O5 content of 0.3%, zirconium dioxide - 1.7 million tons. As a result of geological exploration work, an increase reserves of niobium pentoxide before 2000 amounted to 30 million tons of ore with an average content of 4.1% (1.2 million tons of Nb2O5).

The basis of the country's manganese ore base is the Urukum deposit (state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Corumba region) with proven reserves of 15.8 million tons, Azul and Buritirama (state of Para, region of the Carajas ridge) - 10 million tons, Serra do Navi (federal territory of Amapa) - 5.8 million tons, Miguel Conge in the area of ​​the "iron ore quadrangle" and other deposits in the state of Minas Gerais, as well as a number of smaller objects in Precambrian metamorphic strata. The largest deposits of manganese ores are associated with basement rocks. Lenses of manganese-containing spesartite rocks (gondite, carbonate rhodonite) have a thickness of 10-30 m and a length of 200-1000 m.

In terms of bauxite reserves, Brazil ranks 1st in Latvia. America (2000) and 2nd place in the world (after Guinea). Prom. bauxite deposits associated with lateritic weathering crust. Basic resources are concentrated in the Amazon River basin in the state of Pará (Trombetas, Paragominas and others deposits).

Lateritic deposits of gibbite bauxite, an aluminum raw material, are located in the states of Para (municipalities of Oriximina, Paragominas, Faro, Domingo de Capim and Almairim) and Minas Gerais (mainly the municipalities of Pocos de Caldas, Preto and Cataguazes). The Porto Trombetas deposits (total reserves 1,700 million tons, confirmed - 800 million tons) and Paragominas (total reserves 2,400 million tons, confirmed - 1,600 million tons) are considered gigantic. Deposits are usually located close to the earth's surface and are mined open method. At production rates close to modern ones, Brazil is provided with proven reserves for 340 years.

Tungsten ores, represented by sheelite skarnah - deposits of Brezhi, Kishaba, Malyada within the Borborema region. Deposits of nickel ores based on silicate type are represented by garnierite ores. Ore bodies lie at shallow depths, about 75% of the reserves are located in the state of Goiás (Nikelandia deposits and others). Brazil has several copper ore deposits, the largest of which is Caraiba (Bahia state). There are more than 100 small polymetallic hydrothermal deposits in Brazil and rich tin deposits have been explored.

Rare elements (beryllium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium and others) in Brazil are found mainly in complex pegmatite ores confined to the basement.

Gold reserves were discovered in the second half of the twentieth century in the Amazon River basin. The predicted resources of Brazil's MHP are insignificant and amount to up to 300 tons (about 0.6% of the world).

About 35% of the world's predicted beryllium resources are concentrated in Brazil (up to 700 thousand tons), which determines its leading position in the world (together with Russia).

Brazil ranks first among countries in the world in terms of predicted niobium resources. The main deposits of niobium pentoxide in the country are Arasha and tapirs. The deposits are located mainly in the famous mining regions of the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás. The ores are localized in lateritic weathering crusts of carbonatites and do not require intensive crushing. The thickness of ore-bearing crusts reaches 200 m, the thickness of the covers - from 0.5 m to 40 m. The average Nb2O5 content in the ores is 2.5%. Development is carried out in an open way.

Important in Brazil are the phosphate ore resources, which include three main industrial types: apatite (Jacupiranga deposit), repeated apatite (genus Arasha, tapir, Catalan) and phosphorite sedimentary deposits in the Bambui series. Particularly promising are the phosphorites of the deposit - Patus di Minas (reserves 300 million tons).

Brazil has the world's largest deposits of precious and ornamental stones: rock crystal, jewelry beryl, topaz, tourmaline, amethyst, agate; also known industrial deposits of emerald, diamond, precious opal, etc. Jewelry beryl, topaz and tourmaline are found in granite pegmatites, common in the states of Minas Gerais (diamantino region), Bahia.

The main deposits of high-grade sheet mica - muscovite - are associated with exposures of the Archean basement and form the Brazilian mica region. There are also births in Brazil. barite (Ilha Grande, Miguel Calmon), potassium salt (Contiguleba), rock salt (Maseio), fluorite (Salgadinho, Catunda), magnesite (Iguatu), graphite (Itapaserica, San Fidelis), asbestos (Ipanema), bentonite (Lapsis, Bravo).

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 the lower reaches, the width of the Amazon reaches 80 km, and the depth - 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. Forest thickets are not a hindrance for bats either. Peccaries and tapirs prefer swampy river floodplains. The capybara, the largest rodent in the world, stays near the water. There is a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles, including Poisonous snakes(bushmasters, coral adders, rattlers), boa constrictors, huge anacondas. In the rivers, caimans and schools of bloodthirsty piranha fish lie in wait for unwary prey. Predatory harpies, carrion-eaters Urubu vultures hover over the forest; colorful parrots fly in the treetops; and toucans sit on the branches - owners of a huge beak. 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 fertile soil from fields.

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 are favorable for population living and farming.

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 a change in everything natural complex generally. The Amazon forests are called “the lungs of the planet, and their destruction is a problem not only of Brazil, but of the whole world. Brazil’s mineral resource base is diverse. About 50 types of mineral raw materials are mined here. These are, first of all, 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 are represented by a huge number of rivers, the main of which is the Amazon (the largest river in the whole world). Almost a third of this large country is occupied by 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.

Great agroclimatic and soil resources, promoting 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 edges of Brazil, tropical forests give way to deserts and scrub steppes, but the humid Atlantic coasts abound in lush 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 stretches just 110 kilometers wide, 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 the Guiana, in the south - the Brazilian, which occupies most of the 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. All natural conditions and resources create very favorable preconditions for economic development.

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, which occupies almost half of the continent of 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

In the northern part of the country, it gradually turns 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 northeast and south and ending abruptly at the Atlantic lowland. To the west of the residual ridge and the Atlantic massifs stretches a belt of monoclinary-stratal and stratal plains; in the north and center, basement plains and plateaus, alternating with plateaus, predominate.

Climate

Brazil is characterized by a hot climate. Natural resources largely due to climatic conditions. The average monthly temperature varies from 16 to 29 degrees, and frosts are possible only on high mountain ranges in the eastern part. At the same time, the country is characterized by different types of climate and precipitation patterns.

Inland waters

Speaking about the natural features of Brazil, we should note its very dense river network. The Amazon system irrigates the entire Amazonian lowland, the northern part of the Brazilian and southern Guiana plateaus. The southern part of the Brazilian plateau is irrigated by systems from Uruguay, the western by the Paraguay River, and the eastern by the São Francisco River. Of these, only the Amazon and its western and eastern tributaries are full of water throughout the year.

The rivers of the Brazilian Plateau are characterized by large fluctuations in water flow and floods. The waterways of the plateau have significant reserves of hydropower, but, as a rule, they are navigable only in short sections.

Vegetation and soils

The country is dominated by forests on lateritic (ferralite) red soils. Brazil ranks first in the world in terms of hardwood reserves. Natural resources in the western Amazon include dense evergreen moist equatorial forests with valuable trees(over 4 thousand species), under which there are lateritic podzolic soils.

On the hills framing the Brazilian and deciduous evergreen forests are widespread due to dry weather, the process of podzolization in the soils is inconsistent and less pronounced. Similar types of vegetation and soils, taking into account the altitudinal zones, are characteristic of the windward, eastern and high massifs and hills of the Brazilian Plateau. The western slopes are characterized by predominantly wet seasonal forests. The center of the plateau is occupied by savanna on lateritic red soils; the most common are small-tree shrub savannas. Along the rivers there are gallery forests where the valuable carnauba wax palm grows. The northeast of the plateau is occupied by semi-desert open forest, consisting of succulent and xerophytic shrubs and trees on red-brown and red-brown soils. The uniformly humid south is characterized by evergreen mixed and deciduous forests of Brazilian coniferous araucaria. In the lowlands, grassy treeless savannas on reddish-black soils are common.

Animal world

The great variety of fauna can be explained by the diversity of ecosystems and the significant size of the territory that Brazil occupies. The overview of the fauna varies from source to source, as even taxonomists sometimes disagree on the classification of animals found in a country. With enviable regularity, new species are identified, while others, unfortunately, become extinct.

Of all countries, Brazil is characterized greatest number species of primates (about 77) and freshwater fish (more than 3 thousand). The country ranks second in the world in the number of amphibians, third in the number of bird species, and fifth in the number of reptile species. Many animals are at risk, especially those living in ecosystems that are now largely destroyed, such as the Atlantic Forest.

Economy of Brazil

Due to high level development of manufacturing and extractive industries, agriculture, the service sector and a large working-age population, Brazil's GDP level is far ahead of all other Latin American countries. It is currently further expanding its presence in global markets. The main export products are coffee, aviation equipment, vehicles, soybeans, steel, orange juice, shoes, fabrics, sugar, electrical equipment.

Brazil's economy is highly diverse and has significant variations between regions. According to the possibilities of implementation entrepreneurial activity cities are very different from each other. Although the state's economy is quite developed, widespread problems of poverty, illiteracy and corruption are still significant barriers to development.

Minerals of Brazil

More than forty types of minerals are mined in the country. The most significant are manganese and iron ores. Thus, more than two hundred million tons of iron ore are mined per year, of which approximately 80 percent is exported. The state ranks one of the first in the world in bauxite mining. Brazil's mineral resources are also represented by copper, zinc, and 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 demand for oil, amounting to 75 million tons, is only half met, so Brazil is forced to import it. In the Amazon in the 1970s. Large reserves of gold have been found; now its production is about 80 tons per year. Coal deposits have also been discovered, but this raw material is of low quality; its production per year is approximately 5 million tons.

Industry

The most developed is concentrated in the southeast and south of the country. The northeast is considered the poorest region, but it is now beginning to attract investment. Of the Latin American countries, Brazil has the most developed industrial sector, accounting for a third of GDP. The state produces a variety of products, from steel, cars and petroleum products to aircraft, computers and consumer goods.

Brazil accounts for over a quarter of GDP. The main industries are oil refining and chemical production. After the USA the country is largest producer bioethanol, which provides approximately 30 percent of fuel needs. To refuel cars in Brazil, ethanol is used both in pure form and mixed with gasoline. The raw material for its production is Brazilian enterprises annually produce ethanol in the amount of 16-20 billion liters.

More than 1.5 million cars are produced in the country every year. The main manufacturers are Mercedes-Benz, Scania, and Fiat.

The main branch of light industry is textiles. Brazil ranks 6-7 in the world in production textile products. About 80 percent of cotton is imported from abroad, due to the low quality of Brazilian raw materials.

The footwear industry is also developed - there are more than 4 thousand footwear factories.

Finally

Among Latin American countries, Brazil undoubtedly has the greatest economic potential. The country's natural resources provide enormous opportunities for growth. However, the country is still characterized by significant differentiation in income and a large difference in the level of development of the western and eastern regions.

1. Using physical and economic maps of Latin America, explain the location of fields: a) oil and gas; b) iron ores and non-ferrous metal ores.

a) Caribbean countries, Venezuela, Ecuador b) Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia

2. The countries of the Caribbean region do not include: a) Grenada; b) Mexico; c) Argentina; d) Honduras.

3. The Atlantic region does not include:

a) Paraguay; b) Brazil; c) Bolivia; d) Haiti.

4. The Andean region does not include:

a) Chile; b) Cuba; c) Paraguay; d) Peru.

5. The average population density of Latin America is:

a) 5 people/km2; b) 20 people/km2; c) 100 people/km2; d) 150 people/km2.

6. The Andean countries of Latin America are dominated by:

a) descendants of European settlers; b) blacks and mulattoes; c) Spanish-speaking creoles; d) Indians and mestizos.

8. Draw its major regions on an outline map of Latin America; indicate the exporting countries:

a) industrial products; b) agricultural products.

a) Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile b) Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador

9. You know that there is a relationship between the level of development of a country and the state of its transport system. Present a model of the transport system of one of the Latin American countries (optional). Propose a project “Transport of the future for one of the Latin American countries.” What changes will you make to existing model transport system? How do you think this will affect the development of the country?

Transport of the future for Colombia

The vast distances, swamps, forests, mountains and small population of Colombia hinder the development of land transport, promoting the increasing use of air transport. In addition, the Waze navigation service analyzed the situation on the world's roads. It turned out that Colombia has the most traffic congestion on the roadway. The Colombian city of Villavicencio took first place in the world in terms of such negative indicators.

In this regard, in the future I would suggest that Colombia develop a range of flying buses and cars. It would seem that what is the matter - aviation technologies are developing at breakneck speed, what is preventing cars from getting into the air? In fact, the first flying cars have already appeared, with a successful prototype unveiled by Terrafugia in 2009. But the project is still expensive and unprofitable. And yet the inventors do not give up hope of making the project available to the general public. Despite the huge costs associated with such modernization, in the future this step could have a positive impact on the development of Colombia: it will provide greater mobility for its citizens (multi-level traffic in the city would solve the problem of traffic jams for a long time), attract tourist flows and make it a pioneer in the innovative field transport development.

Area - 8.5 million km2. Population - 173 million people. Federal Republic - 26 states and one federal district. Capital -. Brasilia

EGP

. Brazil is located in the eastern and central part. South. America. The most big country on the mainland, occupies almost 50% of its area. Borders with all countries. South. America, except. Ecuador and. Chile. Length of borders. Brazil exceeds 23 thousand km (land - 16.5 thousand km; coastline of the Atlantic Ocean - 7.4 thousand km) in the northern part of the country crosses the equator, and in the southern part -. South Tropic. The greatest length of the country from west to east and from north to south is about 4300 km. Approximately at the intersection of these long lines, the capital of the state of the power was built.

Since 1983, the country has become a member of the Latin American Integration Association. MERCOSUR and the subregional trade and economic association "La Plata Group" - since 1969. Since 1978, member of the trade and economic formation "Amazon Pact".

Population

Brazil ranks fifth in the world in terms of population; the country has high natural population growth - 3 million people per year. The birth rate is 37 per 1000 people, and the mortality rate is 9 per 1000 lives. 50% of the population is young people under 20 years old, over 50 years old - 10% of the population. Average life expectancy is 63 rocks.

Because the. Brazil is a former Portuguese colony, and the Portuguese played a major role in the formation of both the country and the nation. Official language- Portuguese. With the development of coffee production. Did the Germans, Swiss, and Italians also come here? Significant contribution to economic development The country was introduced by Japanese immigration in the 1930s (over 1 million people). Most of them were highly qualified specialists.

In general, Brazilians are a nation formed as a result of mixed marriages of Europeans, blacks and Indians. Europeans make up 25%, blacks - 10%, Indians - 0.2%. Two thirds are a mixed population (mulattoes, sambo, mestizos).

Many areas. Brazil is sparsely populated average density population - 20 people per 1 km2, and c. Amazon - 0.1 people per 1 km2. On the coast. The Atlantic Ocean in the state is home to 80% of the population, and its density ranges from 60-100 people per 1 km2. In order to redistribute the population throughout the country, the government decided to build new capital closer to central regions. Brazil, away from the sea, there are several city residents. Brasilia today exceeds 1 million osisib.

The number of urban population in the state is growing rapidly, its share is 65%. Most of the urban population. Brazil lives in cities with a population of over a million, located mainly on the coast. Atlantic Ocean ((Sao Paulo - 18.4 million people, Rio de Janeiro - 11.7 million people, Recife - 3 million people, Salvador - 3.5 million people, Porto Alegre - 3.5 million people, etc.).

The economically active population is more than 63 million people, with women making up only 20% of this category of the population. With the growing share of people employed in material production sectors, 45% of fifths work in the service sector.

Natural conditions and resources

Brazil has large reserves of mineral resources, the structure of which is dominated by ore minerals. The country's energy reserves are insignificant and do not meet its own needs. So,. Brahe Ilia has relatively small coal deposits in the southeast of the country. Large forecast oil reserves. Amazonian lowland, the territory of which is very poorly explored, and within the shelf zone. Atlantic Ocean, stretching over more than 7 thousand km. The lack of domestic oil became the impetus for the widespread use of alcohol from cane sugar as fuel in vehicles. Great importance for the energy sector, crushing vein deposits of uranium ores.

Brazil has large reserves of iron ore - 40 billion tons (second place after Russia), manganese ore (one of the first places in the world), significant deposits of various ores of non-ferrous metals, in particular bauxite. Nike ale, tin, titanium and tungsten ores. For a long time. Brazil was famous for its large reserves of gold, precious stones. The country has insignificant reserves of raw materials for the chemical industry.

Relief. Brazil and the amount of precipitation that falls here contribute to the formation of an extensive river network, which plays a major role in the formation of its water and hydropower resources, which is of particular importance. The Amazon is the largest river in the world by basin area (7 million km2). Brazil occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of hydro resources, which are estimated at almost 120 million kW, of which only 50 million kW are used.

The country ranks second in the world after. Russia has large reserves of forest resources. On Earth, the area of ​​moist equatorial forests (5 million km2) is located in. Amazonia. Thanks to the huge forest reserves... Brazil zilium may in the future take one of the leading places in the world in its procurement and export "" /

According to natural conditions, the territory of the state can be divided into two parts: forest plains. Amazon and tropical landscapes. Brazilian plateau. The country's territory lies in the equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical regions climatic zones average annual war

precipitation: 2000-3000 mm - c. Amazonia, 1400-2000 mm - in the center. The Brazilian plateau is an arid area located in the northeast. The Brazilian plateau (500 mm per year) has generally good agroclimatic conditions. Brazil, in particular, the growing season, which lasts almost the entire year, and the amount and frequency of precipitation contribute to the cultivation of crops here that can be felt in a limited number of countries in the world: coffee, cocoa, sugar cane.

Land resources . Brazil is over 750 million hectares, but agricultural land covers less than 1/5 of the country's territory. Their structure is dominated by pastures