Agriculture in Brazil (12S, 55W (approx.) Brazil)

This picture is from Mato Grosso, a state in western Brazil. This tropical region is an upland plateau that is part of the Amazon River’s watershed. “Mato grosso” means “thick forest” in Portuguese, and the plateau is indeed covered with tropical savannas and rain forests. The state is thinly populated in most regions, and mostly agricultural. Cattle ranching is the primary occupation there, but farming is important as well (as can be seen here). Farmers in Mato Grosso grow beans, rice, and other staples; as well as cash crops such as sugarcane, tobacco, and rubber. The area where this photograph was taken is on the fringes of the plateau, so changes in elevation are beginning to show. Terraces can be seen in the fields here. The area is laced with streams and small rivers, and, throughout the region, rapids become common as the highlands begin to fall off into the low-lying plain. Most of the waterways of Brazil are navigable, but in this remote region, rapids or waterfalls often block boats.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, even though Spanish predominates throughout the rest of South America. This is because settlers from Portugal founded the modern nation of Brazil. Brazilians today are descendants of many different ethnicities, from many nations of Europe and Africa, along with indigenous (native) people. Although descendants of native people are still found there, most of their culture was lost during the growth of colonial Brazil. Still, small groups of native peoples who have very little contact with modern society remain, especially in the vast forests of the Amazon basin. This lowland region, covering about one-third of the country, is for the most part untouched. Large sections of it are still unexplored today, but it is estimated that over one-fifth of all known plant species are found there, and a similarly large percentage of animal species.