Brazil is rich natural resources. The main one is fresh water. Although the country's salt lakes also have great importance. What are the largest rivers and bodies of water in Brazil?

Major rivers of Brazil

There are three large water arteries in Brazil that are of interest for human use. Amazon, Paraná and San Francisco. These rivers have a large water area, are endowed with huge water resources, and also have sufficient capacity for the construction of hydroelectric power stations on them. In addition, the navigable value of the rivers is difficult to underestimate, because they connect many port cities with each other.

river queen

The Amazon is called the Queen of Rivers in Brazil for a reason. This river not only breaks records for its length, but is also the largest in terms of area on the entire globe.

In the language of the local tribes, the Amazon sounds like "Paranto-Tingo". The water artery got its name from the conquistadors of Spain, who fought on the banks of the river with the local population. The Spaniards were stunned by the fact that women from Indian tribes fought on an equal footing with men. For this, they called them the Amazons, and also named the river in honor of these women..

Together with the vast tributaries of the Ucayali and Apurimak, the Queen of Rivers has a length of 7000 km. The Amazon is considered a navigable area. Its mouth has a depth of 100 meters. Passable sections of the river are endowed with a depth of 20 meters, which allows ships to safely walk along some of its segments.

The river carries its waters to the ocean, breaking into small streams. Thanks to the silt that a turbulent stream raises from the bottom, many stretches of the Amazon look white. On the contrary, the tributary of the Rio Negro is a "black" river, which is considered as such because of the dark silt and sand at the bottom.

The Amazon gives life to millions of plants, trees, fish and microorganisms. Animals from Brazilian forests go to her watering hole. The water of the Queen of the Rivers nourishes the forests of Brazil, allowing the "lungs" of the planet to breathe at full strength.

Paraná

Another significant river in Brazilian lands is the Parana. The second river in the country's ranking begins on the southern plateau. In the upper part of Parana there are multiple rapids formed there by a lava plateau.

Iguazu Falls owes its existence to Parana.

The delta of the water artery is 50 meters wide. On the approach to the ocean, the river seems to calm down, and already sedately carries its waters to the exit to the salty abyss.

Parana passes through the entire Laplat lowland. The waters of the river are cleaner and more leisurely than those of the Amazon. The length of this water area is 2600 km.

San Francisco

The length of San Francisco is 2900 km. This river also originates at the foot of the Brazilian plateau. Thus, Sao Francisco forms many rapids.

Before entering the Atlantic, the water artery passes several waterfalls, one of which is a beautiful natural object Paulo Afonso. The height of this waterfall is estimated at 80 meters. Excursions are regularly organized there.

This river has several navigable sections. There are places along the stream where San Francisco gets very shallow. The thing is that the river is located in the arid region of Brazil. The water level in it directly depends on the season.

Large lakes of Brazil

The state cannot boast of a huge number of lakes. Reservoirs in Brazilian lands are located near the Atlantic coast. Some of them are located in the central part of the country. The location of the lakes is determined by the flow of underwater waters and the influence of the ocean on them.

Patus

The largest lake of the Brazilian state is separated from the Atlantic by 20 kilometers of sandy ridge. Nature has endowed a shallow body of water with an unstable water level.

The area of ​​Patus is 10 thousand square meters. km. The length of the reservoir fluctuates around 240 meters.

The lake got its name thanks to the cartographer and explorer Frederic de Wit. On the banks of the Patus is the city of Porto Alegre. The "highlight" of the lake can be considered the water level. This level fluctuates continuously due to runoff water and evaporation of water from the surface of the lake. There are a lot of fish and other lake inhabitants in this reservoir.

underground lake

At a depth of 100 meters in Brazilian territory, it is possible to find the so-called "blue" lake or Gruta do Lago Azur. The depth of the underground reservoir is 90 meters. The Indians can be considered the discoverers of the lake.

The first mention of the lake dates back to 1920..

Today, the underground reservoir has become a tourist attraction. IN clear waters lakes, amateurs and professionals are engaged in diving, descending there to great depths.

Lencoins Maranensense

The lakes of the Brazilian National Park form in the desert during the rainy season. It is still a mystery where fish and other underwater organisms come from in these lakes. Locals think that birds carry the eggs to the reservoirs. The lakes exist from March to June. Until their waters dry up, the local population fishes in them.

Zhalapau

In the state of Tocantis, on the territory of the Jalapau National Reserve, there are small bubbling reservoirs. Oases in the middle of the desert are fed by groundwater. Coming to the surface, the water mixes with white sand. Therefore, the waters of the Zhalapau lakes are so white and dense. It is believed that a person or an animal cannot drown in these lakes, since the density of water with sand grains is quite high there.

The rivers and lakes of Brazil form a rather complex ecosystem on the territory of the state. Many of these water areas are included in the tourist routes of the country. The beauty of local reservoirs is unique and extraordinary. Many tourists tend to the waters of Brazil to enjoy the spectacle of waterfalls, seething streams and the calm surface of water bodies.

BRAZIL, the Federative Republic of Brazil (Republica Federativa do Brasil), is the largest state in South America. Washed by the Atlantic Ocean. It borders French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. The area is 8.5 million km2. Population 179.383 million (2004). Capital of Brazil. Major cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Recife, Porto Alegre, Manaus. Major seaports: Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Tubaran, San Sebastian.

The administrative-territorial division of Brazil is the Presidential Federal Republic. A federation of 26 states and a federal (capital) district. The head of state and government is the president. The legislature is the bicameral National Congress. Consists of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

Brazilian population. St. 95% of us. - Brazilians, a nation that was formed as a result of the mixing of Portuguese and other European settlers with natives - Indians (Tupi-Guarani, etc.) and exported in the 16-19 centuries. from Africa by Negro slaves (Yoruba, Bantu, Ewe, etc.). By ethnic composition whites 54%, mulattos 38.5% and blacks 6%. Indians (over 1 million) inhabit mainly the hinterland of the river basin. Amazon.

The official language is Portuguese. The majority of believers are Catholics (over 72%), the rest are Protestants (22.5%), African cults are also preserved. Average. population density 21.4 people/km2. In the northeast, southeast and south of the country (40% of the territory) lives St. 90% of the population, including approx. 50% of the population lives on a narrow strip of the Atlantic coast, constituting 8% of the country's territory. Urban population 78% (1995). Over half of the country's population is young people under the age of 20. People over 50 make up only 10%.

Climate of Brazil

On the vast territory of Brazil, two main natural areas stand out: the equatorial forest plains of the Amazon in the north and the mosaic of tropical landscapes of the Brazilian Plateau in the remaining 2/3 of the country.

In the humid equatorial forests of the Amazonian lowland (Amazonian selva), over 4,000 species of trees grow (every fourth tree in the world grows in the Amazon basin). These forests are considered lungs of the planet. Their accelerated logging is a legitimate concern for environmentalists around the world. The forests are rich in fauna: broad-nosed monkeys, sloth, anteater, opossum, jaguar, puma, ocelot, peccary pigs, tapir, capybara. Numerous snakes, reptiles, birds. The Amazonian lowland lies in the region of the equatorial and subequatorial climate. Temperature all year round 24 - 28 °C, precipitation falls from 3000 to 3500 mm per year, in the subequatorial climatic zone there is a relatively dry period - from August to October.

Brazil statistics
(as of 2012)

The Amazon River provides about 15% of the total annual flow of all rivers the globe. Together with its tributaries, it forms a gigantic water system over 25,000 km long. The main channel of the Amazon is navigable for 4300 km, and ocean-going vessels rise for 1690 km from the mouth to Manaus.

To the east, the selva is gradually replaced by stony woodlands (caatinga). Prickly and burning semi-shrubs and all kinds of cacti are characteristic, dry-loving shrubs and trees, columnar cacti and tree-like euphorbia rise above them. Bottle trees are a landmark in Caatinga. During the winter–spring dry period, less than 10 mm of precipitation falls here per month at average temperatures of 26–28 °C. In autumn, heavy showers bring 300 mm or more in one month, with an annual precipitation of 700–1000 mm. Precipitation is extremely uneven not only throughout the year, but also from year to year. Of the 100 years, 50 are distinguished by either extreme drought or catastrophic floods, when rivers flood fields and buildings and demolish an already thin layer of soil. Main river Caatingas - San Francisco. In the very center of the Brazilian Plateau is the kingdom of shrubby and small-wooded savannahs and woodlands (campos serrados). Here is the main region of pastoral cattle breeding of the country.

To the west, south of 17-18 ° south latitude, the vast plains of the upper Parana - the Parana Plateau - stretch. Here are the optimal conditions for growing coffee: the average temperature of the coldest month is not lower than 14 ° C, precipitation is about 1500 mm per year, and the dry period necessary for drying the beans is well pronounced, but not too sharp. Humus-rich lilac-red soils (“terra-rosha”) are especially favorable for the coffee bush. South of 24 ° south latitude, extensive lava plateaus come directly to the surface. Ledges of hardened lava make all the left tributaries of the Parana "jump" down, as if on steps, forming numerous rapids and waterfalls. The Iguazu Falls are especially famous.

A very special natural region of Brazil - Pantanal (translated from Portuguese as "marshland") - is located in the upper reaches of the Paraguay River, almost in the center South America. This is a vast tectonic basin, lying only 50–70 m above sea level. From the north, east and southeast, it is sharply limited by the cliffs of the Brazilian Plateau. For many months, the Pantanal turns into a kind of lake-swamp. And in winter drought, it is a patchy landscape of never-drying semi-grown swamps, lakes and barely distinguishable wandering riverbeds, salt marshes, sandbars and grassy areas. Birds abound here: storks, herons, ibises, cormorants, ducks, roseate spoonbill. Many come here for the winter from the northern hemisphere. Under the forest - 38% of the country's territory. St. 20 nat. parks (Araguaia, Jau, Iguazu, Pico da Neblina, Tapajos, Xingu, etc.); nature reserves, sanctuaries.

Rivers and lakes of Brazil

The river network of Brazil is very dense and abundant. From west to east, the country is crossed by the deepest and largest river in the world, the Amazon, which irrigates the northern regions of the country. It is formed outside of Brazil by the confluence of the Maranion and Ucayali rivers and has a length of 6400 km from the source of the Maranion, more than 7000 km from the source of the Ucayali. Its length within the country is 3165 km. The area of ​​the Amazon basin in Brazil is about 4.8 million square kilometers. km (almost 60% of the total basin area). The width of its channel on the border with Peru is more than 1.5 km, in the middle reaches, near the city of Manaus - 5 km, in the lower reaches - up to 20 km, and at the mouth it reaches 80-150 km. The depth of the river in the middle reaches is about 70 m, near the city of Obidus - 135 m, at the mouth - from 15 to 45 m.

Numerous tributaries flow into the Amazon. The largest right tributaries are Purus (3 thousand km), Zhurua, Tapajos and Xingu (each about 2 thousand km long), Madeira (about 1.5 thousand km). Large left tributaries - Ryu-Negru (more than 1.5 thousand km), Japura, Isa. The Amazon regime is complex and varied. Due to the fact that its tributaries are located in different hemispheres, floods fall on them at different times: on the right - from October to April (summer season in southern hemisphere), on the left - from April to October (summer season in the northern hemisphere), and the seasonal fluctuations in runoff in the Amazon are smoothed out. The average water consumption in the lower reaches is about 220 thousand cubic meters. m/sec. The average annual flow of the river is approximately 7000 cubic meters. km - about 15% of the annual flow of all the rivers of the Earth. The Amazon carries out an average of more than 1 billion tons of sediment per year. Its muddy yellow waters are visible in the ocean at a distance of up to 300 km from the coast. The regime of the river is also influenced by sea tidal waves, which the Tupi Indians called "amazunu", from which the name of the river came. These waves reach 5 m in height and spread up the river for 1400 km, flooding the low floodplains of the "igapo". The Amazon has a significant energy potential (about 280 million kW), which is used extremely poorly.

The second largest river in South America - Parana - irrigates the south and southwest of Brazil (more than 1/10 of its territory). The main tributaries of the Parana are Paraguay, Tiete, Iguazu, Paranapanema. There are many rapids and waterfalls on the Parana and its tributaries. The largest of the waterfalls: Iguazu (height about 80 m), located on the left tributary of the same name, and the cascade of waterfalls Shoti-Kedas (Guaira) (33 m) on the Paran. Parana accounts for 57% of Brazil's huge hydropower potential, estimated at 79.4 billion kWh. The eastern part of the country belongs to the basin of the Sao Francisco River (more than 2900 km long), in the lower reaches of which there is a cascade of Paulo Afonso waterfalls with a total height of 84 m. The rivers are characterized by sharp fluctuations in water flow. Other significant rivers in this region are the Pa-raiba, Paraguazu, Zhekitinbna, and others. All of them are full-flowing, swift and have great hydropower potential.

The largest rivers of the northeast of Brazil - Tocantins and Parnaiba - are rapids and are characterized by the variability of the regime, which is also characteristic of other rivers in the region. During the dry period, some of them dry up. The rivers of the southeast are not numerous and have the most stable regime, which is explained by the relatively even distribution of precipitation throughout the year. The constancy of the regime of these rivers is very important for obtaining hydroelectric power. The largest river is Zhakuy. There are relatively few lakes in Brazil. Basically, these are lagoon lakes and floodplain oxbow lakes, widespread in the Amazon floodplain. The largest of the lagoon lakes are the shallow lakes of Patus (the area exceeds 10 thousand square kilometers) and Lagoa-Mirin, connected by a channel.

Brazilian nature

When the conversation turns to the nature of Brazil, the Atlantic tropical coast and the Amazon immediately come to mind. And this is not unreasonable: the endless forests, which occupy more than half of the country's territory, attract and delight. The vast expanses of Brazilian nature include an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna. For example, out of 290 thousand plant species that exist on Earth, 90 thousand grow in Latin America, mainly in Brazil. Scientists say that out of 1 million 400 thousand species of animals that exist on the planet, 10% live again in Brazil.

Amazonia is a unique fauna reserve, and Panta-nal - the boundless kingdom of swamps inhabited by various animals - is translated into Russian as "marshland". Pantanal - heritage Quaternary period, a vast tectonic depression, the remains of an inland sea (which began to dry up 65 thousand years ago), bounded by the impregnable mountain peaks of Ser Ra de Maracaju from the east, the Bolivian Chacos in the west and the Serra do Roncador in the north. This territory lies in the center of the mainland, and its area is equal to France, and the lands belong to two Brazilian states - Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraguay and Bolivia, but almost half of these vast territories lie within the borders of Brazil.

The Pantanal is characterized by a constant influx of water: streams, rivers, dams, lakes, united among themselves, intersect, confusing the river channels. "No man's land" - this is how they rightly dubbed this area, the true kingdom of ornithologists and lovers wildlife who can observe the life of birds, crocodiles, iguanas, jaguars, fallow deer, deer, otters, giant and pygmy ants, monkeys and tapirs here. The waters that feed the Pantanal descend from the surrounding mountains. They also give life to the Paraguay River, running south to the Atlantic Ocean. This region, whose Brazilian center is the city of Cuiaba, located on the border of the Amazon and the Pantanal, can only be visited from April to September. At other times of the year, when the rainy season begins here, it is practically inaccessible: mountain streams turn into rivers, land - into islands where animals find shelter.

Gradually, the swamps turn into forests, stretching from the northeast to Parana, a state in southern Brazil. It was here, on the banks, overgrown with impenetrable forest, that the first Portuguese conquistadors landed. For centuries, nature in Brazil has receded under the onslaught of big cities, the first of which was São Paulo. Groves were planted that changed the bioclimate, for example, in the area of ​​the Ara Cruz pulp mill in the state of Espírito Saito, where plantings of eucalyptus trees, from whose wood paper is produced, have acquired a truly industrial scale. The area is characterized by endless forests, the flora and fauna of which are unusually diverse. The most common bird species are parrots, toucans and gulls. One of the most untouched areas south of São Paulo is a 35,000 square meter forest zone. km, in 1958 declared a national park. Another is the Jureia mountain range, which in the Tupi-Guarani language means “protruding peak”, a huge mountain range that stretches to the coast of São Paulo. It is a true paradise with 40 km of virgin beaches.

400 species grow here medicinal plants, lives a large number of animals and birds. And all this is located 200 km from the chaotic metropolis of São Paulo and 130 km from Cubatan, a city that has gained infamy due to the dumping of toxic industrial waste, which led to the genetic change of the flora and fauna of the area. Before these territories were declared in 1987 national reserve, several times they risked being wiped off the face of the Earth. In 1980, President João Batista Figueiredo ordered the development of 236 sq. km of area for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Fortunately, the work was never started: the project did not find support, including financial support. Perhaps because of these precedents, today it is impossible to visit the national park: tourist excursions are prohibited, and only scientists and researchers can get here. In other areas, such as the Amazon, Pantanal and Mata Atlantica, there is an endless natural diversity that exists due to the prevailing microclimate.

For example, the flora of the Serra Duquipo National Park in the state of Minas Gerais is famous for having the highest plant density per square meter. m. Scientists have recorded 1600 of their species (and they believe that there is still room for research), which bloom throughout the year, constantly changing the landscape. Descending to the borders of Argentina, Rio Grande do Sul is home to the Torres Reefs, a famous resort area reminiscent of Dover in the UK. Dolphins and sea lions are found near these giant rocks, every year they come to these waters, driven by the Antarctic winter. Much further south, in the state of Bahia, other giant marine mammals - whales - come ashore every year during the mating season. They occupy coastal waters Abro-lusa, producing and nurturing cubs here. The name Abrollus comes from the phrase abra os olhos - "open your eyes", coined by seafarers who were horrified by coral reefs, called cabecas - "heads" - unexpectedly growing out of the water by 20-30 m and threatening to break the sails . In 1983, the archipelago, consisting of several islands (Santa Barbara, Suesti, Redona and Guarita), was declared a National Marine Reserve. Other islands of the Brazilian coast have gained the same status: Fernando de Noronha and Trindade. They are not very popular with tourists: vouchers are quite expensive.

Vegetation and soil of Brazil

More than half of Brazil is covered by forests on red ferralite soils. The vegetation of Brazil is exceptionally rich and varied, with about 50,000 species (that is, 1/4 of all species known to scientists). The humid equatorial evergreen forests, called hylaea (in Brazil - selva), occupying the western part of the Amazon, are distinguished by a special richness in species composition, density, multi-layered. They grow on red-yellow, often gleyed, ferrallitic soils, which quickly lose their structure and fertility when deforested. The forest riches and species composition of the Amazonian forests have not yet been studied enough. There are more than 4 thousand species of tree species alone, of which 600 are of economic importance. Hundreds of species of palm trees grow, and the highest (up to 60 m) are characteristic of the “varzea” zone, which is flooded only during high floods. Here, such types of palms as elephant, pashiuba, attalei and acai-euterna are common, from the fruits of which a refreshing and tonic drink and vegetable oil, popular in the country, are prepared, and from the shoots - a vegetable dish. There are such valuable tree species as cotton (sumauma-ceiba), which gives the silky fiber of kapok; zedrel, which is a source of valuable wood; kopafeira supplying kopay balsam; cacao tree and the most valuable of the rubber - seringeira, or hevea, whose homeland is the Amazon (now these plants are widespread on tropical plantations around the world). Ficuses and strychnos grow here, containing the strongest of the curare poisons, with which the Indians poisoned their arrows.

Even richer and more diverse are the forests of the unflooded "solid land" - "terra firma", or "ete". It grows such valuable tree species as mogno (mahogany-glow) and caesalpinia (or pau-brazil, which gave the name to the country), which have red wood; "milk tree" - a galactodendron with a sweet milky juice that tastes like milk; "melon tree" with edible fruits; Castaña-bertolecia, which produces fruits rich in protein and oil, which are exported under the name "Brazil nuts" or "Para chestnuts", etc. The trees are densely intertwined with vines and covered with epiphytes. The forests abound with flowers, especially orchids. Vegetation is also rich on the rivers of the Amazon.

One of the most famous aquatic plants is the giant water lily Victoria Regia, whose leaves reach a diameter of 2.5 m. To the east of the mouths of the Rio Negro and Madeira rivers, gilea gradually turns into lighter deciduous evergreen forests, under which red ferrallitic soils are developed. . The species composition of these forests is less rich than that of the hylae. They are characterized by a significant admixture of tall trees that shed their leaves during the dry period. There are many palms here, and above all of the babasu type, which give valuable nuts with a very high content of edible oil. There are light forests and areas of tall-grass savannas "campos-gerais" with groups of palms: acai, mauritius, inaja, etc. Evergreen vegetation on alluvial soils is characteristic of the "varzea" and "igapo" zones.

The southern boundary of the natural complexes of the Amazon is very indistinct. As the relief rises to the southeast and the duration of the dry period increases, there is a gradual change from evergreen leafy forests to bottom evergreen and ferralite-reddish-yellow soils to red ones. South of 5°S tropical rainforests stretch along the eastern edge of the Brazilian Plateau and the Atlantic coast, which in the coastal part are largely reduced to plantations of tropical crops. The eastern windward slopes and high plateaus of the Brazilian Plateau are characterized by a pronounced altitudinal zonality. On the slopes, tall-grass evergreen forests are common, similar in appearance and species composition with the Amazonian selva. Above, they are replaced by tree-like ferns and bamboos, and at an altitude of 1800 m, deciduous trees and coniferous araucaria appear. Above 2200-2400 m, mountain meadows begin, giving way to peat bogs, mosses and lichens. The western lee slopes of the eastern ridges of the highlands are characterized by seasonally wet deciduous forests. The central part of the Brazilian Plateau is occupied by subequatorial light forests and shrubby savannah (“campos serrados”), which form on red coarse-grained soils. During the rainy season, they are overgrown with turf-grass vegetation.

Deciduous low-growing trees and shrubs that grow here along with evergreens are covered with small foliage with a wax coating. Chaparro-curatella, licheira (“sandpaper”), mangabey-ra, the milky juice and fruits of which are used as food by the locals, seem to be with fruits very rich in vitamins, as well as agaves, cacti and some types of palms, are common here. In the dry period, everything burns out, and in some places a dense bark forms in the upper horizons of lateritic soils. In the west, the "campos-serrados" pass into the swampy lowland Pantanal, flooded during the rainy season, and during the drought, which is a combination of swamps and lakes with areas of forests, shrubs and meadows. On the arid interior plains of the highlands, composed of porous sandstone, and in some places clayey rocks, treeless grassy savannas (prairies), the so-called "campos-limpos" on reddish-black soils, are common, with gallery forests along river valleys. "Kampos-limpos" are excellent pastures. The driest parts of Brazil - the interior of the northeastern part of the Brazilian Plateau - are covered with thickets of low-growing thorny shrubs and cactus woodlands (“caatinga”) on thin, gravelly red-brown and red-brown soils. Caatinga is characterized by a bottle tree, the trunk of which contains a supply of moisture accumulated by the tree during the rainy season; in the gallery forests along the river valleys palm-ma-carnauba grows, the trunk and leaves of which are covered in the dry period with vegetable wax, which has found wide application in technology and is an export item. The trunks of carnauba are used as a building material, and the leaves are widely used by locals in everyday life for making mats, hats, baskets, roofs, etc. Babasu oil palm is also common here.

In the lower left-bank part of the depression of the Parana River, dense humid tropical forests grow, which, as they rise along the eastern edge of the Brazilian Plateau, are gradually replaced by subtropical light coniferous forests of araucaria. A stunted mate tree grows here in abundance, the leaves of which are used to make a tonic drink called Paraguayan tea, very popular in South American countries. These forests have largely been converted to coffee plantations. Humus lilac-red soils formed on lavas and natural conditions areas are exceptionally favorable for the cultivation of the coffee bush. In the south of the Brazilian Plateau, forests consisting of only araucaria are common. The extreme south of the country is occupied by woodless grassy humid subtropical savannahs - "campos-limpos". Almost the entire Atlantic coast of Brazil is bordered by a strip of mangroves.

Flora and fauna of Brazil

In the Amazon basin and along the Atlantic coast - a tropical forest with luxurious broad-leaved trees. Much of the center of Brazil is covered in cerrado, a type of vegetation that consists of trees and shrubs with twisted branches, hard bark, and dense leaves. The northwest of the country is dominated by caatinga, which is characterized by trees and shrubs that are drought tolerant and have the ability to shed their leaves to retain moisture.

To the south are the pine forests of Mata Araucaria, occupying the Southern Plateau. The plains, located at sea level, are covered with pastures. The wetlands of Mato Grosso, occupying 230,000 square kilometers in the west of the central part of the country, are covered with tall grass, weeds and trees. During the rainy season, the soil is flooded.

The Amazonian jungle is the largest tropical forest in the world, covering an area of ​​5.5 million square meters. km., of which 60% are in the Brazilian states of Acre, Amazonas, Para, Mato Grosso and Maranhao. The remaining 40% cover the territory of both Guianas, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Of the twelve types of mammals in the tropical zone living in the Western Hemisphere, eleven are found in Brazil, and their number exceeds 600 species. This includes several varieties of the feline family, such as the spotted jaguar, and smaller ones, the cougar, sucuarana, jaguarundi, and ocelot. Among other mammals, there are: sloths, anteaters, tapirs, armadillos, dolphins, capivars and 30 species of monkeys.

The Toucan bird is practically the national calling card of this amazing country.

Brazil has the largest variety of birds in the world - 1600 different types including parrots. There are at least 40 species of turtles, 120 lizards, 230 snakes, 5 crocodiles, 331 amphibians and 1500 freshwater fish species. Biologists have cataloged about 100,000 species of invertebrates, 70,000 of which are insects.

In Brazil, there are about 3,000 species of fish in the lakes and rivers of the Amazon. Among the typical fish of the region, the following stand out: pyrarucu (the largest freshwater fish in the world, some specimens of which reach 2 meters in length and 125 kilograms of weight); tambaki from the family of caracids, fruit-eaters, whose teeth easily gnaw the bones of the rubber tree and jauari palm; and finally the piranha.

major rivers and lakes of Brazil

1. The river network of Brazil is very dense and abundant. From west to east, the country is crossed by the deepest and largest river in the world, the Amazon, which irrigates the northern regions of the country.

   The Amazon is formed outside of Brazil by the confluence of the Maranion and Ucayali rivers and has a length of 6400 km from the source of the Maranion, more than 7000 km from the source of the Ucayali. Its length within the country is 3165 km. The area of ​​the Amazon basin in Brazil is about 4.8 million square kilometers. km (almost 60% of the total basin area). The width of its channel on the border with Peru is more than 1.5 km, in the middle reaches, near the city of Manaus, 5 km, in the lower reaches up to 20 km, and at the mouth it reaches 80150 km. The depth of the river in the middle reaches is about 70 m, near the city of Obidus 135 m, at the mouth from 15 to 45 m. Numerous tributaries flow into the Amazon. The largest right tributaries are Purus (3 thousand km), Zhurua, Tapajos and Xingu (each about 2 thousand km long), Madeira (about 1.5 thousand km). Large left tributaries of the Rio Negro (more than 1.5 thousand km), Japura, Isa.

   The Amazon regime is complex and varied. Due to the fact that its tributaries are located in different hemispheres, the floods on them fall at different times: on the right from October to April (summer season in the southern hemisphere), on the left from April to October (summer season in the northern hemisphere), and seasonal fluctuations in runoff in the Amazon are smoothed out. The average water consumption in the lower reaches is about 220 thousand cubic meters. m/sec. The average annual flow of the river is approximately 7000 cubic meters. km about 15% of the annual flow of all the rivers of the Earth. The Amazon carries out an average of more than 1 billion tons of sediment per year. Its muddy yellow waters are visible in the ocean at a distance of up to 300 km from the coast. The regime of the river is also influenced by sea tidal waves, which the Tupi Indians called amazunu, from which the name of the river came. These waves reach 5 m in height and propagate upriver for 1400 km, flooding the low floodplains of the igapo. The Amazon has a significant energy potential (about 280 million kW), which is used extremely poorly.

   The second largest river in South America, the Parana, irrigates the south and southwest of Brazil (more than 1/10 of its territory). The main tributaries of the Parana are Paraguay, Tiet, Iguazu, Paranapanma. There are many rapids and waterfalls on the Parana and its tributaries. The largest of the waterfalls: Iguazu (about 80 m high), located on the left tributary of the same name, and the cascade of Sti Kdas (Guaira) waterfalls (33 m) on the Paran. Parana accounts for 57% of Brazil's huge hydropower potential, estimated at 79.4 billion kWh. The eastern part of the country belongs to the basin of the Sao Francisco River (more than 2900 km long), in the lower reaches of which there is a cascade of Paulo Afonso waterfalls with a total height of 84 m. The rivers are characterized by sharp fluctuations in water flow. Other significant rivers in this region are the Paraiba, Paraguazu, Zhekitinbna, and others. All of them are full-flowing, swift and have great hydropower potential.

   The largest rivers in the northeast of Brazil, the Tocantins and Parnaiba, are rapids and are characterized by the variability of the regime, which is also characteristic of other rivers in the region. During the dry period, some of them dry up. The rivers of the southeast are not numerous and have the most stable regime, which is explained by the relatively even distribution of precipitation throughout the year. The constancy of the regime of these rivers is very important for obtaining hydroelectric power. The largest river Zhakuy.

   There are relatively few lakes in Brazil. Basically, these are lagoon lakes and floodplain oxbow lakes, widespread in the Amazon floodplain. The largest of the lagoon lakes are the shallow lakes of Patus (the area exceeds 10 thousand square kilometers) and Lagoa-Mirin, connected by a channel.

2. Amazon - 6437 km, shallow lakes Patus (the area exceeds 10 thousand sq. km) and Lagoa-Mirin, connected by a channel.
3. Here are articles about it
   http://www.brazil.ru/ru/nature/water
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: Rivers_of Brazil

Located in two climatic zones: tropical and subtropical. This explains such a huge number of rivers and lakes located on its territory. At the same time, the rivers of Brazil are particularly full-flowing.

Amazon river

The Amazon is the largest river in the country. The locals sometimes call her "Paranto-Tingo", which means "queen of the rivers". But the Amazon River was named by the conquistadors, who were struck by the masculinity of Indian women who fought on an equal footing with men.

The Amazon is not only the largest river in Brazil. It also has the largest water basin. During the 1995 expedition, scientists calculated the total length of the channel, including the main tributaries - Ukayali and Apurimak. And this figure reached a record 7,000 kilometers.

The depth of the mouth of the Amazon reaches 100 meters, and the width is 200 kilometers. But it is worth considering that the Amazon does not flow into the waters of the ocean in a single stream. It has a well-branched delta with numerous branches.

The waters of the Amazon have a characteristic White color. This is due to the fact that the river carries a huge amount of silt. The current of the Amazon near the town of Manuas looks especially unusual. Here, one of its major tributaries, the Rio Negro, joins the river. And unlike the main stream, the waters of the Rio Negro have brown pigmentation. And for a long time these two rivers flow side by side with two branches - black and white.

Parana river

Another major river flowing through the territory of three countries - Brazil, and. The total length of the channel is 4380 kilometers. The source is the bay (Atlantic, near Buenos Aires).

In its lower reaches, it is navigable and is able to receive even sea vessels. The middle part of the river is the natural border between Paraguay and Argentina. 355 live in the waters of Parana various kinds fish, including two types of predatory piranhas.

Araguaia river

The river from source to mouth is entirely in Brazil. Its total length is 2630 kilometers. Source - Brazilian Plateau.

In its middle course, the river forms two branches that form the largest river island, Bananal. Its total length reaches 300 kilometers. The lower reaches of the river are rapids. That is why Araguaia is navigable only in the middle reaches (1300 kilometers).

Tocantis River

The total length of Tocantes is 2850 kilometers and it also passes only through the territory of Brazil, following through the states of Goias, Tocantes and Maranhao.

The source of the river is the confluence of the Maranhas and Almas water flows (the eastern slopes of the Serra Dorado mountains). In the upper reaches of the Tocantis, a typical mountain river with multiple thresholds. And only after reaching the plain, it expands and becomes calm.

Brazil is geographically located in a subtropical and tropical climate. This explains the abundance of water in its territories. We will present to your attention the largest rivers and lakes in Brazil. The list (in alphabetical order) is attached below.

• Amazon.
• Parana.
• San Francisco.

• Lagoa Mirin.
• Patus.
• Underground lake.

Rivers of Brazil

The largest rivers and lakes of Brazil are characterized by impressive water volumes and considerable length.

We will begin the description with the largest river in the country - the Amazon. The researchers who took part in the 1995 expedition found that the river (together with the Apurimac and Ucayali tributaries) is the longest in the world. Its length is 7000 km.

Its depth at the mouth is 100 m. Yes, even upstream it is still quite solid. This allows large ocean-going ships to sail along it to the port of Iquitos (Peru). The width of the mouth is about 200 km. It must be said that the river does not flow into the ocean in a single stream, but is broken up by numerous islands into branches.

The waters of the Amazon are called white. This is due to the fact that they contain a large amount of silt. Near the city of Manuas you can see an interesting phenomenon. Here, a tributary flows into the mighty river - the Rio Negro. In this section, its depth and volume of water give the feeling that it has flowing into the Amazon, the waters do not mix for several kilometers and flow in parallel with white and black sleeves.

Almost all major rivers and lakes of Brazil have an interesting animal and vegetable world. Most of the rivers are concentrated on the shores of the Amazon existing species. In addition, the river is the "lungs" of the Earth, since its forests produce a huge amount of oxygen.

The largest rivers and lakes of Brazil - Parana, Paranaiba, Rio Grande

The second largest river in the country is the Parana. It originates in the south of the Brazilian Plateau. Its length is 4880 km.

Paranaiba

This is its right tributary, originating in the mountains of the state of Minas Gerais. Its length is 1000 km. It has a fairly calm flow.

Rio Grande

Left tributary of the river. Its source is in the same state, but in the Mantiqueira mountain range. Length - 1090 km. The upper reaches of the river are distinguished by a large number of rapids. This is the result of its passage through the lava plateau. In addition, there are cascades of waterfalls. The largest of them is the Iguazu, located on the tributary of the same name. This is a favorite place of many tourists who come to Brazil.

Parana has a small coastline, it does not flow into the sea. The coast of the river is swampy and low. Only in the south is open space, which is called "Kampos".

Here are the main tributaries of this river.

The river is navigable. Boats with vacationers who come to these places on an excursion float on it. Passengers and cargo are not transported on it. Due to the fact that this river is not very deep, it is not recommended for large vessels to navigate it.

In the Paraná valley there are flat plateaus. Serra Uru ui is the largest of them. Here is located national park Brazil. It is the southwestern border of the state.

San Francisco

The major rivers and lakes of Brazil, the list of which continues with San Francisco, are characterized by high water. Its length is 2900 km. Its source is located at the highest point of the Brazilian plateau. Descending from it, she passes a large number of rapids.

In the middle course, the river is quite calm, because it flows mainly through a wide valley. After the city of Cabrobo, San Francisco carries its waters to the Atlantic Ocean through mountain ranges. It passes through a cascade of waterfalls of extraordinary beauty - Paulo Afonso, whose height is 81 m.

San Francisco is located in the driest part of the country, so its water level largely depends on the season. The river is navigable, but not in its entire course.

The large rivers (and lakes) of Brazil, more precisely, its eastern part, are characterized by the inconstancy of the regime. These include Parnaiba and Tocantins. During the dry season, some rivers in the northeast dry up.

Now let's go to the south of the country. There are few rivers here, but they are characterized by a constant regime, due to the relatively even distribution of precipitation throughout the year. This is important for the hydroelectric power plants located here. The largest river in this area is the Zhakuy.

lakes

As follows from the above, there are very large rivers on the territory of this country. And the lakes of Brazil are notable for their considerable size and magnificent landscapes. The country is not very rich in individual lakes. Most often they are located in river basins.

Most of the lakes in Brazil are located off the Atlantic coast. The largest of them is Lagoa Mirin. It is also the largest in Latin America. There is a reservoir in the south of the country.

It should be noted that the large rivers and lakes of Brazil, photos of which you can see in our article, are surprisingly picturesque. An example of this is a beautiful lagoon lake. It is separated by applied sandstone and a spit with swamps. It connects to another lake - Patus. Here is a rich animal world.

More recently, Lagoa Mirin was not very popular with tourists, although today it is very often included in excursion programs. Fishing enthusiasts get a special pleasure here.

Lake Patus

Not all major rivers and lakes in Brazil are deep water. For example, Lake Patus. It is not connected to the ocean. Its area is 10,000 square kilometers. It is the world's largest shallow lake. It is 240 km long and 48 km wide.

It is separated from it by a sandy spit 8 kilometers long. The surroundings of the lake cannot be called deserted. To the northwest is the city of Porto Alegre, which is the capital of the southern Brazilian state.

Today this city is a modern port, a major political, cultural and economic center of the region. Europeans first arrived here at the beginning of the 16th century. They mistakenly assumed that Patus was Rio Grande. This misconception has existed for several decades.

The lake was named by the Dutchman Frederick de Wit (1670) when he created maps of this region of the mainland. More precise coordinates of the lake were determined in 1698. A few years later, immigrants from the Azores appeared here. They named this area big river St. Peter.

A city was founded here, which later became the capital of the state. In those distant times it was a land with virgin nature. The space around the lake was surrounded by endless dense forests, with a rich wildlife.

The peculiarity of the lake is that the water level in it constantly fluctuates. This phenomenon is caused by river runoff. In these places, the level of the rivers largely depends on the amount of precipitation.

Coal is mined in the vicinity of Patus, soil is irrigated. In turn, this led to what had Negative influence to the entire ecology around the island.

underground lake

It is difficult to describe the major rivers and lakes of Brazil briefly. All of them are very interesting. For example, a unique natural site - Gruta do Lago Azur. The name can be translated as "blue lake".

It was discovered in the early 20s of the last century by local Indians. Having descended 100 meters to the bottom of the cave, they discovered a lake, the depth of which reached 90 m.

Today, scientists believe that this is one of the most flooded voids underground. The lake occupies most of the cave. The water in it is clean and bright blue. This is an ideal place for diving - the amazing transparency of the water makes it possible to observe the life of the underwater kingdom.

No less interesting are the lakes located in Lencoins Maranensens ( national park). This is no ordinary desert. During the rainy season, water appears here, which forms many freshwater lakes. No one knows where a lot of fish, crabs and other marine life immediately appear in them. There is a version that birds carry eggs from the sea coast.

The rainy season here lasts four months (from March to June). At this time, nomadic Indians come here and enjoy fishing. After the rains stop, the lakes dry up, and the Indians go to work in neighboring villages.