ABSTRACT
Brazil is the largest country in South America, with a geographical area of 8.5 million km2 and a population of 192 million people. Including its Atlantic islands, Brazil is located between latitudes 6N and 34S and longitudes 28W and 74W. Much of the terrain lies between 200 and 800 m above sea level. The climate of Brazil is characterized by a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rainforests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate coniferous forests in the south and tropical savannas in central Brazil. The country is also home to diverse wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.
