Brazil. Geography, description and characteristics of the country. Large rivers and lakes of Brazil Underground river Gruta do Lago Azur, video

Brazil's river network is very dense and rich in water. From west to east, the country is crossed by the deepest and largest river in the world in terms of basin size - the Amazon, which irrigates the northern regions of the country. It is formed outside of Brazil by the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers and has a length of 6,400 km from the source of the Marañon, and more than 7,000 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 meters. 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 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 the Purus (3 thousand km), Jurua, Tapajos and Xingu (the length of each is about 2 thousand km), Madeira (about 1.5 thousand km). Large left tributaries are the Rio Negru (more than 1.5 thousand km), Zhapura, Isa. The Amazon mode is complex and varied. Due to the fact that its tributaries are located in different hemispheres, floods occur on them different time: on the right - from October to April ( summer season V southern hemisphere), on the left - from April to October (summer season in the northern hemisphere), and seasonal fluctuations in flow in the Amazon are smoothed out. The average water flow in the lower reaches is about 220 thousand cubic meters. m/sec. The average annual flow of the river is approximately 7,000 cubic meters. km - about 15% of the annual flow of all rivers on Earth. The Amazon carries an average of more than 1 billion tons of sediment per year. Its muddy yellow waters are visible in the ocean 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”, hence the name of the river. These waves reach 5 m in height and travel up the river for 1400 km, flooding the low floodplains of the Igapo. The Amazon has significant energy potential (about 280 million kW), which is extremely underutilized.

Second largest river South America- Parana - irrigates the south and southwest of Brazil (more than 1/10 of its territory). The main tributaries of the Paraná are the Paraguay, Tieteux, Iguazu, and Paranapanema. There are many rapids and waterfalls on the Parana and its tributaries. The largest of the waterfalls are: Iguazu (height about 80 m), located on the left tributary of the same name, and the cascade of waterfalls Seti-Kedas (Guaira) (33 m) on Parana. Paraná accounts for 57% of Brazil's enormous hydroelectric potential, estimated at 79.4 billion kW. The eastern part of the country belongs to the basin of the San 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 area are Pa-raiba, Paraguaçu, Jequitinbna, etc. All of them are full-flowing, fast-moving and have great hydroelectric potential.

The largest rivers in the northeast of Brazil - Tocantins and Parnaiba - have rapids and are characterized by variable regime, which is also typical for other rivers in the region. During the dry season, some of them dry out. The rivers of the southeast are few in number and have the most stable regime, which is explained by the relatively uniform distribution precipitation throughout the year. The constancy of the regime of these rivers is very important for the production of hydroelectric power. The largest river is Zhakuy. There are relatively few lakes in Brazil. These are mainly lagoon lakes and floodplain oxbow lakes, widespread in the Amazon floodplain. The largest of the lagoon lakes are the shallow lakes Patus (area exceeding 10 thousand sq. km) and Lagoa Mirin, connected by a channel.

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Brazil is geographically located in the 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. We attach a list (in alphabetical order) below.

  • Amazon.
  • Parana.
  • San Francisco.
  • Lagoa-Mirin.
  • Patus.
  • Underground lake.

Rivers of Brazil

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

Let's start the description with the most big river countries - Amazon. Researchers who took part in the 1995 expedition found that the river (together with the Apurímac and Ucayali tributaries) is the longest in the world. Its length is 7000 km.

Its depth at the mouth is 100 m. And 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 into branches by numerous islands.

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

Almost all major rivers and lakes of Brazil have interesting animals and vegetable world. Most of the river is concentrated on the banks of the Amazon existing species. In addition, the river is the “lungs” of the Earth, since its forests produce huge amounts of oxygen.

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

The second largest river in the country is the Paraná. 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 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 a lava plateau. In addition, there are cascading waterfalls. The largest of them is Iguazu, located on the tributary of the same name. This favorite place many tourists coming to Brazil.

Paraná has a small coastline and does not flow into the sea. The river bank is marshy and low. Only in the south is open space, which is called "Campos".

Here are the main tributaries of this river.

The river is navigable. Boats carrying vacationers who came to these places on an excursion sail along it. Passengers and cargo are not transported along it. Because this river is not very deep, large ships It is not recommended to walk on it.

The Paraná Valley contains flat plateaus. Serra Uru ui is the largest of them. This is also where National Park Brazil. It is the southwestern border of the state.

San Francisco

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

In its middle reaches, the river is quite calm, as 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 in the driest part of the country, so its water levels vary greatly depending on the season. The river is navigable, but not along its entire course.

The large rivers (and lakes) of Brazil, or more precisely its eastern part, are characterized by regime instability. 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 have a constant regime, thanks to the relatively uniform distribution of precipitation throughout the year. This is important for the hydroelectric power plants located here. The largest river in this territory is Zhakuy.

Lakes

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

Most of Lakes of Brazil are located off the Atlantic coast. The largest of them is Lagoa Mirin. It is also the largest in Latin America. The reservoir is located 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 this beautiful lagoon lake. It is separated by applied sandstone and a spit of swamps. It connects with another lake - Patus. A rich fauna is represented here.

Until recently, Lagoa-Mirin was not very popular among tourists, although today it is very often included in excursion programs. Fishing lovers get special pleasure here.

Patus Lake

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

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

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

The lake was named by the Dutchman Frederik 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, settlers from the Azores appeared here. It was they who called this territory the Great River of St. Peter.

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

The peculiarity of the lake is that its water level constantly fluctuates. This phenomenon is caused by river runoff. In these places, river levels largely depend on the amount of precipitation.

In the vicinity of Patus, coal is mined and soil irrigation is carried out. 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. They are all very interesting. For example, unique natural object- 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 whose depth reached 90 m.

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

No less interesting are the lakes located in Lenções Maranhensens (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 the eggs are carried by birds 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.

Brazil is famous for its numerous luxurious beaches, which stretch for hundreds of kilometers along east coast countries. However, every year millions of tourists from the most different countries the world comes to Brazil not only for the excellent beach resorts. Tourists are also interested in the sights and culture of this country, which gave the world samba, capoeira and Brazilian football.

Geography of Brazil

Brazil is located in South America. Brazil is bordered in the north by Suriname, Venezuela, Guyana and French Guiana, in the northwest by Colombia, in the west by Peru and Bolivia, in the south by Uruguay, and in the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay. In the east the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of ​​this state is 8,514,877 square meters. km., and the total length of the state border is 14,691 km.

The territory of Brazil is very diverse - there are lowlands, plains, hills, mountains. In the north there is the Amazonian Lowland, which passes into the Guiana Plateau, and in the south - the Brazilian Plateau. The highest local peak is Neblin Peak, whose height reaches 2,994 meters.

The main Brazilian rivers are the Amazon, Paraná (and its main tributary Iguazu), Negro, San Francisco and Madeira.

Capital of Brazil

Brasilia is the capital of Brazil. The population of this city is now more than 2.6 million people. Brasilia was built in the late 1950s.

Official language

The official language is Portuguese.

Religion

About 86% of residents are Christians (of which more than 84% are Catholics, and more than 22% are Protestants).

Government of Brazil

According to the 1988 Constitution, Brazil is a federal republic. Its head is the President, who is elected for a term of 4 years. Executive power belongs to the President, Vice-President and the Cabinet of 15 ministers with a chairman.

The bicameral Brazilian parliament is called the National Congress, it consists of the Senate (81 senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (513 deputies).

Basic political parties– “Workers’ Party”, “Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement”, “Brazilian Social Democratic Party”, “ Democratic Party", "Progressive Party" and "Republic Party".

Administratively, the country is divided into 26 states and one federal district with its center in Brasilia.

Climate and weather

The climate is varied, ranging from tropical to subequatorial. The Amazon basin has a tropical climate average annual temperature air +27C.

The best time to visit Brazil is from December to March. At this time, the weather is sunny enough to sunbathe on the beaches and swim in the ocean. In addition, you need to remember about the Brazilian Carnival in February.

In general, you can relax in this South American country all year round. But you need to take into account that in the northeast the rainy season occurs in April-July, and in the Rio de Janeiro area - in October-January.

Ocean off the coast of Brazil

In the east, Brazil is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Length coastline is 7,491 km. average temperature sea ​​near the coast from January to March - +25C, and from July to September - +23C.

Rivers and lakes

A large number of rivers flow through Brazil. The largest of them are the Amazon, Parana (and its main tributary Iguazu), Negro, San Francisco and Madeira.

In the state of Parana, on the border with Argentina, are the famous Iguazu Falls, consisting of 270 individual waterfalls.

History of Brazil

The modern history of Brazil began in 1500, when the Portuguese fleet led by Pedro Alvares Cabral sailed to the shores of this country. The first Portuguese settlement in Brazil appeared in 1532, and the colonization of this country actually began in 1534, when the Portuguese king divided it into 12 colonies.

In 1549 the colonies were united into a single Brazilian Government General. By the middle of the 16th century, Brazil had become the world's largest supplier of sugar. To grow sugar cane they began there in large quantities import black slaves from Angola and Mozambique.

In 1640, the Marquis de Montalvan became the first Viceroy of Brazil. By the end of the 17th century, sugar exports from this South American state had decreased markedly. However, nothing threatened the Brazilian economy, because Large reserves of gold were found in the country.

In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal and the Brazilian Empire was formed, led by Emperor Pedro I.

Slavery in Brazil was only abolished in 1888. A year after this, in 1889, the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed.

In 1930, Getulio Vargas became the President of Brazil, who then introduced personal rule in the country - a dictatorship. In 1954, senior officers of the Brazilian army carried out a political armed coup, and Marshal Humberto Castelo Branco actually came to power.

Brazil is now the political and economic leader in South America.

Culture

Modern Brazilian society was formed as a result of the fusion of representatives of many cultures. This is why Brazilian culture is so diverse and interesting.

Capoeira, one of the most beautiful martial arts in the world, was born in Brazil. Capoeira emerged among black slaves as a response to cruelty at the hands of white planters.

Another one characteristic Brazilian culture - samba dance. This dance remains the most popular form of folk music for many Brazilians.

Also, one should not forget about football, which for the vast majority of Brazilians has already become a real religion. Is it possible to imagine Brazilian culture without football?

Every year at the end of February before Lent, Carnival is held in many Brazilian cities, which these days has already become the most grandiose show in the world. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are especially famous for their parades, the organizers of which spend several months annually on preparation.

Cuisine of Brazil

Brazilian cuisine was formed under the influence of the culinary traditions of local Indians, Portuguese, Italians, Germans, Africans and even Japanese and Arabs. The staple foods for many Brazilians are rice, black beans and cassava.

Some experts say that there is no single Brazilian cuisine as such, but there are separate regional culinary traditions.

Tourists in Brazil are recommended to try “feijoada” (rice, beans with tomatoes and meat), kebabs “charrasco”, “tutu” (mashed beans and meat), “embalaya” (meat stew with vegetables and tomatoes), “xinxim” (chicken with tomatoes and shrimp), “acaraje” (fried beans), vegetable soup“calderada”, shrimp with vegetables and spicy sauce “caruru”, Brazilian “fish soup” “mokicha”, etc.

Traditional soft drinksfruit juices, coconut juice, and, of course, coffee.

Traditional alcoholic drinks are cachaça (a strong national alcoholic drink), beer and rum.

Sights of Brazil

In Brazil, tourists will find not only excellent picturesque beaches, but also very interesting sights. Near the border with Argentina and Paraguay on the Iguazu River there are the famous Iguazu Falls, which are visited by about 1 million tourists annually.

The most important Brazilian attraction is the huge 38-meter statue of Christ the Savior on Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro.

65 km from Rio de Janeiro in Petropolis is the Imperial Museum, as well as the very interesting summer residence of Emperor Pedro I.

We recommend tourists to visit the city of Salvador, which once upon a time became the first settlement of the Portuguese in Brazil. In this city, a large number of medieval churches, monasteries and palaces have been preserved to this day.

We also recommend paying attention to Brazilian nature reserves and National parks, of which there are more than twenty in this country. This is, first of all, the Iguazu National Park, whose area is 17 thousand hectares and the Pantanal Nature Reserve, with an area of ​​150 thousand square meters. km.

Cities and resorts

The largest cities are Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Manaus, and, of course, Sao Paulo.

Brazil is famous all over the world for its beaches. Some of them are among the best in the world. Every coastal Brazilian city can be called beach resort. Naturally, the beach infrastructure there is well developed. The top ten best Brazilian beaches, in our opinion, include the following:

  1. Baia do Sancho (Fernando de Noronha)
  2. Lopes Mendes Beach (Ilha Grande)
  3. Baia dos Porcos (Fernando de Noronha)
  4. Praia dos Carneiros (Porto de Galinhas)
  5. Dolphins Bay (Praia de Pipa)
  6. Ipanema Beach (Rio de Janeiro)
  7. Lagoa Azul (Ilha Grande)
  8. Arpoador Beach (Rio de Janeiro)
  9. Muro Alto Beach (Porto de Galinhas)
  10. Gunga Beach (Maceio)

Souvenirs/shopping

Various handicrafts, leather goods, wallets and purses are brought from Brazil as souvenirs, Jewelry self made, football souvenirs, small figurines of Christ the Redeemer, women's scarves "canga", the Brazilian traditional alcoholic drink "cachaça".

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24-09-2015, 20:43
  • Abuna
    A river in northeastern Brazil and northern Bolivia. Length – 375 km. It originates in the Peruvian Andes, after which it flows into east direction flows into Maideira. The river is navigable for 320 km.
  • Abakasis
    River in South America. Located in Brazil. The river originates in the southeastern part in the state of Amazonas, near the city of Port Vila Franco. The length of the river is about 610 km. Flows from west to east. It has a number of large tributaries. It flows into the Madeira River, a tributary of the Amazon, and is one of its largest tributaries.
  • Akri
    A river in central South America. Located in northwestern Brazil and northern Bolivia. Length – 650 km. It originates in the Peruvian Andes, after which it flows eastward to form part of the border between Bolivia and Brazil. It is a right tributary of the Purus River. The river is navigable for 480 km and even further during the rainy season between January and May.
  • Demeny
    A river in northwestern Brazil, in the state of Amazonas, near the border with Venezuela. Belongs to the Amazon basin, is one of the tributaries of the Rio Negro, into which it flows near the city of Barcelus. Its tributaries include the Toototobi and Queyras rivers. The Tukano and Yanomamo Indian tribes live in the vicinity of the river.
  • Javari
    A river in central South America. It is located in northwestern Brazil, a right tributary of the Amazon. Length – 1056 km. The source is in Peru. It originates in the Peruvian Andes (La Montagna), after which throughout, except for the upper reaches, it serves as the border between Brazil and Peru. The river is navigable for 500 km and even further during the rainy season from January to May.
  • Zhapura
    River in Colombia and Brazil; left tributary of the Amazon. Length 1930 km, basin area 282,000 km². It originates in the southern part of the Central Cordillera of Colombia. IN upper reaches, in the Andes and in the western part of the Guiana Highlands it is very rapids, in the Amazon lowland it is wide and calm; in the lower reaches it forms numerous branches, channels and oxbow lakes, connecting with the Amazon 600 km from the mouth. Rain power. From March to July there is a flood, due to which the river floods widely, forming lakes.
  • Jurua
    Right tributary of the Amazon. The length is 3280 km, the area of ​​the river basin is 224 thousand km². The source of the river is La Montaña (Peru), in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes, in the upper reaches it flows in the direction from south to north, in the middle and lower reaches the Jurua channel is winding.
  • Zhutai
    A river in western Brazil, in the state of Amazonas, a right tributary of the Amazon. The length of the river is about 1200 km, the catchment area is 60,000 km². It originates and flows entirely within the Amazonian lowland. The riverbed is very winding. It is fed by rain, the average water flow is 2400 m³/s; Major spills occur between March and June. In the lower reaches it is dammed by the flood waters of the Amazon. Navigable in the lower reaches.
  • Queiras
    A river in northwestern Brazil, in the state of Amazonas, near the border with Venezuela. Belongs to the Amazon basin, is one of the tributaries of the Demeni River. The length of the river from source to mouth is about 120 km. The jungle on the banks of the Queiras River is home to a large number of parrots. The water in the river is quite dark in color.
  • Madeira
    A river in South America, the largest tributary of the Amazon. It is formed by the confluence of the Mamore and Beni rivers on the border of Bolivia and Brazil. A section of the river with a length of about 100 km represents the state border between these states. Further, the river flows to the northeast through the territory of the Brazilian states of Rondonia and Amazonas, flowing into the Amazon on the right in two branches. The length of the river is 3230 km, the basin area is 1158 thousand km².
  • Purus
    The river, a right tributary of the Amazon, is about 3,200 kilometers long. The source of the Purus is in Peru on the eastern slope of the Andes, but the river mainly flows through the territory of Brazil, in the Amazonian lowland in the humid equatorial forest zone. After the rainy season in March-April, the river experiences high water. The river bed is one of the most winding in the world, and the clay banks are easily washed away. However, the depth in the fairway for 2000 kilometers from the mouth always exceeds 15 meters, there are no rapids, and a thousand kilometers from the confluence with the Amazon, the altitude above sea level is just over 33 meters. Therefore, the river is navigable almost all the way to the slopes of the Andes (about 2.8 thousand km).
  • Putumayo
    River in South America. Mainly located in the northwestern part of Brazil, in the upper reaches it flows through the territory of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The length of the river is about 1800 km. Flows from northwest to southeast. It has a number of large tributaries. Flows into the Amazon.
  • Rio Negro
    The largest left tributary of the Amazon. The waters of the river belong to the Amazon River basin, and part of the waters enters the Rio Negro from the basin of the other largest river in South America, the Orinoco (via the Casiquiare channel, which is an excellent example of a bifurcation). Seasonal fluctuations in level, low water and high water are strongly pronounced, when the river spills over the adjacent jungle to a width of up to 35 kilometers and the current is practically not felt. It is navigable 600 kilometers above its confluence with the Amazon near the city of Manaus, Brazil. The river waters have a pronounced brown pigmentation.
  • Solimões
    The section of the Amazon River in its upper reaches, from the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers, to its confluence with the Rio Negro. Flows through the territory of Peru and Brazil. It is an important transport artery of the region, as well as a place of recreation and tourism.
  • Tefé
    A river in Brazil, a right tributary of the Amazon. Length 450 km. The river has a dark color of water, which is typical for rivers flowing in areas with dense woody vegetation, which is what Tefé is.
  • Amazon
    A river in South America, the largest in the world in terms of basin size, depth and length river system. Formed by the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers. The length from the main source of Marañon is 6992.06 km, from the source of Apacheta, discovered at the end of the 20th century, about 7000 km, from the source of Ucayali over 7000 km. The area of ​​the basin is 7,180 thousand km² (according to other sources, 6,915 thousand km²). Most of the Amazon basin belongs to Brazil, southwestern and western regions– Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Flowing mostly through the Amazon Lowland in a sublatitudinal direction near the equator, the Amazon flows into Atlantic Ocean, forming the world's largest delta (with an area of ​​over 100 thousand km² and including the world's largest river island, Marajo). The Amazon is fed by numerous tributaries; about 20 of them are more than 1500 km long.
  • Araguari
    A river in northern Brazil, the second largest river in the state of Amapa (after the Amazon River). Length 380 km, originates on the western slope of the Serra Lombarda hill, flows south to the municipal Serra do Navio, then southeast to Porto Grande, where the Amapari tributary flows into it, and, after a series of rapids, heads north -east, where it forms a winding estuary as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Kalsoene
    A river in the municipality of Calloene, in the north of the state of Amapa, Brazil. Length 160 km. It begins on the slopes of the Serra Lombarda hill and flows to the northeast, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. It has a small, winding estuary.
  • Kunani
    A river in Brazil, in the state of Amapa, municipality of Calloene. It flows from east to west, flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and has a small estuary at the mouth of the Amazon River. The length of Kunani is about 120 km.
  • Oyapok
    River in South America. It flows along the border between French Guiana and the Brazilian state of Amapa, making up most of it. The length of the Oyapoqui River is about 370 km. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean, where its estuary forms a large bay - Oyapok Bay. The source is in the Serra Tumucumaki mountains.
  • San Francisco
    Third longest river in South America, including the largest river Northeast region. Crosses the Brazilian plateau and the strip of arid Caatinga savannas, for the population of which it is the only major source fresh water all year round. The length of the river is 2830 km, the basin area is about 641 thousand km². A cascade of hydroelectric power stations was built on the river in the mid-20th century and is used for extreme tourism (kayaks, canoes).
  • Gurupi
    River in South America. Located in the northern part of Brazil. The length of the river is about 720 km, the basin area is about 35,000 km². It has a number of large tributaries. Flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Iguara
    A river in the state of Maranhao in northeastern Brazil. Left tributary of the Munin River. In 1838, the Balayada popular uprising broke out in the settlement of Manga on the Iguara River.
  • Itapikuru
    A river in northeastern Brazil, in the state of Maranhão. The length of the river is about 1650 km, the catchment area is 46500 km². Itapicuru originates on the Serra das Alpecatas ridge in the northeast of the Brazilian Plateau, flows in a northerly direction and flows into the Gulf of São José of the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Parnaiba
    River in northeastern Brazil. Length is about 1,450 km. It originates on the Brazilian plateau, on the slopes of the Chapada das Mangabeiras mountains. In the upper and middle reaches it has a rapids bed, in the lower reaches it crosses the Parnaiba depression, where it becomes navigable (from the city of Terezina).
  • Tocantins
    A river in eastern South America, flows through Brazil (the states of Goiás, Tocantins and Maranhão). The length of the river is 2850 km. It originates from the confluence of the Maranhão and Almas rivers, the source of which is on the eastern slopes of the Serra Dorada mountains, in the central part of the Brazilian Highlands. It flows through mountainous terrain to the Amazonian lowland, forming numerous rapids, including the Guariba rapids.
  • Araguaia
    River in Brazil. Length – 2630 km, basin area – 370 thousand km². Flows across the Brazilian plateau. In the middle course it branches into two branches, forming one of the largest river islands in the world with a length of 300 km (Bananal). In the lower reaches there are rapids, in the middle reaches it is navigable for 1300 km. Average water consumption is 8500 m³. During the rainy season (November-May) there is a flood, during the dry season (June-September) there is little water. The cities of Araguacema and Macauba with a population of more than 30 thousand people are located on it. In the area where it flows, subequatorial forests, savannas and evergreen gallery forests alternate along the banks.
  • Arinos
    A river in central South America. Throughout its entire length (760 km), the Arinos River flows in Brazil. It originates near the city of Diamantino, at 14°.5 south. lat. flows through the state of Mato Grosso, flowing into the Juruena, which below gives rise to the Tapajos River.
  • Guapore
    A river in western Brazil, on the border with Bolivia. The river originates in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, approximately 150 km from Pontis y Lacerda. Further flows into westward about 120 km to Vila Bela da Santísima Trindade, where it connects with the Alegre River.
  • Juruena
    A river in central South America. Located in Brazil, the left tributary of the river. Tapajos. The length of the river is about 1000 km. It originates in the Serra dos Paresis mountains, after which it flows along the sparsely populated Brazilian plateau to the north, forming rapids and waterfalls. Flood occurs between December and April.
  • Cuiaba
    River in South America. Located in western Brazil. The length of the river is about 980 km. The source of the river is on the Mato Grosso plateau. Sewage and industrial waste from the city of Cuiaba flow into the river and it is heavily polluted. Flows into the Paraguay River.
  • Roosevelt
    River in South America. Located in southern Brazil. The length of the river is about 640 km. The source of the river is in the state of Rondonia. It has a number of large tributaries. It merges with the Aripuana River, a tributary of the Madeira. The river has rapids and waterfalls. Formerly called Rio da Duvida ("River of Doubt"), the river is named after Theodore Roosevelt, who traveled to central Brazil during a scientific expedition in 1913.
  • Tapajos
    A large river in South America (Brazil), a right tributary of the Amazon, flows into it near the city of Santarem. It is formed by the confluence of the Telis Piris (São Manuel) and Juruena rivers, which originate in the Serra dos Paresis highlands and flow through a highly rapid section through the Brazilian Highlands. After the confluence of tributaries on the Tapajos River, the Maranhão Grande rapids are located, then the river enters the Amazonian lowland. In this section of the river there are also rapids; in the lower reaches the width of the riverbed reaches 15 km. From the source of the Juruena River to its mouth, the length is 2200 km; basin area – 487,000 km².
  • Telis-Piris
    River in South America. Located in the northwestern part of Brazil. The length of the river is about 1370 km. Flows from west to east. It has a number of large tributaries. It merges with the Juruena to form the Tapajos, one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon.
  • Xingu
    A river in South America, a right tributary of the Amazon. Length 1980 km, basin area 513 thousand km², entirely located in Brazil. The river (called Culueni) originates in the eastern part of the Mato Grosso plateau, then, after passing through a rapids section on the Brazilian plateau, it enters the Amazonian lowland.
  • Paraguay
    The right tributary of the Paraná, one of the most big rivers central and southern parts South American continent. Flows through Brazil (near the Bolivian border) and Paraguay; from the city of Bahia Negra to the confluence with the Parana River serves state border Paraguay and Brazil; in its southern part it is the state border between Paraguay and Argentina. The length of the channel from its source in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso to its confluence with the Parana River north of the Argentine city of Corrientes is about 2,549 km.
  • Parana
    A river in South America, the second longest river on this continent (after the Amazon). It flows in the southern part of the continent through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. The length from the confluence of tributaries is 4380 km. The basin area is 2582672 km². It flows into La Plata Bay of the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Buenos Aires. There is maritime traffic to the city of Rosario in the lower reaches. In its middle reaches, the river forms part of the natural border between Paraguay and Argentina, and below it is the western border of the low-lying region of the Argentine Mesopotamia.
  • Paranaiba
    A river in Brazil, a right tributary of the Paraná. The source is in the northern spurs of the Serra da Canastra mountains (another name is the “Mata da Corda Mountains”), in the state of Minas Gerais. Length 900 km. It flows through the Brazilian Highlands, in its central part, forming a deep valley with many waterfalls and rapids.
  • Pinairus
    A river in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The length is about 25 km, known for flowing through the city of Sao Paulo.
  • Sao Joao do Paraiso
    A river in Brazil, located in the state of Minas Gerais. Left tributary of the Rio Pardo. The city of São João do Paraiso is located on the river.
  • Zhamanshin
    A river in Brazil, the right and largest tributary of the Tapajos River (Amazon basin). Length 510 km. It originates on the northern slope of the Serra do Cachimbo mountains. It flows mainly to the north, in the lower reaches - to the northwest.
  • Trombetas
    River in the Brazilian state of Pará. The length of the river is about 760 km. It is formed by the confluence of the Puana River and the Anamu River. Flows from northwest to southeast. It has a number of large tributaries. Flows into the Amazon.
  • Iriri
    A river in central South America. It flows through Brazil, a left tributary of the Xingu River. The origins are on the Mato Grosso plateau. The river flows mainly in a northern direction, its length is about 1100 km.
  • Iguazu
    A river in South America with a length of 1320 km. Its name comes from the Guarani language and means “ big water" Iguazu is formed by the confluence of the Irai and Atuba rivers near Curitiba in the Serra do Mar mountains. In the upper reaches it winds strongly, constantly breaking off with 70 waterfalls. In its middle course, the river becomes navigable for 500 km within the state of Parana.
  • Akari
    The Acari flows in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. It is one of the main watercourses of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The source of the river is Serra do Gericino. It flows into the Pavuna River. The Akari flows from the western end of the city and ends in the north, is not silted and has a very high flow of water, with little riparian vegetation present. One of the last ecosystems in the city is on the verge of extinction.
  • Potensi
    River in northeastern Brazil. Length – 176 km. The source of the river is located in the municipality of Serru Cora, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean in Natal. Throughout its entire length, the river flows through the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
  • Piranhas
    River in northeastern Brazil. Length – 447 km. The origins are located in the municipality of Bonito di Santa Fe (Paraiba) near the state of Ceara. It flows mainly through caatinga. The river flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Macau (Rio Grande do Norte).
  • Chuy
    A small river in South America. It originates in the extreme south of Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul near Santa Vitória do Palmar. It flows in a direction from north to south to the city of Chuy and then becomes a natural border between Brazil and Uruguay, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The total length of the river is about 45 km. The name of the river comes from a word in the Tupi-Guarani language, which translates as bird.
  • Jaguaran
    The river is in the south of Brazil, in its lower reaches it forms the border with Uruguay. Length – 208 km. The river flows through the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Navigable for 32 km from the mouth. Average depth equal to 2.5 m.
  • Kuarai
    A river in South America, a left tributary of the Uruguay River. In Uruguay it is called Quareim. The Cuarai River originates in the southern part of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul on the Cuchilla Negra hill northwest of the city of Santana do Livramento.
  • Mamore
    A river in South America in Brazil and Bolivia. Length – more than 1900 km. Originates in central regions Bolivia, after which it flows north into Madeira. The river is navigable throughout almost its entire course.
  • Rio Branco
    River in South America. Located in Brazil in the state of Roraima. The length of the river is about 584 km, the basin area is about 195 thousand km². It has a number of large tributaries. It flows into the Rio Negro River. During the rainy season, the river is navigable to the city of Caracaray.
  • Ipiranga
    A small river flowing in the Ipiranga area of ​​São Paulo. On the banks of this river, on September 7, 1822, the independence of Brazil was symbolically proclaimed by the prince and heir to the Portuguese throne, Don Pedro. After this, the Brazilian Empire was founded, which he headed. Currently, the river is heavily polluted and most of it is underground.
  • Tiete
    River in Brazil. The source of the river is at an altitude of 1120 m in the Serra do Mar mountains near Salezopolis, 22 km from the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows mainly in a northwesterly direction through the state of São Paulo (including through the city of São Paulo itself), emptying into the Jupia reservoir on the Paraná River in the municipality of Tres Lagoas.
  • Rio Pardo
    A river in Brazil, located in the state of Minas Gerais. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the municipality of Canavieiras. Tributaries: Catole Grande, São João do Paraiso.
  • Rio Grande
    A river in south-central Brazil. It originates in the Mantiqueira Mountains near the Atlantic Ocean in the state of Minas Gerais. Length 1230 km. Flows through the Brazilian Highlands. There are rapids in the upper reaches. It flows into the Paranaiba and together with it forms the Parana River, the second largest in South America. The river is fed by rain and floods in January-March.
  • Paranapanema
    A river in Brazil that flows through the states of Sao Paulo and Parana. The total length is 929 km. The river originates in the southeast of the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil at a distance of 100 km from the Atlantic coast, after which it flows westward to the Parana River.
  • Paraiba do Sul
    River in South America. Flows in the southeastern part of Brazil. The length of the river is about 1120 km. It is formed at the confluence of the Paraitinga and Paraibuna rivers. Flowing from the state of São Paulo along the Atlantic coast in a direction from southwest to northeast, it serves as a natural border between the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, in the municipality of São Joao da Barra it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Uruguay
    River in South America. The river begins in Brazil, formed at an altitude of 1800 m by the confluence of the Pelotas and Canoas rivers, then the river flows from north to south, forming the border between Brazil and Uruguay, located on the left bank, and Argentina, located on the right. It flows into the estuary of the Parana River (called La Plata).
  • Cachoeira
    River in Brazil. The length of the river is about 14 km. The source is 40 meters above sea level. Flows in a southeast direction. Flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river receives sewage and industrial waste from the city of Joinville and is heavily polluted. The flood lasts from October to April - May.
  • Pelotas
    River in South America. Located in southern Brazil. The length of the river is about 450 km. Flows to the northeast. It has a number of large tributaries. Merges with the Canoas River to form the Uruguay River. Period high water lasts from October to April–May.
  • Jaguaribe
    A river in central South America. Located in northeast Brazil. Length – 610 km. Its basin is located almost entirely in the state of Ceara. Flood occurs between December and April. The name means “river of jaguars” in the Tupi-Guarani Indian language.
  • Sergipe
    River in northeastern Brazil. In the local Tupi dialect the name means "river of crabs". The length of the river is 210 km, the basin area is 3673 km². The origins of the Sergipe are located on the Serra Negra highlands near the border with the state of Bahia. The river bed is located entirely within the territory of the state of the same name. The river flows into the Atlantic Ocean, dividing the municipalities of Aracaju and Barra dos Coqueiros.
  • Rio Dosi
    River in South America. Located in the southeastern part of Brazil. The length of the river is about 853 kilometers, the basin area is about 83,400 km². Flows from west to east. Formed at the confluence of the Piranga and Karmu rivers near historical city Ouro Preto. Flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Brazil's river network is very dense and rich in water. From west to east, the country is crossed by the deepest and largest river in the world in terms of basin size - the Amazon, which irrigates the northern regions of the country. It is formed outside of Brazil by the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers and has a length of 6,400 km from the source of the Marañon, and more than 7,000 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 meters. 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 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 the Purus (3 thousand km), Jurua, Tapajos and Xingu (the length of each is about 2 thousand km), Madeira (about 1.5 thousand km). Large left tributaries are the Rio Negru (more than 1.5 thousand km), Zhapura, Isa. The Amazon mode is complex and varied. Due to the fact that its tributaries are located in different hemispheres, floods occur on them 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 flow in the Amazon are smoothed out. The average water flow in the lower reaches is about 220 thousand cubic meters. m/sec. The average annual flow of the river is approximately 7,000 cubic meters. km - about 15% of the annual flow of all rivers on Earth. The Amazon carries an average of more than 1 billion tons of sediment per year. Its muddy yellow waters are visible in the ocean 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”, hence the name of the river. These waves reach 5 m in height and travel up the river for 1400 km, flooding the low floodplains of the Igapo. The Amazon has significant energy potential (about 280 million kW), which is extremely underutilized.

The second largest river in South America, the Paraná, irrigates the south and southwest of Brazil (more than 1/10 of its territory). The main tributaries of the Paraná are the Paraguay, Tieteux, Iguazu, and Paranapanema. There are many rapids and waterfalls on the Parana and its tributaries. The largest of the waterfalls are: Iguazu (height about 80 m), located on the left tributary of the same name, and the cascade of waterfalls Seti-Kedas (Guaira) (33 m) on Parana. Paraná accounts for 57% of Brazil's vast hydroelectric potential, estimated at 79.4 billion kW. The eastern part of the country belongs to the basin of the San 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 area are Pa-raiba, Paraguaçu, Jequitinbna, etc. All of them are full-flowing, fast-moving and have great hydroelectric potential.

The largest rivers in the northeast of Brazil - Tocantins and Parnaiba - have rapids and are characterized by variable regime, which is also typical for other rivers in the region. During the dry season, some of them dry out. The rivers of the southeast are few in number and have the most stable regime, which is explained by the relatively uniform distribution of precipitation throughout the year. The constancy of the regime of these rivers is very important for the production of hydroelectric power. The largest river is Zhakuy.

There are relatively few lakes in Brazil. These are mainly lagoon lakes and floodplain oxbow lakes, widespread in the Amazon floodplain. The largest of the lagoon lakes are the shallow lakes Patus (area exceeding 10 thousand sq. km) and Lagoa Mirin, connected by a channel.



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