Brazil Flashcards
What is population distribution
How people are spread out over an area
What is population density
The number of people living in each square km
Densely populated
Crowded areas
Sparsely populated
Areas with few people living there
Name 5 ways you could describe population distribution
Referring to areas of country Using directions N E S W Referring to people per sq km Referring to physical features Referring to large cities
Name 5 ways you can describe population distribution in Brazil
- The NW is sparsely populated (rainforest)
- The SE is densely populated (favelas and cities)
- Coastal areas more populated than inland areas (less dangerous animals, better weather)
- amazon rainforest has less than 1 person per sq km
- ‘golden triangle’ is area of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and belo Horizonte. Has over 50 people per sq km
Why is the amazon rainforest sparsely populated
Too hot, wet and unhealthy
Dense forests make travel difficult
Poor soils, difficult to farm
Why is central Brazil sparsely populated
Unreliable rainfall
Poor thin soils, difficult to farm
Poor transport
Little government aid
Why is north-east Brazil sparsely populated
Too hot and dry Unreliable rainfall-drought Poor thin soils Few raw materials Lack of government help
Why is north east coast Brazil densely populated
Closest to Portugal for early trade Good natural harbours Reliable rainfall Fertile soils Good farming conditions
Why is south east Brazil densely populated
Pleasant climate Warm with reliable rainfall Rich, fertile soils for farming Raw materials and energy supplies Good transport network Ideal for industry Government help given
What does urbanisation mean
The increase in proportion of the worlds population who live in cities
Why are cities in developing countries growing rapidly
Because of the large number of people who migrate from the countryside
What is migration
The movement of people e.g. rural to urban areas
Name 7 push factors that would make people want to migrate
Few services Lack of job opportunities Unhappy life Poor transport links Natural disasters Wars Shortage of food
Name 7 pull factors that would make people want to migrate
Access to services Better job opportunities More entertainment facilities Better transport links Improved living conditions Hope for a better way of life Family links
In Brazil why might people want to move to the golden triangle-pull factors
Good climate, fertile soils for farming which provides jobs and allowing trade to develop. Industrial jobs like steel and car making, generating wealth from exporting, tourism developed from amazing beaches
Why might people in Brazil leave the countryside-push factors
Drought, poor soils and hot and wet-difficult to grow crops, dense forest makes it unaccessible, native Indians pushed of land form deforestation, lack of government investment-poorer transport and infrastructure (roads), limited job opportunities
What are 7 things to remember when describing a climate graph
Maximum temperature and month Minimum temperature and month Range of temperature Wether temperatures are high or low Total annual rainfall (all added up) Wether high or low total Comment on distribution of rainfall over the year (e.g. lots of rainfall in winter but not summer )
What continent is Brazil in
South America
Does Brazil go along the equator
Yes
What large area of forest is in Brazil
The amazon basin/amazon rainforest/Amazonia
What are the 4 main layers of the rainforest
Emergent
Canopy
Understory
Forest floor
What are buttress roots and what do they do
Big roots that support big trees
Why is it hard to grow plants in the rainforest
The canopy blocks the sunlight and it’s too moist
What can shifting cultivation lead to
Unfertile soils and soil erosion
What is shifting cultivation
A method usually used by tribes where an area of trees are burnt and the ashes are mixed with the soil to grow crops and then after the soil becomes unfertile but eventually regenerates And is less damaging to the environment
Name 7 reasons why people destruct the rainforest
Trees for wood- furniture making etc. Clearing for farmers from cities Grazing land for cattle Using trees for fuel like charcoal Flooding valleys for hep schemes More roads and railways Clearing for mining for minerals like iron ore or gold
Why is grazing land for cattle bad
Soil becomes unfertile quickly so new areas are instantly being cleared
What are HEP schemes
Schemes that use water to generate electricity without needing water storage
How does deforestation effect the climate
Co2 increases as fewer trees to take in gas (less oxygen)
Greenhouse effect-co2 traps heat from earth and becomes warmer
How does deforestation effect wildlife
Plants for valuable medicines die out
Homes of thousands of species disappear
Species can become extinct as animal either moves away or dies
How does deforestation effect local people
People make living from rainforest-hunting, cooking and building
Lose whole way of life
Native Indians moved into reservations against their wishes
Outsiders give disease to Indians who aren’t immune
How does deforestation effect soil
With no leaves or roots the soil become very poor
With no tree roots, the top soil is washed away by heavy rain
Soil too thin and poor for crops to grow well
How does the rainforest help Brazil
Increase jobs, money, buildings, facilities
Name 5 ways to sustain the rainforest with
Protected areas Sustainable logging Harvesting forest products Argo-forestry Eco-tourism
What is protected areas
44 percent of amazon is protected with nature reserves, national parks etc.
What is sustainable logging
Trees that are only cut when mature so younger trees can survive and trees are flown down river instead of making roads
What products do we harvest from the rainforest
Brazil nuts, rubber, vanilla pods, spices, plants with medicinal value
What is Argo-forestry
Growing trees in combination with crops, the trees shelter the crops and provide nutrients from decomposing plant matter
What is eco-tourism
Tourism that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people
What is a favela
A small cramped town made of shacks on the outskirts of a Brazilian city
Name 6 problems with Favelas in Brazil
Overcrowding Employment Housing Crime Sanitation and health Steep hillsides
Why is employment a problem in favelas
Most people work in informal sector e.g. drivers, maids. poorly paid, irregular work with no benefits
What is a problem with housing in favelas
Built with basic materials, 12 percent have no running water, 30 percent have no sewage connection and 30 percent no electricity. Some people try and make illegal connection to pylons which can start fires
Why are steep hillsides a problem with favelas
Difficult for building roads and houses, everything like rubbish has to be carried in and out, landslides can occur after heavy rainfall wiping out houses
Why is sanitation and health a problem in favelas
Lack of running water and proper sanitation results in contaminated water giving off diseases like cholera
Why is Crime a problem with favelas
Many are controlled by criminal gangs involved with drugs and gun crime, police are reluctant to enter
Why is overcrowding a problem in favelas
20 of rios population live in favelas, 150000 people in one of the main favelas Rocinha, city authorities cannot keep pace with the supplying of homes, jobs and services such as hospitals and schools
What are 4 ways that people have solved some of the problems in favelas
Removal
Site and services schemes
Self-help schemes
Mortar Carioca (Rio living )
What is Morar Carioca
a programme where Rio are trying to urbanise all favela communities. This involves pacifying police units and improving housing and infrastructure
What are two things they do for the morar carioca programme
Pacifying police units
Improving housing and infrastructure
What is pacifying police units
Permanent community police within favelas making it safer for residents and businesses
What did they do to improve housing and infrastructure
Got 40 local architects to redesign housing areas and new amenities provided
What is a problem with the Morar Carioca programme
People think it’s just a makeover for the Olympics, some residents forcibly evicted and housing is improved but job creation is more difficult
What are self help schemes
Favelas Improved by the residents and the authorities provide the materials.
What was a problem with self help schemes
Improvements were restricted by steep hillside and high density of housing
What is removal
During 1950s/60s favelas in central Rio we’re cleared and residents were forced to new housing on the outskirts
What happened with the removal development
Unsuccessful, residents moved back
What is the site and services scheme
Where authorities took control of building, in 1990s a project set aside 200 million pounds to improve 60 favelas. New brick homes with amenities and local services were built.
What was the problem with site and services schemes
Rent had to be paid and poor people couldn’t afford it
