Brazilian Highlands

The Brazilian Highlands is a plateau that spans through states such as Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, and Paraná. They take up about half of the space in the country of Brazil. It averages 300 to 900 meters (980 to 2,950 feet) in height with some peaks exceeding 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). Some major mountain ranges include Serra do Mar (1,200 to 1,800 meters [3,900 to 5,900 feet]), Serra da Mantiqueira (1,500 to 2,798 meters [4,900 to 9,180 feet]), and Chapada Diamantina (1,000 to 2,033 meters [3,280 to 6,670 feet]). Rivers and basins located in the highlands include the São Francisco which is 2,914 kilometers (1,811 miles) and Paraná Rivers which is 4,880 kilometers (3,032 miles). The Brazilian Highlands were formed from old rock. The climate in the highlands includes dry and wet seasons as well as tropical climates in low regions and subtropical climates in higher regions. There are native plants and animals that live in the highlands. Some of these include the "Araucaria" tree, jaguars, pumas, and sloths. The Brazilian Highlands also hold great economic resources including soybeans, coffee, and sugarcane plantations as well as iron ore and gold mines. The highlands also hold promising hydropower possibilities for the country. The Brazilian Highlands play a pivotal role in Brazil’s economic and natural necessities.