geography Brazil

Question 0

Describing population distribution

Answer 0

Refer to areas of the country
Use directions N, S, E, W
Refer to people per square km
Refer to physical features
Refer to large cities

Question 1

Population distribution
Densely populated
Sparsely populated
Population density

Answer 1

How people are spread out over an area
Areas that are crowded
Areas with few people living there
The number of people of living in each square km

Question 2

Describing population distribution in Brazil

Answer 2

The NW is sparsely populated
The SE is densely populated
Coastal areas are more densely populated than inland areas
The Amazon Rainforest has less than 1 person per square km
The ‘golden triangle’ area of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte has over 50 people per square km

Question 3

Explaining population distribution in Brazil

Answer 3

Sparsely populated areas
Amazon rainforest- too hot, wet and unhealthy, poor soils make it difficult to farm, dense forest makes travel difficult
Central areas- unreliable rainfall, poor, thin soils, difficult to farm, poor transport, little government aid
North-East- too hot and dry, drought, poor thin soils, few raw materials, lack of government aid

Densely populated
North East Coast- closest to Portugal for early trade, natural harbours, reliable rainfall, fertile soils, good farming conditions
South East- pleasant climate, warm with reliable rainfall, rich, fertile soil for farming, raw materials and energy supply, ideal for industry, government help given

Question 4

Urbanisation

Answer 4

The increase in people living in cities

Question 5

Migration

Answer 5

The movement of people e.g rural to urban areas

Question 6

Push factors

Answer 6

Few services, lack of job opportunities, unhappy life, poor transport links, natural disasters, wars, shortage of food

Question 7

Pull factors

Answer 7

Access to services, better job opportunities, more entertainment facilities, better transport links, improving living conditions, hope for a better way of life, family links

Question 8

Brazil countryside pull factors

Answer 8

Drought in the north east, poor soils and a hot wet climate in Amazonia make it difficult to farm, dense forest in Amazonia makes it inaccessible, native Indians pushed of their land due to deforestation, lack of government investment means poorer transport and infrastructure, limited job opportunities, lack of schools

Question 9

The golden triangle pull factors

Answer 9

Pleasant climate and fertile soils for farming, industrial jobs available e.g. Steel making and car manufacturing, the port at Rio de Janeiro allows goods to be exported to gain wealth, efficient transport system, more services such as schools and hospitals, Rip de Janeiro has nice beaches

Question 10

Amazon rainforest location

Answer 10

Along the equator, in Brazil in the Amazon basin

Question 11

Amazon rainforest vegetation

Answer 11

Hardwood, evergreen and deciduous trees, three main layers: shrub layer, canopy and emergents, plants adapted to hot, wet conditions e.g, drip tip leaves, buttress roots needed to support to talk trees, humus layer recycles dead plants in order for others to rapidly grow

Question 12

Amazon rainforest climate

Answer 12

Maximum temperature 28 degrees Celsius in May, minimum temperature 25 degrees Celsius from Dec to Feb
Temperatures are high throughout the year with a range of 3 degrees Celsius
Total annual rainfall of 2500mm spread throughout the year
Hot and wet all year, no real seasonal variation

Question 13

Describing climate graphs

Answer 13

1. State the maximum temp and the month
2. State the minimum temp and the month
3. State the range of temp
4. comment on whether the temperatures are high or low
5. State the total annual rainfall
6. Comment on whether this is a high or low total
7. Comment on the distribution of rainfall throughout the year

Question 14

Reasons for destruction of the rainforest

Answer 14

Cutting down hardwood trees for furniture
Clearing areas for small-scale farmers moving out of cities
Creating grazing land for cattle
Clearing trees for mining iron ore, copper or gold
Using trees for charcoal for local industry
Flooding valleys to create reservoirs for HEP schemes
More roads and rail

Question 15

Effects of destruction of the rainforest

Answer 15

The soils becomes poor without leaves or roots, without tree roots the top soil is washed away by the rain, the soil becomes too thin to grow crops on
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air increases because there are less trees to take in the gas, carbon dioxide traps heat from the earth so with more carbon dioxide the earth will become warmer
Plants used to make valuable medicines die out
The wildlife dies or moves away
People who hunt in the rainforest lose their livelihood, people who live in the rainforest lose their whole way of life, native Indians moved against their will, natives come into contact with outsiders who spread diseases to which they have no immunity

Question 16

Using the rainforest in more sustainable way- sustainable management strategies

Answer 16

Protected areas- national parks, biological reserves, indigenous reserves, 44% of the amazon is protected
Selective logging- trees only felled when they are mature allowing younger trees to survive, trees floated down river rather than have roads built
Harvesting forest products- Brazil nuts, rubber, vanilla pods, spices, plants with medicinal value
Argo-forestry- growing trees in combination with crops. The trees shelter the crops and provide nutrients from decomposing plant matter
Eco-tourism- tourism that conserves the environment and improves the well being of the local people e.g mamiraua

Question 17

Shifting cultivation

Answer 17

Traditional form of subsistence farming in the rainforest practiced by native Indian tribes e.g. Kayapo
Small groups of Indians clear a small part of the forest and over a period of 5-8 years cultivate small pieces of land. Crops include yams and manioc. Soils quickly become infertile because the rain washes away minerals so the tribes move on every few years to exploit new fertile soil

Question 18

Main favela in Rio de Janeiro

Answer 18

Rocinha

Question 19

Housing in favelas

Answer 19

The houses are built from basic materials and 12% have no running water, 30% have no sewage connection and 30% have no electricity. Illegal connections to pylons are dangerous

Question 20

Employment in favelas

Answer 20

Most people work in the informal sector e.g. Drivers and maids, irregular and poorly paid work

Question 21

Steep hillsides in favelas

Answer 21

Difficult to build roads up. Landslides can occur after heavy rainfall.

Question 22

Sanitation and health in favelas

Answer 22

Lack of running water and proper sanitation results in diseases such as Cholera spreading.

Question 23

Crime in favelas

Answer 23

Many are controlled by gangs involved in drugs and gun crime making police reluctant to enter

Question 24

Overcrowding

Answer 24

20% of rio’s population live in favelas making it hard for city authorities to keep pace with the provision of houses

Question 25

Favela removal plan

Answer 25

During the 1950/60s favelas in Rio were cleared and residents forcibly moved to new housing but the residents juts mixed back

Question 26

Site and service schemes

Answer 26

Authorities took control of building and £200 million was set aside to improve 60 favelas. Living conditions were successfully improved but new homes were too expensive for the poorest.

Question 27

Self help schemes

Answer 27

Favelas improved by using the labour of the residents. The authorities provided basic materials and project was successful but the steep hillside meant improvements were restricted

Question 28

Morar Carioca

Answer 28

A plan from now until 2020 to urbanise all favela communities with UPP and improving the housing and infrastructure. Some fear this will only be a temporary improvement for the Olympics