Brazil and India: Geographical Contrasts and Similarities

Posted on Mar 28, 2025 in Geography

Dense Forests in Northern Brazil

The northern part of Brazil lies in the equatorial region. It receives ample sunlight and about 2000 mm of rainfall throughout the year. In this region, the growth of vegetation is very rapid. So, the northern part of Brazil is covered with dense and evergreen forests.

Scarce Vegetation in High Himalayas

As the altitude increases, the temperature decreases. The climate is very cold in the high altitudes. In Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Himalayas, the temperature drops to -40°C. Also, this region is snow-covered for most of the year. Very few species of plants can survive in such extreme conditions. Only seasonally flowering trees are found at higher altitudes. Hence, vegetation is scarce in the high altitude of the Himalayas.

Wide Variety of Insect Species in Brazil

Insects are mostly found in forests, grasslands, and swampy lands. Many insects eat leaves, grass, and nectar from plants. Evergreen rainforests are seen in the northern parts of Brazil. Grasslands are found in the central parts and the Paraguay-Parana river basin. Similarly, swampy lands are found in the Pantanal region in Brazil. Therefore, a wide variety of insect species is found in Brazil.

Reasons for Wildlife Decline in India

Wildlife in India is decreasing day by day because of rapidly occurring deforestation, poaching, and pollution.
Expansion of cities to accommodate the growing population is leading to the cutting down of valuable forests, which leads to the loss of wildlife habitat.
Also, the problem of pollution has become severe due to urbanization. Various types of pollution have threatened the lives of many species.
Poaching of wildlife species has also led to the loss of wildlife in India.
Agricultural practices like shifting cultivation have also reduced the forest cover, leading to loss of wildlife habitat.

Need for Forest Conservation in Brazil

Like India, Brazil is facing the problem of environmental degradation due to deforestation, pollution, slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal smuggling of wild animals, etc.
Trees are being cut down to obtain wood, leading to large-scale deforestation in both countries.
Also, the problem of pollution has become severe due to urbanization. Various types of pollution have threatened the lives of many species.
Agricultural practices like slash-and-burn agriculture (Roca) have reduced the forest cover in Brazil.
Like India, the problem of illegal smuggling of animals has affected Brazil too.
Hence, there is a need for the conservation of forests in both Brazil and India.

Differences Between India’s Coasts

The western coast borders the Arabian Sea, and the eastern coast borders the Bay of Bengal.
The western coast is by and large a rocky coast. At places, spurs starting from the Western Ghats have extended right up to the coast. The eastern coast has formed as a result of the depositional work of rivers.
The width of the western coast is narrow, whereas that of the eastern coast is wide.
Short and swift rivers originating from the Western Ghats form estuaries on the western coast, whereas, because of the gentle slope, the east-flowing rivers flowing at low speed deposit sediments and form deltas on the eastern coast.

Convectional Rainfall in Equatorial Regions

A convectional type of rainfall is experienced in the equatorial region. Air near the equatorial region is heated more due to high-intensity solar radiation. It expands, becomes lighter, and moves in the upward direction in the form of convectional currents. The rising air cools down, relative humidity increases, and condensation begins. Clouds are formed, and every day in the evening, the equatorial regions get a convectional type of rainfall. India is not an equatorial country, and the topography of India is the main reason for orographic rainfall in India.

Why Tropical Cyclones Are Rare in Brazil

In the coastal regions of Brazil near the Equator, differences in temperatures are negligible.
The winds move in the vertical direction in this equatorial region.
Similarly, the convergence zone of the trade winds is weak here. As a result, cyclones are not formed.
Therefore, tropical cyclones occur rarely in Brazil.

Stable Temperature Range in Manaus

Manaus is located to the north of Brazil and close to the Equator.
This region receives perpendicular rays of the sun throughout the year.
It also receives a convectional type of rainfall every day.
So the climate is hot and humid throughout the year.
Thus, there is not much difference in the maximum and minimum temperatures.

India’s North-East Monsoon Precipitation

In the winter season, India is influenced by the North-East Monsoon Winds.
These winds bring a cool breeze to the country.
While blowing over the Bay of Bengal, the North-East Monsoon Winds pick up moisture and give rain to the eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India. So, it is said that India receives precipitation from the North-East Monsoon Winds too.

Brazil vs. India: Per Capita Land

India occupies 2.4% of the land area of the world and supports 17.5% of the world’s total population.
Brazil occupies 5.6% of the land area of the world and supports only 2.75% of the world’s total population.
The average density of population in India is about 382 persons per sq. km, while the average density of population in Brazil is around 23 persons per sq. km.
Thus, Brazil’s population is lesser than India’s, but it occupies a larger land area than India. Per capita land availability is more in Brazil as compared to India.

Rapid Urbanization Increase in India

Urban areas have better facilities and amenities like water supply, electricity, health, education, etc.
In India, there has been growing industrialization, leading to the availability of jobs in urban areas.
There is increasing migration of people from rural areas to urban areas.
The urban population is increasing due to the expansion of urban centres and the emergence of new towns.

Latitudinal & Longitudinal Extent: India & Brazil

The extent of mainland India is 8°4’N to 37°6′N latitudes and between 68°7′E to 97°25′E longitudes.
Indira Point is the southernmost tip of India.
It is located on the 6°45′N parallel.
The extent of mainland Brazil is 5°15′N to 33°45′ S latitudes and between 34°47′W to 73°48’W longitudes.

Managing Litter During Field Visits

It is our social responsibility to ensure that the cleanliness and sanctity of the place of visit are maintained during the visit. Managing the environment also shows how responsible we are and assists in the prevention of environmental pollution.

During a field visit, we must ensure that we do not throw litter out of the window while travelling and also we do not throw any trash or litter around us.
We must use dustbins for throwing empty packets of snacks, empty water bottles, left-over food items, etc.
Also, one must try to keep the surroundings clean by segregating wet and dry waste.
We can also avoid the usage of plastic bags and instead, can make use of jute or cloth bags. Following discipline is very important during a field visit.

Hemisphere Locations of India and Brazil

India is located in the northern hemisphere of the earth, whereas some part of Brazil lies in the northern hemisphere, and most of it lies in the southern hemisphere. India entirely lies in the eastern hemisphere, whereas Brazil lies in the western hemisphere.

The North Indian Plains Explained

This division lies between the Himalaya Mountains in the north and the Peninsula in the south. Similarly, it extends from Rajasthan and Punjab in the west to Assam in the east. It is mostly a flat, low-lying area. The North Indian Plains are divided into two parts:

The part lying to the east of the Aravalis is the basin of the river Ganga and is therefore known as the Ganga Plains. It slopes eastward.

The western part of the North Indian Plains is occupied by desert. It is also known as the Thar Desert or Marusthali. Most of Rajasthan is occupied by this desert. To the north of the desert lie the plains of Punjab. This region is spread to the west of the Aravalis and Delhi ranges. These plains have formed as a result of the depositional work by the river Sutlej and its tributaries. The slope of the plains is towards the west. Because the soil here is very fertile, agriculture is largely practised in this region.

Measures to Control River Pollution in India

Treating sewage before draining it into the rivers.
Reducing the use of pesticides and insecticides as they drain into water sources and pollute them.
Discharge of industrial effluents into rivers without proper treatment is now controlled.
Reusing water for different purposes, which reduces the overuse and pollution of water.
Carrying out the cleaning and purification of river water under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
Creating awareness among people about the importance of rivers and the harmful effects of pollution.
Setting up Pollution Control Boards (PCB) at the state and national levels to curb pollution.
Displaying hoardings and informing tourists not to pollute water.

Factors Affecting Brazil’s Climate

Brazil experiences a wide range of variations in climate due to several factors:

Latitudinal Extent

Due to its vast latitudinal extent, the temperature in the northern part of Brazil is hot, while the temperature in the southern part is comparatively lower.

Equator

The equator passes through the northern part of Brazil, which means that the sun’s rays are perpendicular in this region throughout the year. Hence, the temperature here is hot. The average temperature in the Amazon valley is 25°C – 28°C, and the rainfall is around 2000mm. Thus, throughout the year, this region experiences a hot and humid climate.

The Escarpment

Brazil receives rainfall from the South-East Trade winds as well as the North-East Trade winds. However, the escarpment acts as a barrier to the winds coming from the sea, causing orographic type of rainfall in the coastal areas. Beyond the highlands, as the effect of these winds gets reduced, the north-eastern part of the Highlands receives less rainfall and is called a rain shadow region. This region is called the Drought Quadrilateral.

Weak Convergence Zone

In the equatorial regions, the winds move in the vertical direction. Also, the convergence zone of the trade winds near the coastal areas is extremely weak. As a result, cyclones are not formed.

Highland and Sea Coast

The climate is cooler in the Highlands, and the coasts experience a mild and humid climate due to the proximity of the sea.

Thus, the vast latitudinal extent and the physiography of Brazil affect the climate of this country.

Comparing the Climates of Brazil and India

Similarities

High Temperatures: Brazil’s Amazon Valley and India’s southern states have high average temperatures.
Orographic Rainfall: Both countries receive orographic rainfall, although from different wind patterns.

Differences

Climate Type: India has a monsoon climate, while Brazil experiences a wide range of climate variations.
Temperature Variations: India’s temperature varies greatly between north and south, while Brazil’s temperature varies between equatorial and temperate regions.
Rainfall Patterns: India receives rainfall from the South-West monsoon winds, while Brazil receives rainfall from the South-East and North-East Trade winds.
Rainfall Types: India’s rainfall is mainly orographic, while Brazil’s rainfall is both orographic and convectional.
Cyclone Frequency: India experiences frequent tropical cyclones, while Brazil experiences them rarely.
Regional Rainfall Variations: India’s Gujarat and Rajasthan regions receive less rainfall, while Brazil’s northeastern Highlands receive very little rainfall.

Causes of Forest Degradation

Forests are being cut down as more area is required to expand cities. Hence, rapid urbanization is one of the reasons for the degradation of forests.
To ensure a continuous food supply to meet the needs of the ever-increasing population, more and more area needs to be brought under agriculture. For the expansion of agricultural land, forest areas are being cut down.
In both India and Brazil, forests are being cut down for firewood and for other domestic needs.
Slash-and-burn agriculture, which is also known as Roca in Brazil and Jhum in India, is responsible for deforestation.
Apart from all the above reasons, forest fires, pollution, overgrazing, etc., are also responsible for the degradation of forests.