Brazil is an incredibly diverse country. It has beautiful beaches, mountains, deserts, and rainforest. Much of Brazil is forested and sparsely populated. However, Brazil also has modern cities which are home to millions of people. Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, has over 11 million people living in the city and surrounding area. That is more than three times the number of people living in the Chicago area!

Brazil is the world's fifth most populous country. However, people are spread out across a huge area. In fact, Brazil is only slightly smaller than the the continental U.S. The number of people living in a particular area is called population density. Brazil has one of the smallest population densities in the world, with only 20 people per square kilometer.

The map above shows the team's planned route from Manaus, Brazil to Belem, Brazil.

Most Brazilians live near the coast, near Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in the South and Southeast. Nearly 70% of Brazil's population of 190 million people live in cities and urban areas.

The Wilderness Classroom will be focusing on only one particular part of Brazil during the Trans-Amazon Expedition. During this leg of the expedition, the expedition team will travel across Brazil's two largest states: Amazonas and Para. These two states are the largest in area, but some of the least populated areas in all of Brazil. Can you find out how many states are in all of Brazil? What is Brazil's capital city?

Amazonas and Para are states which the mighty Amazon River passes through. Thick rainforest and huge amounts of rainfall make the area difficult for big cities to grow. Most of the people who live near the Amazon River are farmers and fishermen. During the next few weeks, you will begin to understand what life is like for Brazilians along the Amazon River. However, it is important to remember that only a small part of Brazil's population live near the Amazon, and that many Brazilians live far different lifestyles than what we are showing you. Can you think of areas in the United States where people live very different lifestyles? How is life different in Montana versus New York City?

Canoeing is the greatest way to see the Amazon River. Think about what makes a canoe the perfect vehicle for the Amazon Rainforest

The people who live along the Amazon River are some of the kindest, warmest, and most friendly people we've ever met throughout the world. The people are always interested in us, particuarly what life is like in the United States. They are also eager to show us what life is like for them. The people of the Amazon River, called ribeneros, rely on the river and the surrounding forest to provide much of what they need to survive. Building materials, food, medicine, transportation, and cultural traditions all come directly from the rainforest and river.

The Expedition Team is excited to start paddling in the next day or two. It's taken us several days to arrive in Manaus, Brazil, but now that we're here, it feels great. The weather is hot and sticky, which is normal for the Amazon, but we are staying cool by eating lots of ice cream and drinking lots of water.