Exploring The Heart Of South America: Brazil, Bolivia, And Peru

Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru are three countries in South America. Bolivia is a landlocked country in the centre of the continent, bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the largest in South America, with a 4,600-mile (7,400 km) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Peru is located in western South America and is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia in the north, Brazil in the east, Bolivia in the southeast, Chile in the south, and the Pacific Ocean in the south and west.

Brazil's location and neighbours

Brazil is located in East Central South America and is the largest country in the southern hemisphere. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its east and by several countries: Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana to the north; Colombia to the northwest; Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay to the west; Argentina to the southwest; and Uruguay to the south.

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina to the south, and Paraguay to the southeast. The Bolivia-Brazil border extends 3,423 km from Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, to Assis Brasil in Acre. The boundary line crosses a variety of terrains, from large urban areas to inhospitable deserts and forests, beginning in the Pantanal and ending in the Amazon rainforest.

Peru is located in western South America and is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.

To the north of Bolivia lies Brazil, the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world. Brazil is bordered by ten countries in total, the second-highest number of bordering countries in South America after Paraguay, which borders five countries. Brazil's border with Bolivia is the site of historical tensions, with the Acre region originally belonging to Bolivia per the 1867 Treaty of Ayacucho, despite its sizeable population of Brazilian origin. In 1903, Brazil militarily occupied the territory until the Treaty of Petrópolis was signed, in which Bolivia agreed to give Acre to Brazil in exchange for territorial compensations, the construction of a railway, freedom of transit by rail and river to the Atlantic Ocean, and two million pounds.

Bolivia's geography and climate

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina to the south, and Paraguay to the southeast. Bolivia's geography is characterised by the Eastern Andes Mountain Range (also known as the Cordillera Oriental), which bisects the country roughly from north to south. To the east of this mountain range are the lowland plains of the Amazon Basin, and to the west is the Altiplano, a highland plateau where Lake Titicaca is located.

The Altiplano, which translates to "high plain" in Spanish, is a relatively flat depression about 500 miles (800 km) long and 80 miles (130 km) wide, with elevations between 12,000 and 12,500 feet (3,650 and 3,800 meters). The average temperature in the Altiplano ranges from 15 to 27°C (60 to 80°F), with freezing temperatures occurring at night. The rainy season in the Altiplano occurs between December and March, with annual rainfall ranging from 200 mm (8 inches) in the southwest to more than 800 mm (31 inches) over Lake Titicaca.

The Eastern Andes Mountain Range, which extends into neighbouring Peru, includes impressive snow-capped peaks, with some exceeding 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) in elevation. The Altiplano is bordered to the west by the Cordillera Occidental, a chain of dormant volcanoes and volcanic vents emitting sulfurous gases. Bolivia's highest peak, the snow-capped Nevado Sajama, rises to 6,542 meters (21,463 feet) within this range.

The northeastern slopes of the Cordillera Real are known as the Yungas, a semitropical region with lush vegetation and some of the most spectacular scenery in Bolivia. The temperature in the Yungas is generally warm and humid, with snow occurring at altitudes above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The rainy season in the Yungas typically occurs between March and April.

The eastern lowlands of Bolivia, including the departments of Beni, Pando, and the northern part of Cochabamba, consist of rainforest and savanna. This region experiences a humid tropical climate with an average temperature of 30°C (86°F). The rainy season in the lowlands extends from late September to May, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 mm (40 to 150 inches).

Bolivia's climate and geography vary significantly across the country, with a diverse range of ecosystems, including temperate valleys, semi-arid highlands, humid jungles, and lakeside villages. The country's terrain encompasses rugged Andes Mountains, highland plateaus, lowland plains, hills, and basins.

Peru's history

Peru is a country in western South America, with Brazil and Bolivia to the east. It is the third-largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina, and is currently the fifth most populated country in Latin America.

Pre-Inca History

The earliest inhabitants of Peru arrived around 15,000 years ago, with societies emerging on the west coast over 5,000 years ago, including the Chavín, the Moche, and the Nasca. The Chimú were South American Indians who maintained the largest political system in Peru before the Incas arrived, with their empire founded in 900 CE. The Chimú's own language, Yunca, was distinct from the Inca language, and their culture influenced many basic elements of Inca civilisation.

The Inca Empire

The Inca Empire, or Tawantinsuyu, first appeared in the 12th century and, at its height, spanned areas of modern-day Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Columbia, becoming the largest empire in the world at that time. The Incas recounted their history by kingly reigns, with most accounts agreeing on 13 emperors. The first seven emperors were largely legendary, with their traditions filled with improbable events. In this period, the Incas were constantly at war with neighbouring tribes, and their domain did not extend far beyond their capital, Cuzco.

The rapid expansion of the Inca Empire began with the ninth emperor, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, in 1438. Pachacuti was a great conqueror and civic planner, strengthening Cuzco and beginning expansive irrigation projects. The empire's longevity was influenced by the methods of the Wari Empire, which had preceded it. The Incas were conquered by the Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, in 1532, with their capital, Cuzco, sacked in 1533, and their final stronghold, Vilcabamba, falling in 1572.

Post-Inca History

Following the fall of the Inca Empire, Peru became a Spanish colony, with the majority of the population living in the countryside. Today, however, over 70% of Peruvians live in cities, with most people living along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is located. Peru gained independence in 1824, with the country witnessing a return to elected government in 1980, following a period of military rule.

Brazil's economy

Brazil is a large federal country with a population of 203 million and a real GDP per capita of US$8,802 in 2022. It is historically the largest economy in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere in nominal terms, and the second-largest in the Americas. Brazil's economy is an upper-middle-income developing mixed economy, with a nominal GDP of US$2.331 trillion and a GDP per capita of US$11,178 in 2024. The service sector is the largest component of its GDP, followed by the industrial and agricultural sectors. Brazil is one of the top industrial states in the world and is rich in natural resources.

From 2000 to 2012, Brazil was one of the fastest-growing major economies, with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 5%. Its GDP even surpassed that of the United Kingdom in 2012, making Brazil the world's sixth-largest economy at the time. However, Brazil's economic growth slowed in 2013, and the country entered a recession in 2014. The economy began to recover in 2017, officially exiting the recession. In 2023, Brazil's real GDP expanded by 2.9%, driven by a robust labour market, fiscal stimulus, and a favourable external environment benefiting exports. In 2024, Brazil's GDP is expected to grow by 1.7%.

Brazil faces structural challenges, including a complex tax system, a cumbersome business environment, low savings and infrastructure investments, and limited integration into global markets, which hinder innovation and competitiveness. Additionally, racial and gender discrimination persist as systemic barriers, limiting opportunities for many individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty.

To address these issues, Brazil has initiated reforms and ambitious development programs to fight inequality, promote social justice, re-industrialize, and embrace a greener economy. The country is committed to reaching zero illegal deforestation by 2030 and has launched an Ecological Transformation Plan to boost productivity, create well-paid green jobs, and promote sustainable development.

Bolivia's wildlife

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, with Brazil to the north and east, and Peru to the northwest. The country is incredibly biodiverse, with a wide range of organisms and ecosystems. Its altitudes vary from 90 to 6,542 meters above sea level, which, along with its rugged geography and varying climate, allows for a vast array of wildlife.

Bolivia is home to many different types of animals, and it is thought that several species are yet to be discovered. The country has over 2,900 animal species, including 398 mammals, over 1,400 bird species, 204 amphibians, 277 reptiles, and 635 freshwater fish species. Bolivia also has more than 3,000 types of butterfly and over 60 domestic animal species.

Some of the most notable wildlife in Bolivia includes the giant otter, the jaguar, the guanaco, the spectacled bear, the Bolivian river dolphin, and the Andean flamingo. The giant otter, for example, is a carnivorous mammal that can grow up to 1.7 metres long and is native to the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland habitat in eastern Bolivia. The jaguar, on the other hand, is the largest cat species in the Americas and the third-largest in the world. It has a tawny-yellow coat with rosette-like spots and can be found in dense rainforests, wooded areas, and swamps, such as the Kaa Iya National Park.

The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is the only surviving bear species in South America. It is a shy, nocturnal, and often solitary animal that primarily feeds on fruit and tough rainforest plants. The Bolivian river dolphin, or 'bufeo', is a rare pinky-grey dolphin found in the upper Madeira River basin. With waterfalls and rocks barring their path at the Brazilian border, these dolphins are confined to Bolivia.

The Andean flamingo is one of the rarest flamingo species in the world, with vivid pink plumage and yellow legs. These birds inhabit areas of extreme altitude, up to 4,500 meters above sea level, in the southwest of Bolivia, on the Bolivian Altiplano.

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