Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world both in terms of population (186 million in 2005) and land area. From the Amazon basin in the north and west to the Brazilian Highlands in the southeast, Brazil's topography is quite diverse. Much of the country lies between 200 and 800 m (700 and 2,600 ft) in elevation. The main upland area occupies most of the southern half of the country.
Almost all of Brazil has a tropical or subtropical climate. Brazil's rainy season occurs during the winter months of Dec-Mar. The east, however experiences regular drought.
Brazil has a dense and complex system of rivers. The Amazon (the world's second longest river, after the Nile in Egypt) carries more water to the ocean than any other river system in the world. It's navigable for its entire 2,000 mile trip within Brazil.
