Question

Plains in Brazil are confined to areas namely _____.
A) Amazon basin
B) Paraguay-Parana
C) Uruguay
D) Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: This place is also known as the Lungs of Planet Earth as it is home to the world’s largest rainforest. This region has an incredible ecosystem with more than 2.5 million different species. The name of this river basin comes from the phrase ‘para rehe onáva’, which means “as big as the sea”. This river empties into the South Atlantic Ocean.

Complete answer:
To solve this question we must be aware of the geographical features of South America. It has coastal plains, the Andes mountain range, some highlands and lowlands and the most well-known river basins.

Let us look at the river basins and the areas that come under their watershed.
Option A) Amazon Basin – The Amazon basin is the largest river basin in the world and it drains the entire country of Brazil i.e. 35% of entire South America. The fertile lands around it are covered by thick evergreen forests called the Amazonia. This fertile plain is dissected by many tributaries of the Amazon and is characterized by endless meanders, frequent oxbow lakes, and thousands of streams. Therefore, this option is correct.
Option B) Paraguay-Parana – This is a river basin formed from the drainage of river Parana and Paraguay (hence the name). This river basin covers the entire country of Paraguay and it also covers the southern states of Brazil and provides fertile plains. Thus, this option is also correct.
Option C) Uruguay – Uruguay is a South American country located to the south of Brazil and Paraguay, and to the East of Argentina. Geographically, this country is located on fertile lowlands called Pampas Plains. It is not a part of the River Basin Plains that dominate over Brazil. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option D) Both A and B – As we have seen above, Brazil is immersed in the fertile plains from the Amazon River Basin and the Paraguay-Parana River Basin both. Therefore the correct answer should be both A and B.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (D) i.e, Both A Amazon Basin and B Paraguay-Parana.

Note: Brazil is the 5th largest nation in the world and covers almost half of entire South America. Presently, it has 26 states which are divided into 5 regions namely; Nord, Nordeste, Sudeste, Sul and Centro-Oeste. It is located in the tropical region of the Earth and thus has a hot and wet, or humid climate. This climatic condition is another reason (apart from the rivers) that is responsible for the extremely rich biodiversity in the country.