The State of Pernambuco is one of the units of the Brazilian Federation located in the Northeast region, occupying an area of 98,146,315 km2. This geographic space encompasses several landscapes, constituted from the interaction between natural elements, the main ones being: relief, climate, vegetation and hydrography.
The relief of the state is basically formed by three types: coastal plain, plateau and depression. A large part of the state territory, about 76%, has a relatively flat relief, not exceeding 600 meters in altitude. The plains are found in areas close to the coast. As you move away from the coast, the altitude increases, reaching up to 1,200 meters.
The Borborema plateau is about 600 meters high, but there are areas where the average altitude is 800 meters, such as Chapada do Araripe. The relative depression occurs near the Borborema plateau, that is to say the area is altimetrically below the peripheral areas (plateau).
In Pernambuco, two climatic characteristics are identified: the tropical and semi-arid climate. The tropical climate occurs in coastal areas called Zona da Mata. The temperature is high, the annual average is 24°C. As for rainfall, the annual average is 1,500 mm. In areas that predominate the semi-arid climate, temperatures are high for most of the year (around 26°) and the amount of rain is reduced, something around 600 mm per year.
The vegetation cover of the state is composed of coastal vegetation, tropical forest and Caatinga. Coastal vegetation predominates in areas very close to the ocean, which is why undergrowth vegetation, coconut trees, mangroves and, in some cases, bushes are identified. The Tropical Forest is where the Atlantic Forest originally housed. And finally, in the wild and sertão region of the state, what predominates is the Caatinga vegetation.
The hydrography of Pernambuco is formed by several rivers, but, without a doubt, the main one is the São Francisco, since it is fundamental for irrigation and other activities of the northeastern sertanejo. There are also rivers: Capibaribe, Ipojuca, Una, Pajeú and Jaboatão.
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
Pernambuco - Northeast region - geography of Brazil - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FRANCISCO, Wagner de Cerqueira e. "Natural Aspects of the State of Pernambuco"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/brasil/aspectos-naturais-estado-pernambuco.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
