Geographic Region

The Brazilian Highlands, an extensive geographical region, is the main source of Brazil's abundant mineral wealth. Covering most of the eastern, southern and central portions of the country, the region includes steep cliffs, flat-topped plateaus, ravines, rolling hills and rock outcrops.

The Guiana Shield is one of the three cratons of the South American Plate. It is a 1.7 billion-year-old Precambrian geological formation in northeast South America that forms a portion of the northern coast. The higher elevations are known as the Guiana Highlands.