<Tr> <Th> Natural Hazards </Th> <Td> recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Environmental Issues </Th> <Td> deforestation in the Amazon basin, illegal wildlife trade, illegal poaching, air and water pollution, land degradation and water pollution caused by mining activities, wetland degradation and severe oil spills </Td> </Tr> <P> The country of Brazil occupies roughly half of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean . Brazil covers a total area of 8,514,215 km (3,287,357 sq mi) which includes 8,456,510 km (3,265,080 sq mi) of land and 55,455 km (21,411 sq mi) of water . The highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina at 2,994 m (9,823 ft). Brazil is bordered by the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and France (overseas department of France, French Guiana). </P> <P> Much of the climate is tropical, with the south being relatively temperate . The largest river in Brazil, the second longest in the world, is the Amazon . The rainforest that covers the Amazon Basin constitutes almost half of the rainforests on Earth . </P>

The equator runs through the northern part of the continent of