(i) Southern Brazil is occupied by an extensive plateau. It is known as the Brazilian Highlands or the Brazilian Shield or the Brazilian Plateau.
(ii) Brazilian and Guyana Highlands together form the core of South American continent.
(iii) The main part of the Guyana Highlands is in Venezuela and it extends up to French Guiana. In Brazil, it covers the states of Roraima, Para and Amapa in the north.
(iv) The lower part of these highlands is found in Brazil. But the highest peak of Brazil, Pico de Neblina, 3014 m lies on the border between Brazil and Venezuela.
(v) The regions to the east and south of the Brazilian highlands have an altitude of more than 1000m. But in other parts, the altitude is between 500 to 1000m.
(vi) The highlands gradually slope towards north and the slopes are not very steep.
(vii) The tributaries of Amazon flowing through this region make rapids and waterfalls. Towards the north the slopes are steep but not abrupt. A number of rivers originate from the terminal portion of the highlands and flow northwards to meet Atlantic Ocean.
(viii) Some major rivers like Uruguay, Paraguay and Parana originate from the southern slopes of the highlands and enter Argentina. Its slope towards the east is steep and it appears in the form of an escarpment.
