Brazil and the United States are geographical giants, ranking among the world’s largest countries. Both are key players in the Americas, with Brazil dominating South America and the US holding a significant position in North America. While both nations are vast and influential, understanding their size differences provides valuable geographical context. This article delves into a detailed comparison of Brazil’s size compared to the US, exploring their total area, landmass, and other relevant geographical aspects.
Understanding the Size of the United States
The United States, officially encompassing 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii which are non-contiguous, sprawls across a massive area. It is globally recognized as the 4th largest country by total area, surpassed only by Russia, Canada, and China. When considering land area alone, the US maintains its 3rd rank globally, following Russia and China, and remains the largest country in North America. The contiguous United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, still covers an impressive expanse of approximately 3 million square miles. Alaska, despite being detached from the main US landmass by Canada, is the largest US state, contributing a substantial 663,268 square miles to the nation’s total.
Data regarding the precise total area of the US can vary slightly across different sources. For instance, the Encyclopaedia Britannica records the US total size at 3,677,649 square miles, while The World Factbook provides a slightly larger figure of 3,796,742 square miles. These minor discrepancies highlight the complexities in measuring vast territories, but the overall scale of the United States remains consistently enormous.
Exploring the Dimensions of Brazil
Brazil, situated on the eastern coastline of South America, extends across a significant portion of the continent’s interior. It boasts borders with every South American nation except for Chile and Ecuador, underscoring its central geographical position in the region. Brazil’s territory also includes several island chains, such as the Rocas Atoll, Fernando de Noronha, and the Trindade and Martim Vaz archipelago. This immense size, coupled with diverse climate zones, varied terrains, and abundant natural resources, makes Brazil a country of remarkable geographical diversity.
Brazil holds the distinction of being the fifth-largest country worldwide in both total area and land area. Its expanse covers approximately 3.3 million square miles, of which about 21,411 square miles are water. As the largest country in South America and the entire Southern Hemisphere, Brazil also represents the Americas’ largest contiguous territory, even when considering the US includes the vast state of Alaska.
Direct Size Comparison: US vs. Brazil
When directly comparing the size of the US and Brazil, it’s evident that the United States has a larger total area. The US exceeds Brazil by approximately 500,000 square miles in total coverage. However, a notable point of comparison arises when considering the contiguous United States alone. In this case, Brazil surpasses the contiguous US in size by roughly 300,000 square miles. This difference is largely attributed to Alaska’s significant landmass, which contributes substantially to the overall size of the US.
The proportion of water area also differs significantly between the two countries. Approximately 685,924 square miles of the US are covered by water, contrasting sharply with Brazil’s relatively smaller water area of 21,441 square miles. Consequently, the US’s water area accounts for a larger percentage of its total size compared to Brazil. In terms of global water resources, the US holds a notable 3.96-6.97% of the world’s water, while Brazil accounts for a smaller 0.65%.
In terms of population, the US Census Bureau estimates the US population at approximately 327 million people, positioning it as the third-most populous country globally, after China and India. Brazil, with a population of around 210 million people, ranks as the fifth-most populous country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while both Brazil and the US are undeniably large countries, the United States is definitively larger than Brazil in terms of total area. However, Brazil exceeds the size of the contiguous United States. This nuanced comparison highlights the importance of specifying “total area” versus “contiguous area” when discussing the geographic size of these two significant nations. Both countries possess immense territories that contribute significantly to their global influence and geographical diversity.
