Kayapo

Rainforest - Kayapo

Location:

The Amazon rainforest is located in the upper section of Brazil. It is approximately, 2 - 4 degrees south of the Equator. It is a tropical rainforest due to it's climate as it is near the Equator.

Climate:

Due to the location of the Amazon rainforest, the climate in the Amazon rainforest is hot and humid throughout the year. The average temperature is 27°C. There is no summer or winter as it is, like any tropical rainforest, hot. Although it is hot in the Amazon rainforest, it does not get too hot. It rarely reaches over 33°C. The Amazon rainforest is rarely ever dry as it rains almost all year. Rain fall is very common and if people are going to visit this rainforest, they would need to be prepared for a heavy rain fall.

Community and Location:

The Kayapo people are located along the Xingu river in the eastern part of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. When the Portugese first arrived in Brazil, there were about five million American - Indians. Today, there are only about 200,000, of which a few thousand are Kayapo people.

Lifestyle:

Their Leader:
Their leader is Chief Raoni who has suffred several threats. This has caused some problems for the Kayapo people but now, seem to be living their normal lives.

Living Conditions - The Kayapo people live in huts big enough to fit a whole family. Instead of mattresses, the bedding usually consists of hammocks. Health protection is accomplished by curing roots and herbs. They also have medicine men. For transport, the Kayapo people use canoes to travel around the Amazon. They can also hike for days and weeks.

Family Life - Teenage women marry men chosen by their families. Only after birth, is a marriage confirmed. The Kayapos live in large families. They sleep in huts big enough for a whole family, where women harvest and men hunt.