Great Escarpment, Brazil

The escarpment runs along the central and south Atlantic coasts of Brazil, rising sharply and separating the highland plateau from the coast.

[1] The escarpment rises steeply from the coastal plain to as much as 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in height.

[2] The top of the escarpment forms a drainage divide between the interior and the coastal plains.

[3] Apart from the São Francisco River, most streams flow into the central basin rather than to the coast.

[2] The escarpment defines the eastern edge of the Serra do Mar and other mountain ranges.