Covering over half of South America, Brazil has a diverse landscape including a vast expanse of rainforest, deserts and mountainous forests as well as being home to part of the River Amazon basin. The country's mixture of Amerindian and Portuguese influences has helped to create a rich cultural heritage. Brazil has the ninth largest economy in the world, but the gap between rich and poor in wider than almost anywhere in the world. As Brazil prepares itself for future economic expansion, closing the gap between rich and poor is a major challenge for the future.