Answer: An escarpment is a steep slope or cliff that separates two levels of land, and in Brazil it is the steep eastern edge of the highlands.
- Its height in Brazil is about 790 m; at some places the height decreases gradually.
- It is very steep particularly from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre.
- It acts as a barrier to the south-east trade winds, which are forced to rise and give orographic rainfall on the coastal side.
- Behind the escarpment the land drops suddenly to the narrow coastal plain.