Sertao

The sertao is the semi-arid backcountry of Brazil, referring both to a specific sub-region of the country Northeast and, more broadly, to its interior hinterlands, covering parts of nine northeastern states, Alagoas, Bahia, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Maranhão, Piauí, and Sergipe, as well as part of Minas Gerais. It is defined by unpredictable droughts and sparse rainfall and by caatinga, a scrubby vegetation of drought resistant, thorny, deciduous plants that lose their leaves and turn pale grayish or off white during the dry season. Despite the economic hardship caused by recurring drought, the sertao holds a distinctive and celebrated place in Brazilian culture, associated with a rich body of historical narrative and folklore.