Roraima

Roraima is a state in the Northern Region of Brazil. It covers about 224,300 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 650,000, giving it a low population density. The capital and largest city is Boa Vista. The state borders Amazonas to the south and west, Pará to the east, and the countries of Venezuela and Guyana to the north. It includes parts of the Amazon rainforest and the Guiana Shield highlands, with the Pacaraima Mountains forming the northern boundary in places. The best-known geographic feature is Monte Roraima, a tepui near the triple border with Venezuela and Guyana; its flat-topped summit is a landmark in regional geology and culture.

The climate is tropical, with a pronounced dry season in the interior and higher rainfall in the Amazonian areas. The economy relies on cattle ranching, mining, small-scale agriculture, and cross-border trade with neighboring countries. Tourism is growing, driven by natural attractions such as Monte Roraima, the Branco River, and Indigenous territory areas. Indigenous peoples, including the Macuxi, Wapixana, Yanomami, Taurepang, and Karipuna, form a significant part of the region’s cultural landscape and governance through reserves and communities.

History: the area was long part of the Amazonas region and was organized as a federal territory in the 20th century, achieving statehood on October 5, 1988, when it separated from Amazonas. Today, Roraima is noted for its biodiversity, frontier towns, and cross-border links with Venezuela and Guyana.