Roraima

Introduction

Roraima is a state in the central north of Brazil. It is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is approximately 450,000 and the capital is Boa Vista. Roraima is the Brazilian state with the fewest municipalities, 15 in total.

Geography

The state's southern part is located in the Amazon rainforest, while the north has open grassland fields, and there is a small strip of savanna to the east. The state is rich in mineral deposits - especially gold, diamonds, cassiterite, bauxite, marble and copper. Many of these deposits are located in indigenous reserves, and illegal mining has resulted in frequent conflicts with the native population, especially the Yanomami and the Macuxi and allied groups.

The Monte Roraima National Park is located around one of the highest mountains of both Venezuela (outside of the Andes) and Brazil, and the highest in Guyana, a 2,875 metre high tepui known as Monte Roraima. Only a small fraction of the mountain is in Brazilian territory, however, and the highest point of the Brazilian part is at 2,734 metres.

Cities

• Boa Vista - the capital

Weather

Except for the higher mountains where the climate is cooler but very wet, Roraima has an equatorial climate, with an annual mean temperature of 26 °C. This is a type of tropical climate in which there is no dry season; all months have mean precipitation values of at least 60 mm. It is usually found at latitudes within five degrees of the equator, which are dominated by the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Getting There

By Plane

Boa Vista-Atlas Brasil Cantanhede International Airport (IATA: BVB, ICAO: SBBV) offers flights to/from Manaus, Brasilia, Georgetown-Cheddi Jagan and Paramaribo.

External Links

• Official Website