Roraima

Roraima is a state located in the North Region of Brazil.

It serves as the northernmost state in the entire country. This state is quite isolated both geographically and logistically. It shares borders with several other places. To the north and northwest, it borders Venezuela. To the east, it sits next to Guyana. To the southeast, it meets the state of Pará. To the south and west, it is bordered by Amazonas.

The state covers a large area of approximately 224,000 square kilometres. This makes it slightly larger than the country of Belarus. Within Brazil, it is the fourteenth largest state by area. The capital and largest city is Boa Vista.

Boa Vista is unique because it is the only Brazilian capital located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The state is currently governed by Antônio Denarium, a member of the Progressistas party. He has held this position since 2019.

The physical landscape of Roraima is very diverse. Much of the state is predominantly flat. About 60% of the area sits below 200 metres.

However, the relief is divided into five distinct degrees of elevation. The first degree includes areas that can be flooded. The second degree is the Branco River pediplain. A pediplain is a large, flat area formed by the wearing down of rocks. This unit occupies a large part of the state. The third degree includes elevations reaching 400 metres, such as the Serra da Lua. The fourth degree contains mountains between 600 and 2,000 metres. These include the Pacaraima mountain range. The fifth degree consists of the highest regions, reaching almost 3,000 metres.

Mount Roraima is the highest point, reaching 2,810 metres.

The history of the region is deeply tied to the Branco River. The river allowed the first Portuguese settlers to arrive. Before them, the English and Dutch were attracted to the Branco River Valley. They entered through the Guiana Shield to find indigenous people to enslave. The Spaniards also attempted to invade the Branco and Uraricoera rivers via Venezuela. The Portuguese eventually defeated these invaders to establish sovereignty. In 1755, the Royal Captaincy of São José do Rio Negro was created. This was done partly to protect against Spanish and Dutch threats.

To ensure a presence, cattle and horse breeding began in the late 1700s.

The administrative status of Roraima has changed several times. In 1943, the Federal Territory of Rio Branco was created from parts of Amazonas. In 1962, the name changed to the Federal Territory of Roraima. Finally, the 1988 Brazilian Constitution elevated it to a federative unit, or a state. The population has seen many waves of movement. In the late 19th century, National Farms encouraged colonization. Later, gold and diamond mines attracted many migrants. This movement sometimes caused conflicts and illness. Today, most indigenous reserves in the state are approved.

Roraima has a very small population compared to its size. In 2020, the population was estimated at 631,181 inhabitants. It has the lowest population density in Brazil. There are only 2.01 inhabitants per square kilometre.

The economy relies mainly on the tertiary sector, which involves services. While the economy shows high growth, the Gross Domestic Product is the lowest in Brazil. It stands at R$ 16.024 billion. This is only 0.20% of the total Brazilian economy. Recently, the state has become a major entry point for refugees. About 100,000 Venezuelans have moved to Roraima due to the crisis in Venezuela.

The name "Roraima" comes from the Pemon language. It has three possible meanings. One meaning is "Green Peak." This comes from the words for green and mountain.

A second meaning is "Mother of the Winds." This refers to the windy climate of the region. Indigenous people believed winds from southern Venezuela came from this place. A third possible meaning is "Cashew Mountain." This likely refers to the many mountains and hills in the area. These names connect the geography of the land to the culture and climate of the region.