View source for Porto Velho

{{Short description|Capital city of Rondônia, Brazil}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Porto Velho
| official_name            = Município de Porto Velho <br/>Municipality of Porto Velho
| settlement_type          = [[Municipalities of Brazil|Municipality]]
| image_skyline            = Porto Velho RO.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Top left:Rondônia State Government Office, Top right:Port of Porto Velho, Middle left:Porto Velho Cultural House, Middle right:Sunset in Madeira River, Bottom:Panorama view of downtown from Pedrinhas area
| image_flag               = flag porto velho.svg
| image_seal               = Brasão_de_Porto_Velho.svg
| image_map                = Brazil Rondonia Porto Velho location map.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Porto Velho in the [[Rondônia|State of Rondônia]]
| pushpin_map              = Brazil
| pushpin_map_caption      = Localization of Porto Velho in Brazil
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| coordinates              = {{coord|8|45|43|S|63|54|14|W|region:BR|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Brazil}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Brazil|Region]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[States of Brazil|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[North Region, Brazil|North]]
| subdivision_name2        = {{flag|Rondônia}}
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = October 2, 1914
| leader_title             = [[List of mayors of Porto Velho|Mayor]]
| leader_name              = [[Léo Moraes]] ([[Podemos (Brazil)|Podemos]])
| area_total_km2           = 34082.37
| area_note                = 
| elevation_m              = 83
| population_total         = 460,434
| population_as_of         = 2022 <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://censo2022.ibge.gov.br/panorama/ |title=IBGE 2022 |access-date=24 January 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230104109/https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/ro/porto-velho/panorama |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_density_km2   = auto
| postal_code_type         = Postal code
| postal_code              = 76800-001 to 76849-999
| area_code_type           = [[List of dialling codes in Brazil|Area code]]
| area_code                = +55 69
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.portovelho.ro.gov.br}}
| footnotes                = 
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| timezone                 = [[Time in Brazil|AMT]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;4
| timezone_DST             = 
| utc_offset_DST           = 
| blank_name               = '''[[Human Development Index|HDI]]''' (2010)
| blank_info               = 0.736  – <span style="color:#090">high</span><ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233352/http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP)
}}</ref>
}}
'''Porto Velho''' ({{IPA|pt|ˈpoʁtu ˈvɛʎu}}, ''Old Port'') is the [[capital (political)|capital]] of the [[Brazil]]ian [[States of Brazil|state]] of [[Rondônia]], in the upper [[Amazon River]] basin. The population is 460,434 people (as of the [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]] 2022 estimation).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censo2022.ibge.gov.br/panorama/|title=Panorama do Censo 2022|website=Panorama do Censo 2022}}</ref> Located on the [[border]] of Rondônia and the state of [[Amazonas State, Brazil|Amazonas]], the town is an important trading center for [[cassiterite]], the mining of tin, which represents the most important economic activity in the [[region]], as well as a transportation and communication center. It is on the eastern shore of the [[Madeira River]], one of the main [[tributary|tributaries]] of the [[Amazon River]]. It is also Rondônia's largest city, and the largest state capital of Brazil by area.

The municipality occupies most of the border between Amazonas and Rondônia, and is both the westernmost and northernmost city in the state.

== History ==
[[File:Barbadian workers.jpg|thumb|left|260px|This photograph shows an American laundry boss and his "Barbadian" workers, a term used generally to refer to Caribbean immigrants. The laundry in Porto Velho had a steam press, regarded as something of a luxury at the time.]]{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
Officially founded on October 2, 1914, Porto Velho was founded by pioneers around 1907, during the construction of the [[Madeira-Mamoré Railroad|Madeira-Mamoré railroad]]. After the [[railroad]] was completed, the local population was about one thousand inhabitants; its buildings were chiefly the railway's installations and the wooden houses of the [[Caribbean]] (mainly [[Barbadian people|Barbadian]]) workers - hence the name of the town's largest district by then, "Bajan Hill" or "Barbados Town", nowadays called the "Alto do Bode".

During the first sixty years, the city's [[Urban planning|development]] was directly connected to the railway's activities. The town prospered during the [[Natural rubber|rubber]] boom; after the discovery of cheap [[Malaysia]]n rubber made that of the Amazon obsolete, the region's rubber-centered [[Economics|economy]] ground to a sudden halt. Cities like [[Santo Antônio do Madeira]], which had a [[tram]] line and a weekly [[newspaper]] by the time of Porto Velho's foundation, are still nothing but ruins to this day.

Porto Velho's survival is associated with the better conditions of the area where it was built, its easy access by the river and its harbor: these were all considerations in the choice of Porto Velho as the capital of the newly formed Federal [[Territory (country subdivision)|Territory]] of Guaporé, in 1943. Only with the beginning of [[World War II]] was there another cycle of progress in the region. Once the [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] lost control of Malaysian rubber, the Amazon's was needed again due to the [[war effort]]. This produced what is known in Brazil as the "second [[rubber boom]]". Subsequently, when the war ended, the region's economy once again came to a halt.

Porto Velho's modern [[history]] begins with the discovery of [[cassiterite]] around the city, and of [[gold]] on the [[Madeira River]], at the end of the 1950s. In addition, the government's decision to allow large cattle farms in the territory began a trend of migration into the city. Almost one million people moved to Rondônia, and Porto Velho's population increased to three hundred thousand. This intense migration caused much trouble for the city. Among many other problems, the suburban boroughs, for example, were nothing but [[shanty town]]s.{{Vague|date=March 2009}}

The [[Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Porto Velho|Catedral Metropolitana Sagrado Coração de Jesus]] is the [[cathedral]] [[archiepiscopal]] [[Holy See|see]] of a Latin Catholic jurisdiction that started on May 1, 1925. The vast [[Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho]] split off from the then-[[Diocese of Amazonas]] and [[Diocese of São Luíz de Cáceres]], and also lost parts to three new [[Territorial prelature]]s, before being promoted as the first bishopric (Diocese of Porto Velho). On October 4, 1982, it was promoted as Metropolitan [[Archdiocese of Porto Velho]].{{clarify|date=June 2023}}

== Geography ==

===Climate===
Porto Velho features a [[tropical monsoon climate]] (climate type ''Am'') under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. The temperatures tend to be relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, with average daily temperatures typically between 25 and 26 degrees Celsius.<ref name="DailyMeanC_INMET"/> The dry season is short and covers the months of June, July and August. Porto Velho is particularly wet from November through April, averaging roughly {{convert|200|mm|1|abbr=on}} of rain per month in each of these months.<ref name="Rainfall_INMET"/> According to the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), between 1961 and 1990 the lowest temperature recorded in Porto Velho was {{convert|7.4|C|F|disp=or}} in July 1975,<ref name="RecordLowC_INMET"/> and the highest reached {{convert|40.9|C|F|disp=or}} in August 1969.<ref name="RecordHighC_INMET"/>
{{Weather box
|location  = Porto Velho (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–1990)
|metric first  = yes
|single line  = yes
|Jan record high C = 37.2 |Jan record low C = 14.4
|Feb record high C = 36.4 |Feb record low C = 15.4
|Mar record high C = 38.7 |Mar record low C = 12.0
|Apr record high C = 37.1 |Apr record low C = 12.8
|May record high C = 36.8 |May record low C = 12.0
|Jun record high C = 38.8 |Jun record low C = 11.8
|Jul record high C = 37.9 |Jul record low C = 7.4
|Aug record high C = 40.9 |Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record high C = 39.4 |Sep record low C = 12.1
|Oct record high C = 40.0 |Oct record low C = 17.7
|Nov record high C = 39.7 |Nov record low C = 18.1
|Dec record high C = 38.0 |Dec record low C = 11.0
<!-- Double parameters: |year high C = 40.9 
|year low C = 7.4 -->
|Jan high C = 31.9 |Jan low C = 23.2
|Feb high C = 31.4 |Feb low C = 22.9
|Mar high C = 31.7 |Mar low C = 22.8
|Apr high C = 31.9 |Apr low C = 22.3
|May high C = 31.6 |May low C = 21.6
|Jun high C = 32.8 |Jun low C = 20.1
|Jul high C = 33.0 |Jul low C = 19.7
|Aug high C = 34.5 |Aug low C = 19.9
|Sep high C = 33.8 |Sep low C = 21.3
|Oct high C = 33.9 |Oct low C = 22.7
|Nov high C = 31.8 |Nov low C = 23.0
|Dec high C = 31.8 |Dec low C = 22.9
|year high C = 
|year low C = 
|Jan mean C = 26.2
|Feb mean C = 25.9
|Mar mean C = 25.9
|Apr mean C = 26.0
|May mean C = 25.5
|Jun mean C = 25.2
|Jul mean C = 24.7
|Aug mean C = 25.6
|Sep mean C = 26.0
|Oct mean C = 26.6
|Nov mean C = 26.4
|Dec mean C = 25.9
|year mean C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 320.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 316.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 273.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 251.0
|May precipitation mm = 126.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 49.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 24.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 36.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 119.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 192.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 225.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 319.1
|Jan sun = 107.1
|Feb sun = 98.3
|Mar sun = 124.0
|Apr sun = 140.1
|May sun = 183.7
|Jun sun = 226.7
|Jul sun = 259.7
|Aug sun = 234.0
|Sep sun = 186.8
|Oct sun = 166.7
|Nov sun = 137.1
|Dec sun = 124.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 19
|Feb precipitation days = 19
|Mar precipitation days = 20
|Apr precipitation days = 17
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 4
|Jul precipitation days = 3
|Aug precipitation days = 4
|Sep precipitation days = 11
|Oct precipitation days = 13
|Nov precipitation days = 16
|Dec precipitation days = 19
|Jan humidity =  89
|Feb humidity =  88
|Mar humidity =  89
|Apr humidity =  89
|May humidity =  86
|Jun humidity =  84
|Jul humidity =  80
|Aug humidity =  82
|Sep humidity =  84
|Oct humidity =  86
|Nov humidity =  87
|Dec humidity = 88.7
|year humidity = 86.1
|Jan dew point C = 23.5
|Feb dew point C = 23.4
|Mar dew point C = 23.6
|Apr dew point C = 23.7
|May dew point C = 22.8
|Jun dew point C = 21.8
|Jul dew point C = 20.9
|Aug dew point C = 22.6
|Sep dew point C = 23.3
|Oct dew point C = 23.6
|Nov dew point C = 23.7
|Dec dew point C = 23.5
|year dew point C = 23.1
|source 1= Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) (precipitation, humidity and sun 1961–1990)<ref name="DailyMeanC_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Temperatura-Media-Compensada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Temperatura Média Compensada (°C)|date=1961–1990|language=pt|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060540/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Temperatura-Media-Compensada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AverageHighC_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Temperatura-Maxima_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Temperatura Máxima (°C)|date=1961–1990|language=pt|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060537/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Temperatura-Maxima_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AverageLowC_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Temperatura-Minima_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Temperatura Mínima (°C)|date=1961–1990|language=pt|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060545/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Temperatura-Minima_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Rainfall_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Precipitacao-Acumulada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm)|date=1961–1990|language=pt|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060527/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Precipitacao-Acumulada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="RainyDays_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Numero-Dias-Precipitacao-Mayor-ou-Igual-1mm_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Número de Dias com Precipitação Mayor ou Igual a 1 mm (dias)|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827173708/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Numero-Dias-Precipitacao-Maior-ou-Igual-1mm_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Sunshine_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Insolacao-Total_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Insolação Total (horas)|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060530/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Insolacao-Total_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Humidity_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Umidade-Relativa-Mensal-Media-Compensada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|title=Umidade Relativa do Ar Média Compensada (%)|publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060524/http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia//normais//imagens//normais//planilhas/Umidade-Relativa-Mensal-Media-Compensada_NCB_1961-1990.xls|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="RecordHighC_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Temperatura-Maxima-Absoluta-NCB_1961-1990.xls |title=Temperatura Máxima Absoluta (°C) |publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) |access-date=August 23, 2014}}{{dead link|date=July 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="RecordLowC_INMET">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmet.gov.br/webcdp/climatologia/normais/imagens/normais/planilhas/Temperatura-Minima-Absoluta-NCB_1961-1990.xls |title=Temperatura Mínima Absoluta (°C) |publisher=Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) |access-date=August 23, 2014}}{{dead link|date=July 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=82825
|title= PORTO VELHO Climate: 1991–2020
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 17 February 2025}}</ref>
}}

===Vegetation===
[[File:Por do sol no rio Madeira.jpg|thumb|[[Amazon rainforest]] and Madeira River.]]

The Amazon has over half of the planet's remaining [[rainforest]]s and is the largest and most species-rich tract of [[tropical rainforest]] in the [[world]]. Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich [[biome]], and tropical forests in the [[Americas]] are consistently more species-rich than wet forests in [[Africa]] and [[Asia]].<ref name ="Turner 2001">Turner, I.M. 2001. ''The ecology of trees in the tropical rain forest''.  [[Cambridge University Press]], Cambridge.  {{ISBN|0-521-80183-4}}</ref> As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled [[biodiversity]].

More than one third of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildplaces/amazon/index.cfm |title=Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Plants, Amazon River Animals |access-date=23 November 2007 |archive-date=17 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517160541/http://worldwildlife.org/wildplaces/amazon/index.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Conservation===

The municipality contains what is left of the [[Rio Madeira Sustainable Yield Forest]] (B) and (C), created in 1990.<ref>{{citation|title=O Fim da Floresta? A Devastação das Unidades de Conservação e Terras Indígenas no Estado de Rondônia|last1=Millikan|first1=Brent|last2=Cardozo|first2=Ivaneide Bandeira|last3=Leroy|first3=Jean Pierre|last4=Caminha|first4=Ludmila|first5=Maria Inês|last5=Hargreaves|first6=Rogério Vargas|last6=Motta|first7=Vânia|last7=Alves|first8=Verena|last8=Glass|publisher=Grupo de Trabalho Amazônico - GTA|date=June 2008|url=http://stat.correioweb.com.br/cbonline/junho/ofimdafloresta.pdf|access-date=2016-09-05|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911090609/http://stat.correioweb.com.br/cbonline/junho/ofimdafloresta.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
It contains the {{convert|55850|ha}} [[Lago do Cuniã Extractive Reserve]], created in 1999.<ref>{{citation|ref={{harvid|RESEX do Lago do Cuniã – ISA}}|language=pt |title=RESEX do Lago do Cuniã|publisher=ISA: Instituto Socioambiental |url=https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/3920|access-date=2016-09-03}}</ref>
It contains part of the strictly-protected [[Cuniã Ecological Station]], an area of savannah parkland.<ref>{{citation|language=pt |title=Unidade de Conservação: Estação Ecológica de Cuniã|publisher=MMA: Ministério do Meio Ambiente |url=http://sistemas.mma.gov.br/cnuc/index.php?ido=relatorioparametrizado.exibeRelatorio&relatorioPadrao=true&idUc=53|access-date=2016-05-16}}</ref>
It holds all of the strictly protected {{convert|87412|ha}} [[Serra dos Três Irmãos Ecological Station]].<ref>{{citation|language=pt |title=Estação Ecológica da Serra dos Três Irmãos|work=Via Rural |url=http://br.viarural.com/servicos/turismo/estacoes-ecologicas-estaduais/estacao-ecologica-da-serra-dos-tres-irmaos/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603235217/http://br.viarural.com/servicos/turismo/estacoes-ecologicas-estaduais/estacao-ecologica-da-serra-dos-tres-irmaos/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 3, 2016|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>
It contains part of the [[Mapinguari National Park]], a {{convert|1776914|ha}} conservation unit created in 2008.<ref>{{citation|ref={{harvid|PARNA Mapinguari – ISA}}|language=pt|title=PARNA Mapinguari|publisher=ISA: Instituto Socioambiental|url=https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/4234|access-date=2016-06-02|archive-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926223501/https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/4234|url-status=live}}</ref>
It also contains part of the {{convert|221218|ha}} [[Jacundá National Forest]], a sustainable use conservation unit.<ref>{{citation|language=pt|title=Unidade de Conservação: Floresta Nacional de Jacundá|publisher=MMA: Ministério do Meio Ambiente|url=http://sistemas.mma.gov.br/cnuc/index.php?ido=relatorioparametrizado.exibeRelatorio&relatorioPadrao=true&idUc=97|access-date=2016-05-16|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511225626/http://sistemas.mma.gov.br/cnuc/index.php?ido=relatorioparametrizado.exibeRelatorio&relatorioPadrao=true&idUc=97|url-status=live}}</ref>
The municipality contains 66% of the {{convert|197364|ha}} [[Jaci Paraná Extractive Reserve]], created in 1996.<ref>{{citation|ref={{harvid|RESEX Jaci Paraná – ISA}}|language=pt|title=RESEX Jaci Paraná|publisher=ISA: Instituto Socioambiental|url=https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/3172|access-date=2016-10-30|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113210622/https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/3172|url-status=live}}</ref>
It contains the {{convert|18281|ha}} [[Mujica Nava Ecological Station]], created in 1996.<ref>{{citation|access-date=2016-10-30|language=pt|last1=Raupp de Matos|first1=Valdir|first2=José, junior|last2=Almeida|title=Decreto n.º 7635 de 07 de Novembro de 1996|date=7 November 1996|url=http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/Dossie/Mad/Documentos%20Oficiais/Madeira_viab/Santo%20Antonio%20anx%20%2000080/TOMO%20B%20-%20Volume%207%20-%208/Anexo%203%20-%20Decretos%20Cria%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20UCs/decretos%20cria%C3%A7%C3%A3o/E.%20E.%20ANTONIO%20MUJICA%20NAVA.doc|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031150415/http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/Dossie/Mad/Documentos%20Oficiais/Madeira_viab/Santo%20Antonio%20anx%20%2000080/TOMO%20B%20-%20Volume%207%20-%208/Anexo%203%20-%20Decretos%20Cria%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20UCs/decretos%20cria%C3%A7%C3%A3o/E.%20E.%20ANTONIO%20MUJICA%20NAVA.doc|url-status=live}}</ref>
It contains part of the [[Bom Futuro National Forest]], established in 1988.<ref>{{citation|ref={{harvid|FLONA do Bom Futuro – ISA}}|language=pt|title=FLONA do Bom Futuro|publisher=ISA: Instituto Socioambiental|url=https://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/1252|access-date=2016-10-30|archive-date=27 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027040513/http://uc.socioambiental.org/uc/1252|url-status=live}}</ref>
The majority of the forest surrounding Porto Velho has been cut down, however.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps?ll=-8.794493,-63.750916&spn=0.425125,0.7481&t=k&z=12|title = Google Maps}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{as of|2005}}, [[GDP]] for the city was R$3,656,512,000.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf|title=GDP|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Porto Velho, Brazil|isbn=85-240-3919-1|access-date=2007-07-18|year=2005|language=pt|archive-date=2 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002024524/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[per capita income]] for the city was R$9,779 for the same year.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf|title=per capita income|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Porto Velho, Brazil|isbn=85-240-3919-1|access-date=2007-07-18|year=2005|language=pt|archive-date=2 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002024524/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2024 and 2025 report by Trata Brasil ranked Porto Velho last in a [[Water supply and sanitation in Brazil|public sanitation ranking of Brazil]]'s [[List of municipalities in Brazil by population|100 largest cities]], making it, at least, 10 years that this city has been in the last position.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=4 April 2024 |title=Pior cidade do Ranking do Saneamento 2024 é uma capital da região Norte |url=https://tratabrasil.org.br/porto-velho-ranking-do-saneamento-capital/ |website=tratabrasil.org.br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2025 |title=Ranking do Saneamento 2025. |url=https://tratabrasil.org.br/ranking-do-saneamento-2025/|website=Trata Brasil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2024 |title=Porto Velho é o pior município no ranking de saneamento básico do país, aponta estudo [Porto Velho is the worst city in the country's basic sanitation ranking, study finds] |url=https://g1.globo.com/ro/rondonia/noticia/2024/03/20/porto-velho-e-o-pior-municipio-no-ranking-de-saneamento-basico-do-pais-aponta-estudo.ghtml |website=G1 Rondônia}}</ref>
The report found that just 41.8% of the city's population has access to municipal [[Sanitation|drinking water]], and just 9.9% were connected to a municipal [[Sanitary sewer|sewage]].<ref name=":0" /> Another 2024 study ranking [[Quality of life|quality of life]] among [[List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil#State capitals|Brazil's state capitals]] found that Porto Velho placed last among them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altino |first=Lucas |date=3 July 2024 |title=Confira o ranking de qualidade de vida entre todas as capitais e estados do Brasil [Check out the quality of life ranking among all capitals and states in Brazil] |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2024/07/03/confira-o-ranking-de-qualidade-de-vida-entre-todas-as-capitais-e-estados-do-brasil.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210025052/https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2024/07/03/confira-o-ranking-de-qualidade-de-vida-entre-todas-as-capitais-e-estados-do-brasil.ghtml |archive-date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=[[O Globo]]}}</ref>

==Cityscape==
{{wide image|Megapanoramica_PVH.jpg|2000px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Porto Velho as viewed from Pedrinhas neighborhood.}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Aeroporto de Porto Velho2.jpg|thumb|Porto Velho/Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport.]]
[[File:BR-364 Duplicada.jpg|thumb|right|[[Highway]] BR-364 near Porto Velho.]]

===International Airport===

[[Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport|Porto Velho International Airport]], {{Convert|7|km}} from the city, has its main access at the Av. Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira, with two lanes. Buses from downtown run to the airport every hour, and there is a fleet of taxis serving only the airport. The airport is served by 98 scheduled flights weekly, most going to other large Brazilian cities. The presence of [[Porto Velho Air Force Base]] ensures considerable movement of military aircraft. The local people refer to Porto Velho International as Belmont Airport because it is located in this district. It became an international airport in 2002. It was built as a replacement to [[Caiari Airport]], which was closed on April 16, 1969.

[[Porto Velho Air Force Base|Porto Velho Air Force Base - ALA6]], one of their most important bases of the [[Brazilian Air Force]], is located in Porto Velho.

===Highways===

*[[BR-174 (Brazil highway)|BR-174]]
*[[BR-317 (Brazil highway)|BR-317]]
*[[BR-319 (Brazil highway)|BR-319]]
*[[BR-364 (Brazil highway)|BR-364]]
*[[BR-421 (Brazil highway)|BR-421]]
*[[BR-425 (Brazil highway)|BR-425]]
*[[BR-429 (Brazil highway)|BR-429]]
*RO-010
*RO-101
*RO-490

== Education ==
[[File:UNIR.jpg|thumb|Federal University of Rondônia.]]

===Colleges===
* Universidade Federal de Rondônia (Unir);
* Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondônia - Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Rondônia (IFRO);
* Instituto Luterano de Ensino Superior de Porto Velho (Iles-Ulbra);
* Faculdade Interamericana de Porto Velho (Uniron);
* Faculdade de Ciências Administrativas e de Tecnologia (Fatec-RO);
* Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Exatas e Letras de Rondônia (Faro);
* Faculdade da Amazônia (Iesa);
* Faculdade de Porto Velho/ Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FIP/FGV);
* Faculdades Integradas Maria Coelho Aguiar (FIMCA);
* Faculdade São Lucas;

===Schools===
* Maple Bear Canadian School;
* Colégio Sapiens;
* Classe A;
* Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental e Médio João Bento da Costa;
* Colégio Tiradentes da Polícia Militar;
* Centro de Ensino Mineiro;
* Proensino;
* Instituto Laura Vicuña;
* Instituto Estadual de Educação Carmela Dutra;
* Colégio Dom Bosco;
* Centro Educacional Dr Gilberto Mendes De Azevedo;
* Instituto Maria Auxiliadora.

==Culture==
[[File:Casa da Cultura de Porto Velho.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Casa da Cultura Ivan Marrocos, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brasil - The House of Culture at Porto Velho.]]

The culture of Porto Velho is marked by a strong [[Northeast Region, Brazil|Northeastern]] influence with [[Bumba Meu Boi]], the popular [[Festa Junina]] and Pastorinha celebrations, and some influences of south central [[Brazil]]. The interpretation of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] legends, such as the [[Iara (mythology)|Iara]], the [[Boto]] and [[Mapinguari]] [[folklore]], influenced by migrants. As for [[handicrafts]], there are various exhibitions of indigenous works, utilities and adornment using raw materials like [[clay]], vines, [[bamboo]] and [[rubber]]. The Artisan's House serves as a support to the initiatives of the genre.

===Libraries===
[[File:Prefeitura e Biblioteca Municipal de Porto Velho.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Porto Velho Town Hall and Library, [[Rondônia]], [[Brazil]].]]

The collection of library articles in municipal Porto Velho was waiting for a permanent headquarters for several years until completion of the Municipal Library next to City Hall. The space has two air-conditioned floors in the city center.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Carnival===
The Carnival takes place every year, attracting a large number of people from other cities and neighboring states of Rondônia. During the carnival, there are the parades of carnival and samba schools; among the best known are The Diplomats, Asfaltão, among others.

In July Carnival happens out of season, with characteristics of the Bahia Carnival, with electric trios and 'Axé' groups.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Theatres===
Two theaters enliven the cultural sector: The Municipal Theater, Avenida Nabuco (center) and Theatre Uirassu Rodrigues, Jose Bonifacio Street.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Museums===
[[File:EFMM.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Estrada de Ferro Madeira Mamoré em Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brasil.]]
The railway complex is located the Museum of Railroad Madeira-Mamore, in the city center. Within it lies the State Museum, with abundant material on [[archeology]], [[ethnology]] and [[Mineralogy]].

====Museum of Railroad Madeira-Mamore====
The [[Museum]] is housed in a warehouse that was used for loading and unloading for almost a century. One can see hundreds of materials in this preserved railway. The museum has several pieces from the time of its construction and operation. Besides the first locomotive brought to the Amazon, the ''Coronel Church'', there is also a 'stork and a tricycle', used to transport the line foremen who checked lathes, machines, furniture, as well as photographs of workers, books, documents and more. The museum is located at Avenida September 7 - Railroad Square Madeira-Mamore. Outside the museum, on the waterfront, you can take a ride in one of the "barges" to Teotônio waterfall.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Monuments===

====The Three Boxes Water====
[[File:Caixas d'água.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Praça das Três Marias, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brasil - Three "Marias" Square, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.]]

Also known as The Three Marias, the water tanks are in the center of town, in the square of the same name. The first was erected in 1910 and the other two in 1912. They were designed and built by Chicago Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago as per information contained in cast-iron plate, carved pilasters on each of them. There are three cylindrical tanks, covered with metal sheets in a conical shape, with a concave-shaped base. Each tank is elevated from the ground by four columns made of iron lattice on concrete foundations. They are at the height of the bulge surrounded by a walkway railing with metal lattice through which arrives via a ladder. Each reservoir has a capacity for 200,000 liters and supplied the city of Porto Velho by the year 1957, working as gravity-fed reservoirs.

====The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus====
{{Main|Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Porto Velho}}

The cathedral had its construction initiated in 1917, but was completed only ten years later because of difficulties in transporting material. Original paintings of a religious nature inside the cathedral, were executed by Father Angelo Cerri and Alfonso Liguori. The stained glass windows that surround it, with the themes of the Cross, were all donated by the community-velhense port.

== Crime ==
A 2024 report by the Mexico-based organization Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice ranked Porto Velho as one of the [[:pt:Lista de municípios do Brasil por taxa de homicídios|cities with the highest violent crime rates in Brazil]], and among the 50 highest in the entire [[Earth|world]], being the 7th [[Crime in Brazil|most dangerous]] Brazilian state capital city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 June 2024 |title=VERGONHA: Porto Velho está entre 50 cidades mais violentas do mundo, segundo ONG [EMBARRASSING: Porto Velho is among the 50 most violent cities in the world, according to an NGO] |url=https://rondoniaovivo.com/noticia/policia/2024/06/06/vergonha-porto-velho-esta-entre-50-cidades-mais-violentas-do-mundo-segundo-ong.html |website=Rondoniaovivo}}</ref>

==Sport==
The city currently has seven [[Association football|football]] teams: [[Clube de Futebol da Amazônia|CF Amazônia]], [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (RO)|Cruzeiro EC]], [[Porto Velho Esporte Clube|Porto Velho EC]], [[Sport Club Genus de Porto Velho|SC Genus de Porto Velho]], [[Sport Clube Shallon|SC Shallon]], [[Moto Esporte Clube|Moto EC]] and [[Rondoniense Social Clube|Rondoniense SC]]. In the past the city was also home to [[Ferroviário Atlético Clube (RO)|Ferroviário AC]], [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo (RO)|CR Flamengo]], [[São Domingos Esporte Clube|São Domingos EC]], and [[Ypiranga Esporte Clube|Ypiranga EC]] before these clubs folded. All clubs share the one stadium in the city, the [[Aluizão]], named after [[Aluízio Ferreira]], with a smaller ground [[Estádio Paulo Saldanha|Saldanão]] also available.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|Porto Velho|voy=Porto Velho}}
*{{in lang|pt}} [http://www.portovelho.ro.gov.br Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Velho (official page of Porto Velho)]
*{{in lang|pt}} [https://web.archive.org/web/19990909014227/http://www.ronet.com.br/marrocos/ Unofficial page of Porto Velho history]
*{{in lang|pt}} [https://twitter.com/portovelho Twitter]
*{{in lang|pt}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20210117231507/http://www.facebook.com/portovelho Facebook]

{{Brazil topics}}
{{Municipalities of Rondônia}}
{{Capitals of Brazilian states}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Porto Velho| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1914]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Rondônia]]
[[Category:State capitals in Brazil]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in Brazil]]