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| Centro-Oeste (Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Centro-Oeste |
| Native name | Região Centro-Oeste |
| Country | Brazil |
| States | Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal |
| Capital | Brasília |
| Area km2 | 1574092 |
| Population | 16200000 |
Centro-Oeste (Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil) is one of five official regions of Brazil and comprises the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Distrito Federal. The region contains the national capital Brasília and includes major biomes such as the Cerrado and portions of the Pantanal, linking to continental features like the Amazon Basin and the Plateau of Central Brazil. Centro-Oeste plays a strategic role in national affairs due to its agricultural frontiers, environmental reserves, and transportation corridors connecting to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bolivia.
Centro-Oeste spans the Brazilian Highlands and lowland floodplains, encompassing the Cerrado savanna, the Pantanal wetlands, and riparian systems of the Araguaia River, Tocantins River, Paraguay River, and Araguaia-Tocantins basin. Elevation ranges from the Chapada dos Guimarães plateaus in Mato Grosso to the flat alluvium of the Pantanal Matogrossense in Mato Grosso do Sul, while the Planalto Central supports the Distrito Federal and Goiás Velho. Climatic gradients include tropical wet and dry influenced by the South Atlantic Convergence Zone, seasonal flooding tied to the La Niña/El Niño cycle, and hydrological links to transboundary watersheds with Paraguay and Bolivia.
Pre-colonial peoples such as the Guaicuruan peoples and Xavante inhabited parts of the region before contact with Portuguese Empire explorers, bandeirantes like Antônio Raposo Tavares, and Jesuit missions connected to the Guaraní War. Territorial changes followed treaties including the Treaty of Madrid (1750) and the Treaty of Tordesillas' legacy, while 19th-century expansion involved the Empire of Brazil and conflicts like the Revolt of the Muckers and frontiersmen expeditions. The 20th century saw infrastructure projects including the Belém–Brasília Highway, the foundation of Brasília under Juscelino Kubitschek, and agrarian colonization driven by policies from the Brazilian Development Bank and programs evoking the March to the West.
Population centers include Brasília, Goiânia, Cuiabá, and Campo Grande, with demographic shifts driven by internal migration from Northeast Region, Brazil states and southern states such as Rio Grande do Sul. Ethnic composition reflects indigenous groups like the Xavante, Afro-Brazilian communities from colonial labor patterns, and immigrant waves from Japan, Germany, and Lebanon. Urbanization rates mirror national trends reported by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística and census dynamics influence representation in the National Congress of Brazil, while education and health indicators relate to institutions such as the University of Brasília, Federal University of Goiás, and Federal University of Mato Grosso.
Centro-Oeste's economy centers on agribusiness including large-scale production of soybean, maize, cattle ranching, and sugarcane exports, linked to companies and markets involving Embrapa, commodity traders, and the B3 (stock exchange). Energy projects include hydroelectric facilities on the Paraná River basin and biofuel initiatives tied to the National Bank for Economic and Social Development financing. Mining operations extract minerals near Cuiabá and reveal reserves noted in reports by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (Brazil), while trade corridors connect to Port of Santos and inland ports on the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway.
The region protects endemic species of the Cerrado such as the maned wolf and flora catalogued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and research by Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi collaborations. The Pantanal supports migratory birds recorded by BirdLife International and conservation units like the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park buffer zones, while deforestation fronts raise concerns echoed in reports by Greenpeace and the United Nations Environment Programme. Protected area networks involve the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources and international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Key infrastructure includes the Belém–Brasília Highway, BR-163, and the Cuiabá International Airport as nodes connecting agricultural exports to ports including the Port of Santos and riparian terminals on the Paraguay River. Urban transit in Brasília integrates designs by Lúcio Costa and architecture by Oscar Niemeyer, while federal projects such as the North–South Railroad and logistics initiatives by the Ministry of Transport (Brazil) aim to reduce bottlenecks. Water management projects involve the Teles Pires and Jirau hydroelectric developments and transboundary cooperation with Bolivia and Paraguay on the La Plata Basin.
Cultural expressions include festa junina traditions, sertanejo música rooted in Goiânia and national artists linked to Luiz Gonzaga's legacy, indigenous arts from groups like the Xavante and culinary practices featuring pequi and fresh fish from the Pantanal. Museums such as the National Museum of the Republic and festivals in Cuiabá and Campo Grande reflect regional identity alongside sports clubs like Goiás Esporte Clube and Operário Futebol Clube (MS), while academic and research centers such as the University of Brasília contribute to policy debates on land use, conservation, and rural development.