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| Centro-Oeste Region | |
|---|---|
| Name | Centro-Oeste Region |
| Native name | Região Centro-Oeste |
| Country | Brazil |
| Area km2 | 1661996 |
| Population | 16700000 |
| Capital | Brasília |
| States | Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal |
| Established | 1970s |
Centro-Oeste Region
The Centro-Oeste Region is a large, sparsely populated region of Brazil comprising the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Distrito Federal. It contains the federal capital Brasília and major river basins such as the Amazon River headwaters via the Araguaia River and the Paraná River tributaries; the region is noted for the Cerrado biome, expansive Pantanal wetlands and extensive agricultural frontiers.
The region spans from the Cerrado savanna to the floodplains of the Pantanal and the gallery forests along the Araguaia River, Tocantins River, Paraná River and Paraguay River. High plateaus include the Planalto Central and the Chapada dos Guimarães, while the Maracaju Mountains and Serra da Canastra mark local relief. Protected areas incorporate Emas National Park, Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park and Águas Quentes State Park. The regional climate ranges from tropical wet and dry, influenced by the South Atlantic High, to equatorial in northern sectors near the Amazon Basin.
Indigenous presence predates European arrival, including groups later documented by José de Anchieta-era chroniclers and 16th–17th century bandeirantes expeditions such as those led by Antônio Raposo Tavares and Domingos Jorge Velho. Colonial-era routes connected the region to the Captaincy of São Vicente and later inland expansion during the Gold Rush and Guerra dos Emboabas movements. 19th-century treaties like the Treaty of Madrid (1750) and regional conflicts such as the Paraguayan War shaped borders. The 20th-century establishment of Brasília under Juscelino Kubitschek and the 1960s–1970s agrarian frontier programs driven by agencies like the IBGE and infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Amazonian Highway accelerated settlement and agribusiness growth.
Population centers include Brasília, Goiânia, Cuiabá, Campo Grande, Rondonópolis and Sinop. The demographic mix reflects descendants of Portuguese colonists, Indigenous peoples such as the Xavante, Kayapó, Guarani and Terena, Afro-Brazilian communities, and internal migrants from Northeast Region states like Bahia and Pernambuco as well as from South Region states like Rio Grande do Sul. Census data collected by IBGE show urbanization concentrated in administrative centers and agribusiness towns, while indigenous territories recognized by the National Indian Foundation occur in scattered reserves. Religious adherence maps cite institutions such as the Roman Catholic Church, Assemblies of God, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and syncretic practices with indigenous rituals.
The regional economy is driven by large-scale agriculture and cattle ranching including soybean, corn, cotton and beef production linked to export logistics via ports such as Santos and Paranaguá. Agribusiness firms like BRF S.A., Amaggi, Sadia, Bunge Limited and trading houses operate alongside research institutions including the Embrapa network and the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul and University of Brasília agroecology programs. Natural resource extraction includes logging operations in frontier zones, mineral deposits such as gold near Garimpo sites, and energy generation from hydroelectric projects on rivers feeding the Itaipu Dam and regional thermal plants. Financial centers in Brasília and state capitals host branches of banks like Banco do Brasil, Itaú Unibanco and development agencies that support infrastructure investment.
The Distrito Federal houses the Presidency of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Supreme Federal Court, making the region central to national politics. State administrations in Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul manage regional policy through secretariats and state legislatures, interacting with federal ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment. Political tensions in the region have involved land conflicts featuring movements like the Landless Workers' Movement and agrarian interests represented by the Rural Democratic Union and state-level ruralist caucuses in the Chamber of Deputies. Environmental litigation has reached courts including the Superior Court of Justice and engaged international mechanisms such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Major transportation axes include the BR-163 highway corridor linking Cuiabá to the port of Santarém, the BR-060 connecting Brasília to Goiânia and the BR-262 crossing Campo Grande. Rail projects involve private concessions like the Ferrovia Norte-Sul and logistics terminals serving soy and beef exporters. Airports of note include Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport, Goiânia–Santa Genoveva Airport, Cuiabá–Marechal Rondon Airport and Campo Grande International Airport. Waterway navigation on the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway supports transcontinental shipments to La Plata Basin outlets. Electricity grid links reach national systems via substations tied to the Itaipu Dam and regional thermoelectric plants.
Cultural life blends indigenous heritage, sertanejo music traditions from Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul, and festivals such as Festa do Divino and regional rodeos associated with the Marcha para Jesus circuit. Tourist attractions include Pantanal wildlife safaris, birding in the Chapada dos Guimarães, architectural tours of Brasília designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, and historic towns like Caldas Novas famed for thermal springs. Gastronomy features dishes such as pantaneiro barbecues connected to ranching haciendas and regional ingredients promoted through culinary routes managed by state tourism institutes. Conservation tourism engages NGOs like WWF-Brazil and research centers such as the Cerrado Research Center.