Porto Velho is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Rondônia, situated in the upper Amazon River basin. Located on the eastern shore of the Madeira River—a major tributary of the Amazon—the city sits on the border between the states of Rondônia and Amazonas. It serves as a primary transportation and communication hub for the region.
As the largest city in Rondônia, Porto Velho has a population of 460,434 people. The local economy is primarily driven by the mining of cassiterite, which is the most significant economic activity in the area. Additionally, it holds the distinction of being the largest state capital in Brazil by land area.