Matto Grosso is one of the states of Brazil, located in the western part of the country.
It is bounded north by Amazonas and Para, est. by Goyaz, Minas Geraes, Sao Paulo and
Parana, south by Paraguay and south west and west by Bolivia. It is the third largest
state in area; it ranks next to Amazonas in size, its area, which is largely unsettled
and unexplored, being 532,370 sq. m.
Mato Grosso is a state where nature is a prominent feature. In addition to containing the
boundaries of the Amazon Forest to the south, its territory includes a major part of the
swamps comprising the extraordinary Pantanal Matogrossense (Wetlands) as well as the stone
walls of the mysterious Chapada dos Guimarães.
Sunset in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso State
In the north is the Amazonian forest, with a biodiversity that covering half of the state.
The Xingu National Park and the river Araguaia are in Mato Grosso. Further south, the
Pantanal, the world's largest plain covered with water, is the habitat for almost a
thousand species of animals, with many aquatic birds.
Natural vegetation includes expanses of grassland, densely wooded areas, and, in the
highlands, extensive plains, with scrub growth and light forest.
Tourism is increasingly common in the Matto Grosso as visitors come to see the
tremendously varied wildlife. Birding and fishing are particularly popular.
The agriculture, tourism, mining (gold, diamonds, etc.), are principal industries,
followed by the service sector. The main products that Mato Grosso produces are tobacco,
rubber, ipecacuanha, sarsaparilla, vanilla, and superior cattle were the principal
industries. Cattle ranches are still important, and worked by Vaqueiros.
Also the interest in holistic remedies and herbal treatments creates a demand for herbs
like Ipecacuanha also called Ipecac. Mato Grosso exports: soybean, largest producers of
wood, meats, and cotton. The state also grows significant amounts of soy, rice, sugarcane,
and corn (maize), and lumbering is also important.
The state’s lowlands are hot and humid, and its highlands are hot and dry. The average
temperature is 26 °C. Average annual rainfall is 1,400 mm. There is a distinct dry season
from May to September.