Formerly known as Rio Vermelho (Red River), Rondonópolis is the third-largest city in Mato Grosso. It is located around 215 km (134 mi) from Cuiabá the capital of the state.
According to the Brazilian census in 2010 the town had 202.045 people, but due to a huge development the population is estimated to be almost 200,000 inhabitants.
The city is growing quickly because too many industries settled down there and the soybean plantation is considered a "new gold rush" in the region, attracting emigrants from distant regions of Brazil. These people are from the South and Southeast regions who used to work with cattle ranching. The farming is extensive and very automated compared to other parts of Brasil. The farms are interesting as when the industry was labor intensive the owners built small villages around the main house for the workers. These "villages" were self contained and included schools and medical facilities. Rarely used now for their original purpose many still stand. They are seen as an island surrounded by trees in the middle of soy bean plants stretching to the horizon.
In August 2007 an important Italian wind orchestra has performed there: the Orchestra Fiati Giovanile Italiana e Coro "I Music Piemonteis" conducted by Ugo Bairo, and his choir, conducted by Carmelo Luca Sambataro. There he premiered his wind composition dedicated to the local government: The Mato Grosso March. The terrain is breathtaking. The city is situated on the Cerrado, high tableland intersected by deep gorges containing butte and mesa formations.
The city is also the jumping off point for tourists and sportsmen visiting the Northern Pantanal. Rondonópolis has a small airport, Maestro Marinho Franco Municipal Airport with only one airline TRIP Linhas Aéreas, connecting the city with other cities in the Mato Grosso state such as Alta Floresta, Sinop and Cuiabá.
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