Altamira

Altamira is an administrative division in Pará state, northern Brazil, positioned along the banks of the Xingu River. The town serves as a central hub for a sprawling territory that covers rural communities and forested areas.

The place began as Mission Tavaquara in the 1750s under Father Roque Hunderfund. The current name was introduced in 1883 by Colonel Francisco Gayoso as the settlement developed into a regional center.

The name comes from Spanish, meaning high viewpoint, chosen by the founder to evoke the elevated position above the river. Residents and visitors arrive by boat or small plane, reflecting how geography shapes movement across this forested region.

Visitors reach the area by plane through the airport or by long-distance bus from larger Brazilian cities. The town sits far from coastal centers, so road connections often take several days.

The territory holds sections of several protected areas, including parts of Altamira National Forest and Jamanxim National Park. These zones often lie days away from the nearest paved road and remain hard to reach for visitors.

Location: Pará

Inception: November 6, 1911

Elevation above the sea: 109 m

Shares border with: Brasil Novo, Guarantã do Norte, Itaituba, Matupá, Novo Progresso, Peixoto de Azevedo, Placas, Rurópolis, São Félix do Xingu, Senador José Porfírio, Trairão, Uruará, Vitória do Xingu

Website: http://altamira.pa.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -3.20278,-52.20583

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:54