Matto Grosso is one of the states of Brazil, located in the western part of the country.
It is bordered to the north by Amazonas and Para, east 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.
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.