# Puerto Maldonado

> capital city of Madre de Dios, Peru

**Wikidata**: [Q541435](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q541435)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Maldonado)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/puerto-maldonado

## Summary  
Puerto Maldonado is the capital city of the Madre de Dios Department in Peru, serving as a key administrative and economic hub in the Amazon rainforest region. Founded in 1902, it is situated along the Madre de Dios River and functions as a gateway for tourism and resource extraction. As of 2017, its population stands at 85,024, reflecting significant growth from 57,035 in 2007.  

## Key Facts  
- **Capital of**: Madre de Dios Department, Tambopata Province, and Tambopata District.  
- **Country**: Peru.  
- **Founded**: 1902.  
- **Population (2017)**: 85,024 (census).  
- **Population (2007)**: 57,035 (census).  
- **Coordinates**: Latitude -12.6°, Longitude -69.183333333333°.  
- **Elevation**: 183 metres above sea level.  
- **Located in**: Tambopata Province.  
- **Adjacent body of water**: Madre de Dios River.  
- **UN/LOCODE**: PEPEM.  
- **GeoNames ID**: 3931470.  
- **OpenWeatherMap City ID**: 3931470.  
- **VIAF ID**: 147957579.  
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n2005040353.  
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Puerto-Maldonado.  
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID**: 1024702.  
- **Wikipedia Languages**: 41 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Japanese.  

## FAQs  
**Q: What is Puerto Maldonado’s administrative significance?**  
A: It is the capital of the Madre de Dios Department, Tambopata Province, and Tambopata District, making it a central governance hub in southeastern Peru.  

**Q: How has Puerto Maldonado’s population changed over time?**  
A: The population grew from 57,035 in 2007 to 85,024 by 2017, based on national census data.  

**Q: What geographic features define Puerto Maldonado?**  
A: It is located at 183 metres elevation, bordered by the Madre de Dios River, and situated at coordinates -12.6° latitude and -69.183333333333° longitude.  

**Q: Why is Puerto Maldonado notable for tourism?**  
A: It serves as a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon, including access to protected areas like the Tambopata National Reserve.  

**Q: What are Puerto Maldonado’s key identifiers?**  
A: Its UN/LOCODE is PEPEM, GeoNames ID is 3931470, and VIAF ID is 147957579, among others used in academic and geographic databases.  

## Why It Matters  
Puerto Maldonado is critical as the administrative and economic center of Peru’s Madre de Dios region, a biodiversity hotspot. Its strategic location along the Madre de Dios River supports both local livelihoods and tourism, while its population growth underscores its expanding regional influence. The city also plays a role in balancing resource extraction (e.g., gold mining) with environmental conservation efforts in the Amazon basin.  

## Notable For  
- **Administrative centrality**: Capital of three administrative divisions (department, province, district).  
- **Amazon gateway**: Primary access point for exploring the Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.  
- **Rapid urbanization**: 50% population growth between 2007 and 2017.  
- **Cultural landmarks**: Features the Plaza de Armas, a historic civic center.  
- **Geographic uniqueness**: Positioned at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers.  

## Body  
### History  
Puerto Maldonado was founded in 1902 as a river port, named after Francisco Maldonado, a 19th-century Peruvian explorer. Its establishment facilitated navigation and trade along the Madre de Dios River, connecting remote Amazonian territories to broader Peruvian networks.  

### Geography  
The city is situated at coordinates -12.6° latitude and -69.183333333333° longitude, 183 metres above sea level. It lies along the Madre de Dios River, a major tributary of the Amazon River, and near the confluence with the Tambopata River. This positioning shapes its climate, economy, and ecological importance.  

### Demographics  
As of the 2017 census, Puerto Maldonado’s population was 85,024, up from 57,035 in 2007, reflecting migration driven by economic opportunities in mining, agriculture, and tourism. The city’s growth underscores its role as a regional urban center.  

### Administration  
Puerto Maldonado is the capital of:  
- **Madre de Dios Department** (a first-level administrative division).  
- **Tambopata Province** (a second-level division within Madre de Dios).  
- **Tambopata District** (a municipal-level division).  
This multi-tiered administrative role consolidates its political and logistical importance.  

### Economy and Tourism  
The city’s economy relies on:  
- **Resource extraction**: Gold mining in surrounding areas, though this poses environmental challenges.  
- **Tourism**: Proximity to protected areas like the Tambopata National Reserve, which attract ecotourists.  
- **Agriculture**: Small-scale farming and livestock activities.  

### Cultural and Infrastructure Landmarks  
- **Plaza de Armas**: Central square and social hub, featured in the Wikimedia Commons gallery.  
- **Transportation**: Served by Francisco Primo de Verdad Padilla Airport and river transport networks.  
- **Digital identifiers**: Documented in Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (ID 1024702) and Encyclopædia Britannica Online.  

### Environmental Context  
Puerto Maldonado’s location in the Amazon rainforest places it at the intersection of conservation and development debates. The city’s growth has raised concerns about deforestation and pollution from mining, highlighting the need for sustainable practices.  

### Global Recognition  
The city is referenced in 41 Wikipedia languages and has a VIAF ID (147957579), underscoring its international academic and cultural relevance. Its GeoNames ID (3931470) and OpenWeatherMap City ID (3931470) further integrate it into global geographic and meteorological databases.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [2017 Peru Census](https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1539/libro.pdf)
4. [2007 Peru Census](https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1539/libro.pdf)
5. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
6. GeoNames
7. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/pe.htm)