Treaty of Petrópolis

Brazil-Bolivia [1903]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The Treaty of Petrópolis, signed in 1903, resolved a territorial dispute between Brazil and Bolivia. This agreement led to Brazil acquiring the territory of Acre, a region rich in rubber and Brazil nuts. In exchange, Brazil committed to constructing the Madeira-Mamoré Railway in Rondônia state. Petr\u00f3polis, the city where the treaty was signed, was founded in 1845 and served as the state capital of Rio de Janeiro from 1894 to 1903. The treaty was crucial in reincorporating Acre into Brazil, with the final frontier with Peru being agreed upon in 1909.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Bolivia
Liberal rule, 1899–1920
…territory to Brazil in the Treaty of Petrópolis (1903). As a result of the financial indemnities provided by both treaties, Bolivia was able to finance a great era of railroad construction. By 1920 most of the major cities were linked by rail, and La Paz was connected to the two…
Read More
…territory to Brazil in the Treaty of Petrópolis (1903). As a result of the financial indemnities provided by both treaties, Bolivia was able to finance a great era of railroad construction. By 1920 most of the major cities were linked by rail, and La Paz was connected to the two…
Read More