The municipality of Aparecida do Rio Doce belongs to the Sudoeste de Goiás Microregion and is 208 km. from the state capital, Goiânia. Connections are made by BR-060 / Guapó / Indiara / Rio Verde / GO-174/ GO-422 / BR-364. The town lies at the junction of BR364 and GO174.
The history of Aparecida do Rio Doce as a municipality is recent as it was elevated to city status in 1993. The name derives from the patron saint of Brazil, Our Lady Aparecida, and the most important river of the region, the Rio Doce, which limits the urban area on the south and flows north to south to eventually join the Rio Claro.
The main economic activity is cattle raising for meat (59,000 head in 2006). Farming is secondary and is mainly subsistence, with farmers growing rice, corn, and soybeans. Another economic activity is production of poultry and pigs, due to the proximity of the important Perdigão Foods factory in Rio Verde, one of the largest agroindustrial complexes in the world.
Belonging to the Paraná River basin, the river system is varied, with the most important rivers being the Rio Claro and its tributary, the Rio Doce. Along these rivers there are several small waterfalls, the most important being Salto do Rio Claro. The two rivers are used for recreational fishing and swimming by locals and tourists. Municipal boundaries are with Jataí, Rio Verde, and Caçu.
