city, capital of Amazonas estado (state), southern Venezuela, situated on the Orinoco River just below the Atures Rapids, which block navigation on the river. Founded in 1924, Puerto Ayacucho is the trading centre for the large but sparsely populated state, which produces mainly rubber and balata. From the city a road leads 55 miles (90 km) south-southwestward to the river port of Samariapo, thus circumventing the rapids. Puerto Ayacucho was not accessible by highway until the 1970s, when a road, usable only in the dry season, was built from Caicara in Bolívar state. It is served by a domestic airline. Pop. (2001) 53,000.