currently it occupies the whole eastern section of the island, except for the galeão neighborhood and the adjacent favelas, and it remains the second largest airport in brazil.

the western side of the island, though, is densely urbanized and home to the neighborhoods of governador - jardim guanabara, portuguesa, moneró, jardim carioca, tauá, cocotá, praia da bandeira, cacuia, pitangueiras, zumbi, ribeira, bancários, and freguesia.

in geographical terms the island presents a few hills, with the green peaks in the outskirts of the airport, in the western edge of the island and matoso, in the south, being especially preeminent.