The São Francisco River , with waterfalls and canyons that reach 80 meters in altitude, presents one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Brazil.
The National Integration River connects the South Center to the Northeast of the country.
Main features
Location of the São Francisco River
The São Francisco River extends through the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco , Alagoas, Sergipe and the Federal District.
Where is he born?
The São Francisco River rises in the Serra da Canastra , in the state of Minas Gerais, in the Serra da Canastra National Park.
With 2,820 km, it runs to the north, crosses the state of Bahia, goes to the state of Pernambuco, where it changes the route to the southeast, on the border of the states of Alagoas and Sergipe to empty into the Atlantic Ocean.
In the areas close to the source, the rains are relatively abundant and present perennial rivers, however, in the semiarid areas the rivers are temporary.
São Francisco River tributaries
The São Francisco River and its 158 tributaries, of which 90 are perennial and 68 temporary, form the São Francisco Basin, with an extension of 641,000 km².
Among the tributaries of the São Francisco river that bathe the state of Minas Gerais are: the Pará, Abaeté, Rio das Velhas, Jequitibá, Paracatu, Urucuia, Preto and Verde Grande rivers.
The Preto River bathes the Federal District, at the height of the municipality of Formosa. It serves as a divider between Minas Gerais and the Federal District.
Among the tributaries of the São Francisco River, in the state of Bahia, the current river and the Rio Grande stand out, which bathes the west of the state, where rainfall is abundant.
Waterfalls
The Salto de Casca d’Anta , in the Serra da Canastra, with 186 meters of free fall, is the first waterfall of the São Francisco River, 2 km from its source.
The river runs through the region between Serra da Canastra and Serra do Espinhaço, where it features waterfalls and rapids.
Mouth of the São Francisco River
The mouth of the São Francisco River, between the city of Piaçabuçu in the state of Alagoas and the city of Brejo Grande in the state of Sergipe, is home to a rich ecosystem in mangroves, Atlantic forest and dunes, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Economic importance of the São Francisco River
The Três Marias Hydroelectric Plant, located in the central part of Minas Gerais, supplies part of the Southeast Region of Brazil.
Between Minas Gerais and the Federal District, the Queimado Hydroelectric Plant is installed.
On the flatter stretch of the São Francisco River, the ports of the cities of Pirapora in Minas Gerais, Juazeiro in Bahia and Petrolina in Pernambuco, make the São Francisco Waterway a means of transport for agricultural products in the region.
The São Francisco River borders the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, crosses the northeastern semiarid, becoming essential for the region’s economy.
It favors irrigated agriculture, with emphasis on the cities of Petrolina and Lagoa Grande, where it develops for export, the culture of grape, mango, melon etc.
On its banks are also the cities of Belém do São Francisco, Cabrobó, Floresta, Santa Maria da Boa Vista, Itacoruba, Petrolândia, among others.
The Luís Gonzaga Hydroelectric Plant, formerly known as Itaparica, is located in the state of Pernambuco, close to the city of Petrolândia.
The São Francisco River flows along the border of the states of Alagoas and Sergipe, bathes historic cities, towns, river beaches and crosses canyons.
In the state of Alagoas, the Delmiro Gouveia, Moxotó and Xingó Hydroelectric Plants are installed, which supply energy to much of the Northeast Region.
The lakes, formed by the hydroelectric plants are explored by tourism, with boat trips between the canyons that in some regions reach 80 meters.
Transposition of the São Francisco River
The Transposition of the São Francisco River is a project of the Federal Government to bring water from the São Francisco River, through canals, to several regions that suffer the drought phenomenon. They are the states of Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte.
The project foresees the construction of 600 km of canals and nine water pumping stations. The work is divided into two major axes to capture water, the Northern Axis, in the city of Cabrobó and the Eastern Axis, in the city of Floresta, both in the state of Pernambuco.