Rio Sao Francisco Attractions
Rio São Francisco
Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe
Length: 2900km/1800mi.
The river
The Rio São Francisco, popularly known as "Velho Chico" ("Old Fellow"), has the largest catchment area of any Brazilian river (640,000sq.km/247,000sq.mi). It rises in the Serra da Canastra National Park (Minas Gerais) at an altitude of 1500m/4920ft and has a course of 3161km/1964mi before flowing into the Atlantic. Between Sobradinho (where there is the Sobradinho Dam) and Paulo Afonso it forms a natural boundary between Bahia and Pernambuco; thereafter it flows for some 20km/12.4mi between Bahia and Alagoas; and finally it forms the boundary between Alagoas and Sergipe. The estuary of the Rio São Francisco was known to Europeans as early as 1501, and from there great herds of cattle were later driven up the valley into the arid regions of Piauí, negotiating on the way, with great difficulty, the 80m/260ft high falls of Paulo Afonso.
Ecology
The Paulo Afonso hydro-electric station (1955), like the one at Sobradinho, farther upstream, is a textbook example of a development policy conceived only in quantitative terms. The only real beneficiaries of such schemes for the generation of power are the large industrial installations in north-eastern Brazil: in the immediate neighborhood of these projects living conditions and the ecological situation have deteriorated substantially.
The river is navigable for some 1400km/870mi. The most scenically attractive stretches are the lower course of the river downstream from Paulo Afonso and the 230km/145mi between Pirapora and São Francisco (both in Minas Gerais). On both of these sections there are organized river cruises for tourists.
Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe
Length: 2900km/1800mi.
The river
The Rio São Francisco, popularly known as "Velho Chico" ("Old Fellow"), has the largest catchment area of any Brazilian river (640,000sq.km/247,000sq.mi). It rises in the Serra da Canastra National Park (Minas Gerais) at an altitude of 1500m/4920ft and has a course of 3161km/1964mi before flowing into the Atlantic. Between Sobradinho (where there is the Sobradinho Dam) and Paulo Afonso it forms a natural boundary between Bahia and Pernambuco; thereafter it flows for some 20km/12.4mi between Bahia and Alagoas; and finally it forms the boundary between Alagoas and Sergipe. The estuary of the Rio São Francisco was known to Europeans as early as 1501, and from there great herds of cattle were later driven up the valley into the arid regions of Piauí, negotiating on the way, with great difficulty, the 80m/260ft high falls of Paulo Afonso.
Ecology
The Paulo Afonso hydro-electric station (1955), like the one at Sobradinho, farther upstream, is a textbook example of a development policy conceived only in quantitative terms. The only real beneficiaries of such schemes for the generation of power are the large industrial installations in north-eastern Brazil: in the immediate neighborhood of these projects living conditions and the ecological situation have deteriorated substantially.
The river is navigable for some 1400km/870mi. The most scenically attractive stretches are the lower course of the river downstream from Paulo Afonso and the 230km/145mi between Pirapora and São Francisco (both in Minas Gerais). On both of these sections there are organized river cruises for tourists.
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Petrolina, Brazil
Petrolina
In Petrolina is the Sertão Museum, with a collection which includes equipment of the cangaceiros (the bandits of north-eastern Brazil), weapons and sacred objects.
From both Juazeiro and Petrolina there are trips on the river, for example to the Ilha do Rodeador (20km/12.4mi) and to various waterfalls.
In Petrolina is the Sertão Museum, with a collection which includes equipment of the cangaceiros (the bandits of north-eastern Brazil), weapons and sacred objects.
From both Juazeiro and Petrolina there are trips on the river, for example to the Ilha do Rodeador (20km/12.4mi) and to various waterfalls.
Xique-Xique, Brazil
Xique-Xique
After Bom Jesus da Lapa the most important place in the region is Xique-Xique (pop. 60,000), on the east side of the lake formed by the Sobradinho Dam, which is linked with Feira da Santana by BA 052. Boat trips on the Rio São Francisco; fishing trips.
After Bom Jesus da Lapa the most important place in the region is Xique-Xique (pop. 60,000), on the east side of the lake formed by the Sobradinho Dam, which is linked with Feira da Santana by BA 052. Boat trips on the Rio São Francisco; fishing trips.
