Três Marias

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Três Marias is a small city in northwestern Minas Gerais state, Brazil, with geographical coordinates of 18º15'12" Latitude South and 45º 15' 50" Longitude West. It is located at the north end of one of the largest reservoirs in Brazil--the Represa Três Marias and is close to the dam which controls water entering the São Francisco river. Population: 23.539 (IBGE/Census 2000) Estimated Population: 27 thousand inhabitants. The area of the municipality is 2,763 km². The altitude varies between 504 and 975 meters.

The economy is based on agriculture, cattle raising, tourism, fishing, light industry and the informal economy.

The climate is hot and dry, with an annual average temperature of 22,5º celsius, and an average annual maximum of 28,8º; average annual minimum: 16,5º; average annual rainfall: 1442 mm

The city can be reached by MG-220, BR-040, and BR-259.

The distance from the state capital of Belo Horizonte is 276 km and 438 km from Brasília, the national capital.

[edit] Origin of the Name

Why Três Marias?

The versions are many. There are those who affirm, based on astronomy, that it is because of the three stars belonging to the constellation Orion, and that are permanently visible in this region.

Another possible source of the name are the three waterfalls that once existed where the reservoir would eventually be built.

But most the popular explanation refers to three sisters who lived on the right bank of the river. This version talks of a couple who lived on the bank of the river who had triplets, a rare case even today. The story goes that their birth was a topic of subject of much discussion, with its fame spreading throughout the region. They were three beautiful girls all called Maria. But the waterfall where the couple lived with their three daughters began to be called the Waterfall of the Three Marias, which disappeared after the building of the dam. The legend adds that the three Marias died by drowning in the river. However, as there is no documentary evidence in any registrar to prove its veracity, the tale remains anecdotal. The less poetic, official name of the hydroelectric station is "Bernardo Mascarenhas".

[edit] The Lake and Dam of Tres Marias

The lake of Tres Marias began with the damming of the São Francisco river, formed by the construction of one of the largest earth dams in the world. The objectives were to control the flow of water of the river in the periodical floods and improve navegability; the use of hydroelectric power and the development of industry and irrigation. Begun in 1957, this great project was finished in January 1961, almost a world record in this type of construction.

The dam is 2,700 meters long with a base of 600 and a height of 75 meters. Its plant produces 396,000 KW of power. The lake, which translates literally as "Fresh Sea of Minas", has 21 billion square meters of water, a surface area of 1,040 square kilometers (8.7 times greater than Guanabara Bay), and provides water to 8 municipalities.

The speed of construction was due to the commitment of President Juscelino Kibitschek, who also completed the bridge over the São Francisco river, the BR 040 highway, and the new federal capital. The construction of the dam was carried out in two shifts, using approximately 10,000 workers.