Jequitinhonha River
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The Jequitinhonha River is a river that flows mainly through the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Its source lies near Diamantina in the Serra do Espinhaço at an elevation of 1,200 m, after which it flows northward and then east-northeastward across the uplands. At Salto da Divisa, it is interrupted by the Cachoeira (falls) do Salto Grande [43 m] high). It descends to the coastal plain at the city of Jequitinhonha (beyond which it is also called Rio Grande do Belmonte) and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Belmonte in Bahia state after a course of approximately 1,090 km. The main tributaries are the Araçuaí, Piauí, São Miguel, Itacanbiraçu, Salinas, São Pedro, and São Francisco.
The valley of the Jequitinhonha is considered one of the poorest regions of Brazil and is still prone to endemic yellow fever. It covers 78,451 km², twice the size of Switzerland and has an approximate population of one million people, distributed in about 80 municipalities. The most populous of these is Almenara (36,254 in 2004) located on the middle Jequitinhonha.
It is known for its variety of gemstones, colonial-era towns, unique handicraft and starkly beautiful land immortalized by the Brazilian author João Guimarães Rosa.
Most of the soil is arid and is periodically chastised by either drought or floods. The economically active population numbers over 400,000 of which 180,000 are in the rural areas practicing a rudimentary agriculture and cattle raising. Industry employs 50,000 people, but it is the most important economic source for the municiapalities.
In the past the region was covered by forests and occupied by indigenous people. What contributed to the degradation of the region was the predatory activity of mining and extraction of diamonds.
Today there are attempts to develop the work by local artisans, especially in ceramics. While living in total isolation, they have developed ceramic craftwork that is mainly performed by the women, who belong to associations. They make utility pieces that are ranked as the most creative work of Brazilian popular art. The famous "dolls" from that region are in fact pitchers for keeping fresh water, thus losing this function and becoming decorative objects.
The electrical company of Minas Gerais (CEMIG) is building a hydroelectric plant on the river between Berilo and Grão Mogol. This Usina Presidente Juscilino Kubitscheck or Usina Irapé will generate 360 MW and will provide energy and regulate the waters of the river which periodically flood. Cemig began the work in 2002 and in April 2003 diverted the river to two tunnels with a length of more than 1.2 km.
