Sobradinho Reservoir

For other uses, see Sobradinho (disambiguation).
Sobradinho Reservoir
Location Sobradinho,  Brazil
Coordinates 09°22′00″S 40°54′00″W / 9.36667°S 40.90000°WCoordinates: 09°22′00″S 40°54′00″W / 9.36667°S 40.90000°W
Primary inflows São Francisco River
Primary outflows São Francisco River
Catchment area 498,425 km2 (192,443 sq mi)
Basin countries Brazil
First flooded 1982
Surface area 4,214 km2 (1,627 sq mi)
Average depth 8.6 m (28.2 ft)
Max. depth 30 m (98 ft)
Water volume 34,100,000,000 m3 (1.20×1012 cu ft)
Residence time 0.35 years
Surface elevation 392.5 m (1,287.7 ft)

The Sobradinho Reservoir is a large reservoir located in Sobradinho, north of the Brazilian state of Bahia. The reservoir measures approximately 320 km (200 mi) long, 4,214 km2 (1,627 sq mi) in surface area, and a storage capacity of 34.1 km3 (8.2 cu mi) at its nominal elevation of 392.5 m (1,287.7 ft), making it the 12th largest reservoir (artificial lake) in the world. The lake encloses the waters of the São Francisco River, one of the largest and most important rivers in Brazil.

The reservoir, which represents 60.4% of the hydroelectric power resources of the Northeast of Brazil, has conditions to guarantee the power supply for the region for two years but its water level is very undependable. In some years the drought can be so critical that the energy supply is in doubt

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