Impacts of Sobradinho Dam, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is a large country with an area of 8.5 million km² and a population of approximately 184 million in the year 2008. The country is rich in water resources, with the impressive rank of holding 14% of the world’s waters. This large amount of water is unevenly distributed in time and space across the territory. The northern region of the country accounts for 68% of the total available water in the country while the semi-arid northeast region faces severe water shortages. The population distribution is also diverse. The northern region, where most water is available, is home to only 7.6% of the population. The northeast, with only 3% of the country’s water, is inhabited by 30% of the population. The semi-arid climate of this region has very irregular annual average rainfall, ranging from 200 to 700 mm, and its population is the poorest in Brazil, facing serious social problems. The few humid areas of this region are limited to those bordering the northern region and the coastal strip. Its high climatic variability has led to the construction of dams to regulate flows, thus providing water supply and irrigation for food production. The construction of these dams and reservoirs was responsible for a significant increase in the social and economic development of this region.