Sobradinho Reservoir, Hydroelectric reservoir in Bahia, Brazil.
Sobradinho Reservoir is the artificial lake formed by the Sobradinho hydroelectric dam on the São Francisco River in northern Bahia. It covers 4,214 km², runs about 320 km from end to end and reaches 25 km across in places, holding 34 billion m³ at its nominal level of 392.5 m. Its jagged shoreline of narrow inlets and peninsulas lies in dry brown and tan terrain, and a riprap-faced embankment dam with a paved crest road holds the pale green water.
Work on the dam began in the early 1970s to generate electricity for the northeast. Filling the reservoir took several years and permanently altered the landscape.
The transformation reshaped how communities along the river depend on water and land for their livelihoods. Fishermen today adapt their methods to the altered conditions of the reservoir, while former agricultural lands now rest beneath the surface.
Access to the shore area is available at several points where roads reach the water. The area is wide and open, so bringing a hat and water is advisable, especially during the hot months.
The regulation of the river allows downstream communities to rely on a consistent water flow throughout the year. This control also influences agricultural cycles in distant areas along the river.
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