Xingó Dam, Hydroelectric power station at São Francisco River between Alagoas and Sergipe, Brazil
Xingó Dam is a concrete face rock-fill structure that extends 3,623 meters across the São Francisco River between Alagoas and Sergipe. The structure features twelve floodgates and can discharge up to 33,000 cubic meters of water per second.
Construction began in 1987, was halted in 1988 due to financing problems during Brazil's debt crisis, and resumed in 1990. The project was completed in 1994 and became a turning point for the region's energy supply.
The reservoir is part of the Rio São Francisco Natural Monument and protects a large area of natural landscape. The water surface has fundamentally changed the dry caatinga region and is now an important place for local people.
The structure is operated by six Francis turbines generating 527 megawatts each, with space for four additional units. The area around the dam is well accessible to visitors and offers viewpoints overlooking the reservoir.
The dam created a reservoir holding roughly 3.8 cubic kilometers of water across approximately 60 square kilometers of surface area. This artificial water body enabled recreational activities and boating in a region that was previously marked by dryness.
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