Furnas (lake)
Encyclopedia
The Furnas Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Minas Gerais
state of Brazil
. A small settlement was built near the dam with the same name, to house the workers during the dam construction. The main purpose of the dam and reservoir are the production of electricity and the regulation of the flow of the Grande River
.
Construction on the dam began in 1957 and was the first large dam in Brazil. It was built by Wimpey Construction
and was completed in 1963. It is built on the canyon of the Grande River
, before joining the Sapucaí River downstream. The dam is 127 m (417 ft) tall, 550 m (1,804 ft) long, and 15 m (49 ft) wide at its crest.
The large reservoir, with a surface area of 1473 square kilometre, almost half of the Brazilian coastline, started to form in 1963, bordering thirty-four municipalities. The volume of water is seven times that of Guanabara Bay
, at 22590000000 cubic metre. Normal water level averages at 768 m (2,520 ft).
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
state of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. A small settlement was built near the dam with the same name, to house the workers during the dam construction. The main purpose of the dam and reservoir are the production of electricity and the regulation of the flow of the Grande River
Grande River
The Grande River is river in south-central Brazil. It rises in the Mantiqueira Mountains in the state of Minas Gerais and descends inland, west-northwestward. Its lower course marks a portion of the Minas Gerais-São Paulo border...
.
Construction on the dam began in 1957 and was the first large dam in Brazil. It was built by Wimpey Construction
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
and was completed in 1963. It is built on the canyon of the Grande River
Grande River
The Grande River is river in south-central Brazil. It rises in the Mantiqueira Mountains in the state of Minas Gerais and descends inland, west-northwestward. Its lower course marks a portion of the Minas Gerais-São Paulo border...
, before joining the Sapucaí River downstream. The dam is 127 m (417 ft) tall, 550 m (1,804 ft) long, and 15 m (49 ft) wide at its crest.
The large reservoir, with a surface area of 1473 square kilometre, almost half of the Brazilian coastline, started to form in 1963, bordering thirty-four municipalities. The volume of water is seven times that of Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
, at 22590000000 cubic metre. Normal water level averages at 768 m (2,520 ft).
See also
- Luiz Barreto (Estreito) DamLuiz Barreto DamThe Luiz Carlos Barreto de Carvalho Dam, formerly known as Estreito, is an embankment dam on the Grande River near Fronteira in São Paulo, Brazil. The dam serves an associated hydroelectric power plant with a 1,050 MW installed capacity.-Background:...
- Marimbondo DamMarimbondo DamThe Marimbondo Dam is an embankment dam on the Grande River near Fronteira in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dam serves an associated hydroelectric power plant with a 1,440 MW installed capacity.-Background:...
- Água Vermelha DamÁgua Vermelha DamThe Água Vermelha Dam is an embankment dam on the Grande River near Iturama in Minas Gerais/São Paulo, Brazil. It was constructed for hydroelectric power production and flood control. Construction on the dam began in 1973 and it was completed and operational by 1978...
- List of power stations in Brazil