Luiz Gonzaga Dam
Encyclopedia
The Luiz Gonzaga Dam, formerly known as the Itaparica Dam, is a rock-fill embankment dam
on the São Francisco River
25 km downstream of Petrolândia
in Pernambuco
, Brazil
. The dam was built for navigation
, and hydroelectric power generation as it supports a 1,479 MW power station
. It was constructed between 1979 and 1988; the last of its generators was commissioned in 1990.
The dam is owned and operated by CHESF
and was renamed in honor of Luiz Gonzaga
, known as the "king of Baião
" and "Gonzagão"
of which contains nine floodgate
s. The maximum level of the reservoir is 305.4 m (1,002 ft) above sea level while the dam reaches a maximum height of 308.1 m (1,010.8 ft).
s within generators that have an installed capacity of 246.5 MW each, totaling 1,479 MW. The first generator was commissioned on June 13, 1988, another later that year, three more were commissioned in 1989 and the final generator went online on February 13, 1990. Three of the generators were manufactured by Gie and the other three along with three of the turbines by Siemens
. Voith
manufactured the three remaining turbines.
in the 1970s. In 1986, CHESF
, the builders of the dam, agreed to construct irrigation facilities. The World Bank
had described CHESF
's relocation plan as flawed and financed a $500 million resettlement program if certain criteria were met. The World Bank estimates that each family will cost $60,000 and the construction of irrigation facilities is slowly progressing.
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
on the São Francisco River
São Francisco River
The São Francisco is a river in Brazil. With a length of , it is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazilian territory, and the fourth longest in South America and overall in Brazil...
25 km downstream of Petrolândia
Petrolândia
Petrolândia is a town in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. It is in the São Francisco Region. Petrolândia has a total area of 1056.6 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 32.568 inhabitants in 2009 according with IBGE...
in Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, 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...
. The dam was built for navigation
Navigability
A body of water, such as a river, canal or lake, is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass. Preferably there are few obstructions such as rocks or trees to avoid. Bridges must have sufficient clearance. High water speed may make a channel unnavigable. Waters may be...
, and hydroelectric power generation as it supports a 1,479 MW power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
. It was constructed between 1979 and 1988; the last of its generators was commissioned in 1990.
The dam is owned and operated by CHESF
CHESF
CHESF generates and transmits electric power from hydroelectric plants to all of the cities in northeast of Brazil....
and was renamed in honor of Luiz Gonzaga
Luiz Gonzaga
Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento was a very prominent Brazilian folk singer, songwriter, musician and poet. Born in the countryside of Pernambuco , he is considered to be responsible for the promotion of northeastern music throughout the rest of the country...
, known as the "king of Baião
Baião, Pará
Baião, Pará is a town and municipality in the state of Pará in the Northern region of Brazil.-References:...
" and "Gonzagão"
The dam
The Luiz Gonzaga Dam is a 4700 m (15,419.9 ft) long and 105 m (344.5 ft) high rock and earth-fill embankment dam. The contains a 720 m (2,362.2 ft) concrete section that supports the power plants and spillwaySpillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
of which contains nine floodgate
Floodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
s. The maximum level of the reservoir is 305.4 m (1,002 ft) above sea level while the dam reaches a maximum height of 308.1 m (1,010.8 ft).
Power plant
The dam supports a 310 m (1,017.1 ft) long and 54.6 m (179.1 ft) wide hydroelectric power station. The station contains six SíncronoVertical Francis turbineFrancis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
s within generators that have an installed capacity of 246.5 MW each, totaling 1,479 MW. The first generator was commissioned on June 13, 1988, another later that year, three more were commissioned in 1989 and the final generator went online on February 13, 1990. Three of the generators were manufactured by Gie and the other three along with three of the turbines by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
. Voith
Voith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
manufactured the three remaining turbines.
Involuntary relocation controversy
Before construction on the dam began in July 1979, the involuntary relocation of 40,000 people - 10,000 from urban and 30,000 from rural areas, mostly indigenous Tuxá - from the future reservoir area began. Those being relocated protested the dam and formed Polosindical because of farmland loss, subsequent unemployment and hunger along with previous relocation difficulties associated with the upstream Sobradinho DamSobradinho Dam
The Sobradinho Dam is a large hydroelectric dam built on the São Francisco River in Sobradinho, in the state of Bahia of Brazil. Completed in 1982, the dam generates power by utilizing six turbines of each, totalling the installed capacity to .- See also :...
in the 1970s. In 1986, CHESF
CHESF
CHESF generates and transmits electric power from hydroelectric plants to all of the cities in northeast of Brazil....
, the builders of the dam, agreed to construct irrigation facilities. The World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
had described CHESF
CHESF
CHESF generates and transmits electric power from hydroelectric plants to all of the cities in northeast of Brazil....
's relocation plan as flawed and financed a $500 million resettlement program if certain criteria were met. The World Bank estimates that each family will cost $60,000 and the construction of irrigation facilities is slowly progressing.