Paraíba do Sul
Encyclopedia
The Paraíba do Sul ˈʁiu paɾaˈibɐ du ˈsuw, or simply termed Paraíba, is a river
in the south-east of Brazil
. It flows 1,137 kilometres west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga
to the sea near Campos
. The river receives its name when it meets the river Paraibuna
at the Paraibuna dam.
Its main tributaries
are the rivers Jaguari
, Buquira, Paraibuna
, Preto
, Pomba and Muriaé
. These last two are the longest and join the main river 140 kilometres and 50 kilometres from the mouth respectively .
The valley of the Paraíba do Sul is porrathe latitudes 20°26' and 23°39'S and the longitudes of 41° and 46°30'W and covers an area of about 57,000 km² distributed over three states. The main economic activities are industry and cattle raising.
Elsewhere navigation is hampered by various obstacles; waterfalls, rapids, sections with great declivity and various hydroelectric works with no locks.
Other factors impeding navigation are the existence of highway and railway bridges, the proximity of roads and railways following the riverbank and the location of several cities on its banks.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the south-east 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...
. It flows 1,137 kilometres west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga
Paraitinga River
The Paraitinga River is a river of São Paulo state in southeastern Brazil.-References:*...
to the sea near Campos
Campos dos Goytacazes
Campos dos Goytacazes is a municipality and city located in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with a population of 463,545 inhabitants. Its area is 4,031.910 km², which makes it the largest municipality in the state and its elevation is 14 m...
. The river receives its name when it meets the river Paraibuna
Paraibuna River
The Paraibuna River is a river in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and a major tributary of the Paraíba do Sul river. It flows through the important commercial and industrial city of Juiz de Fora....
at the Paraibuna dam.
Its main tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
are the rivers Jaguari
Jaguari
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
, Buquira, Paraibuna
Paraibuna River
The Paraibuna River is a river in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and a major tributary of the Paraíba do Sul river. It flows through the important commercial and industrial city of Juiz de Fora....
, Preto
Preto River (Paraíba)
The Preto River is a river of Paraíba state in northeastern Brazil.-References:*...
, Pomba and Muriaé
Muriaé
Muriaé is a city and municipality in southeast Minas Gerais state, Brazil. It is located in the Zona da Mata region and its population in 2009 was approximately 99.628 inhabitants.-Important Facts:*Municipal Limits...
. These last two are the longest and join the main river 140 kilometres and 50 kilometres from the mouth respectively .
The valley of the Paraíba do Sul is porrathe latitudes 20°26' and 23°39'S and the longitudes of 41° and 46°30'W and covers an area of about 57,000 km² distributed over three states. The main economic activities are industry and cattle raising.
Navigation
Presently only two parts of the river can be navigated:- The lower section, between the mouth and São FidélisSão FidélisSão Fidélis is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 38,172 and its area is 1,028 km²....
, about 90 km. It has a declivity of 22 cm/km. There is incipient navigation carried out by small boats that transport mainly construction material to the city of Campos. - The upper middle section, between Cachoeira PaulistaCachoeira PaulistaCachoeira Paulista is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2003 is 29,254. The elevation is 521 m.The Brazilian Decimetric Array radio telescope is situated in Cachoeira Paulista....
and GuararemaGuararemaGuararema is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2006 was 24,818, with a density of 91.7 inh./km² and the area is 271 km². This place name comes from the Tupi language. It is a suburb of São Paulo....
, about 280 km. Despite the small declivity of 19 cm/km, navigation is restricted to tourist boats.
Elsewhere navigation is hampered by various obstacles; waterfalls, rapids, sections with great declivity and various hydroelectric works with no locks.
Other factors impeding navigation are the existence of highway and railway bridges, the proximity of roads and railways following the riverbank and the location of several cities on its banks.
Centres of population
The Paraíba Valley is very fertile and has always been a region of relatively dense population. Cities located on or near the river are- State of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro (state)Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
:- Barra do PiraíBarra do PiraíBarra do Piraí is a Brazilian city of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 94,332 and its area is 578 km². The area is 582,1 km². It is 127 km far away from Rio de Janeiro.-References:...
- Barra MansaBarra MansaBarra Mansa is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 175,328 and its area is 547 km²....
- Campos dos GoytacazesCampos dos GoytacazesCampos dos Goytacazes is a municipality and city located in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with a population of 463,545 inhabitants. Its area is 4,031.910 km², which makes it the largest municipality in the state and its elevation is 14 m...
- center of a rich sugar cane growing area - VassourasVassourasVassouras is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 33,206 and its area is 552 km².Vassouras is known for its colonial-era coffee farms, including Fazenda Santa Eufrasia ....
- site of a highly respected agricultural university - Volta RedondaVolta RedondaVolta Redonda is the name of a city in the Rio de Janeiro state of Brazil with 182.81 km² of area, located from 350m to 707m from the sea level and with a population of 259,811 inhabitants . The area around the city has nearly 700,000...
- site of Brazil's first steel industry)
- Barra do Piraí
- State of São Paulo:
- AparecidaAparecidaAparecida is a Brazilian city and municipality in the state of São Paulo. It is located in the fertile valley of the River Paraíba do Sul on the southern bank. The population in 2004 was 35,754 and the area of the municipality is 121.232 km²...
- site of Brazil's most famous MarianMarian apparitionsA Marian apparition is an event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have supernaturally appeared to one or more people. They are often given names based on the town in which they were reported, or on the sobriquet which was given to Mary on the occasion of the apparition...
pilgrimage site - Guaratinguetá
- São José dos CamposSão José dos CamposSão José dos Campos is a municipality and a major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and one of the most important industrial and research centers in Latin America. It is located in the Paraíba Valley, between the two most active production and consumption regions in the country, São Paulo ...
- high-tech industry and home to EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
, Brazil's aircraft manufacturer - TaubatéTaubatéTaubaté is a city in the State of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Its strategic geographical location, between the two most important Brazilian cities , being crossed by Presidente Dutra Highway which connects the two megacities, and between high, cold mountains and the Atlantic Ocean has...
- VolkswagenVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
and FordFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
plants
- Aparecida
- State of Minas Gerais:
- Além ParaíbaAlém ParaíbaAlém Paraíba is a city in the southeastern Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The name indicates its position on the far bank of the Rio Paraíba do Sul. It was known as São José d'Além Parahyba until 1923.- Railways :...
- Estrela DalvaEstrela DalvaEstrela Dalva is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
- Juiz de ForaJuiz de Fora-Industry, Trade, and Culture:Juiz de Fora is the second most important industrial center in the state of Minas Gerais, despite being the fourth largest in terms of population. It was once the state's largest city, position which was held up until the beginning of the 20th century...
- Important manufacturing city on the ParaibunaParaibunaParaibuna is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 18,096 and the area is 811.76 km². The elevation is 635 m...
River, one of the major tributaries of the Paraíba.
- Além Paraíba