Paulo Afonso Falls

Paulo Afonso Falls (Portuguese: Cachoeira de Paulo Afonso) is a series of waterfalls on the São Francisco River in the north-east of Brazil adjacent to the city of Paulo Afonso. They stand up to 275 feet (84 m) high. The falls consist of a steep rapid that descends approximately 80 feet (24 m) and then drops a main plunge of 260 feet (79 m) into a narrow gorge.[1]

Paulo Afonso Falls
Paulo Afonso Falls during a water release from the Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Complex
LocationAlagoas and Bahia
Brazil
Coordinates9°23′21″S 38°11′45″W
TypeTiered
Total height84 metres (276 ft)[1]
Number of drops3
Longest drop59 metres (194 ft)[1]
Average width18 metres (59 ft)[1]
WatercourseSão Francisco River
Average
flow rate		2,832 m3/s (100,000 cu ft/s) (historical) [1]

Damming

Upstream of the falls, a hydroelectric dam, the Hidrelétrica de Angiquinho (the first hydroelectric plant in northeastern Brazil)[2] blocks the flow of the river. Prior to the damming of the river in 1948, the average water flow over the falls was over 2,832 m3/s (100,000 cu ft/s), and floods exceeded 14,158 m3/s (500,000 cu ft/s).[1][3]

The Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Complex that grew from the original plant was known as Complexo Hidrelétrico de Paulo Afonso in Portuguese, or locally simply as Paulo Afonso.[4] This, and later plants, such as the Hidrelétrica de Xingó downstream, near the town of Piranhas, Alagoas,[5] provide much of the region with electric power.[6]

  • Painting of Paulo Afonso Falls by E. F. Schute, 1850
  • Paulo Afonso Falls, 1875
  • Paulo Afonso Falls, 2018

See also

References
  1. "Paulo Afonso, Cachoeira de, Brazil - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  2. "Paulo Afonso, Bahia (Brazil)". Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  3. "Encyclopædia Britannica- Paulo Afonso Falls". Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  4. Wikipédia (Portuguese): Complexo Hidrelétrico de Paulo Afonso
  5. Usina Hidrelétrica de Xingó - Piranhas/AL
  6. "Entremontes and Piranhas- Rio São Francisco". Archived from the original on 2001-04-18. Retrieved 2009-02-15.


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