| Paranapanema River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Map of theLa Plata Basin, showing the Paranapanema River joining the upperParaná River. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Brazil |
| State | São Paulo,Paraná |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Serra dos Agudos |
| • coordinates | 24°51′S48°10′W / 24.850°S 48.167°W /-24.850; -48.167 |
| • elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) |
| Mouth | Paraná River |
• location | Brazil |
• coordinates | 22°39′31″S53°5′15″W / 22.65861°S 53.08750°W /-22.65861; -53.08750[1] |
• elevation | 233 m (764 ft)[2] |
| Length | 929 km (577 mi)[3] |
| Basin size | 101,738.7 km2 (39,281.5 mi2)[4] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Near mouth |
| • average | (Period: 1971–2000)1,198.4 m3/s (42,320 cu ft/s)[4] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Paraná →Río de la Plata →Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Río de la Plata |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Apiai-Guaçu,Taquari-Guaçu,Itararé,Das Cinzas,Tibagi,Pirapó |
| • right | Itapetininga,Pardo |
TheParanapanema River (Portuguese,Rio Paranapanema[5]) is one of the most important rivers of the interior of the Brazilian state ofSão Paulo. The river forms most of the boundary between the states of São Paulo andParaná.
From source to mouth the Paranapanema River has an elevation drop of 677 metres (2,221 ft). The river's length is about 929 kilometres (577 mi).[3] It flows generally west, reaching theParaná River at an altitude of about 233 metres (764 ft).[2]
The sources of the river are protected by the 22,269 hectares (55,030 acres)Nascentes do Paranapanema State Park, created in 2012.[6]The sources are situated in the Serra Agudos Grandes, in south-central São Paulo, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the Atlantic coast.
From the sources to the mouth of theItararé River, the Paranapaneba flows within the territory of São Paulo state. Below the Itararé the Paranapanema forms the border between the states of Paraná and São Paulo.
The river is associated with a date according to State Law 10.488/99 (Antônio Salim Curiati), sanctioned by GovernorMário Covas, designated as August 27.
The Paranapanema is the least polluted river of the state of São Paulo.[7]
The average total gradient of the Paranapanema River, from its sources to its mouth in theParaná River is 61 cm/km, not considering the first 100 km, where the river descends from the Serra of Paranapiacaba, at an average gradient of 43 cm/km, a value relatively low for a stream with a length of 929 km.
The Paranapanema river may be divided into three principal stretches:
From its mouth at the Paraná River, to theGrande Falls, a length of 421 km, the average gradient is 29 cm/km. There are widths of more than 200 m, deeper and shallower stretches, widths that reach nearly 800 m. The radii of curvature are in the order of 1.000 m.[clarification needed] The course is more or lessmeandering presenting a complete horizontal equilibrium, with an excess, only of the stretch close to the junction with theParaná River, which includes moving sand-banks and islands.[clarification needed]
From theGrande Falls up to the confluence with theApiaí-Guaçu River, with a length of 328 km, the river descends a total of 210 m. It is not possible to calculate an average gradient on this stretch, because due to the construction of various dams for the provisioning of hydroelectric power, the level will fall abruptly at those dams.
The Upper Paranapanema reaches from the confluence of the Apiaí-Guaçu River to the river's sources in the Serra de Agudos Grandes, with a length of 180 km. The average gradient is quite high, 150 cm/km. It drains a series of streams that descend from the Serra of Paranapiacaba, the Upper Paranapanema is gaining size and consolidates to receive theItapetininga River and Apiaí-Guaçu river.
Navigation of the Paranapanema River is practical along the lower course up to the port ofEuclides da Cunha, down the chute of the Coroa do Frade, with a length of about 70 km, counting from the mouth into theParaná River. Navigation is fairly hazardous. Under normal conditions the minimum depth of this stretch may be estimated at 1.5 metres (4.9 ft).
For the last 421 km downstream, the course between the mouth and the dam of Salto Grande, the average gradient is an about 29 cm/km.
The main natural obstacles that interrupt or make navigation dangerous are: a basalt bank, hidden rocks, reduced current velocity, too little depth, a straight canal in the middle of the river, an elevated current velocity, an undulating movement, a sinuous canal, sand banks, and stretches with high gradient.
The great reserves of water held in the Paranapanema's reservoirs have considerable influence on the regime of the river in its middle course. In the lower course the influence is reduced, with no effect on the natural conditions that completely impede navigation.
The Paranapanema River has in total eight dams and their respective reservoirs. The following table traces a list going in the direction of theParaná River.
| Dam | Reservoir | power generation[7] | Área of the reservoir[8] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroelectric Plant of Jurumirim | Reservoir of Jurumirim | 98 MW | 449 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Chavantes | - | 414 MW | 400 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Salto Grande | - | 74 MW | 12 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Canoas II | - | 72 MW | 22.5 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Canoas I | - | 81 MW | 30.85 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Capivara | Reservoir of Capivara | 619 MW | 576 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Taquaruçu | - | 526 MW | 80.1 km2 |
| Hydroelectric Plant of Rosana | - | 353 MW | 220 km2 |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
