São Francisco River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids São Francisco River |
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São Francisco river basin
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| Country | Brazil |
| States | Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe |
| Region | South America |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Canastra Mountains, state of Minas Gerais |
| Length | 2,830 km (1,760 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 641,000 km2 (247,000 sq mi) |
The São Francisco River is a very important river in Brazil. It is also known as the Rio São Francisco. This river is about 2,914 kilometres (1,811 mi) long. It is the longest river that flows completely within Brazil. It is also the fourth longest river in South America. Only the Amazon, Paraná, and Madeira rivers are longer.
Long ago, native people called this river Opara. Today, many people call it Velho Chico, which means "Old Frank". The São Francisco River starts in the Canastra mountains. These mountains are in the state of Minas Gerais in central-western Brazil.
The river flows north through Minas Gerais and Bahia. It drains a huge area of land, over 630,000 square kilometres (240,000 sq mi). Then, it turns east. It forms the border between Bahia and the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. After that, it creates the border between Alagoas and Sergipe. Finally, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river's water basin also includes parts of Goiás and the Federal District.
Contents
Why is the São Francisco River Important?
The São Francisco River is very important for Brazil. People call it "the river of national integration." This is because it connects different parts of the country. It links the dry Northeast region with the Southeast.
How is the River Used?
The river is used for many things. It helps transport goods and people. It is also used to create electricity.
Parts of the river are navigable. This means boats can travel on them. Boats can go between the cities of Pirapora in Minas Gerais and Juazeiro in Bahia. They can also travel between Piranhas in Alagoas and the ocean. However, fewer passenger boats use the river now. This is because the river's flow has changed over time.
Images for kids
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São Francisco River south of Paulo Afonso
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Metal bridge with 84 meters of height., Border with states of BA-AL
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A river canyon on the São Francisco river.
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São Francisco River, in Ibotirama, BA, Brazil
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Mouth of the São Francisco river
See also
In Spanish: Río San Francisco (Brasil) para niños
