Araçuaí River
Encyclopedia
The Araçuaí River is a river of Minas Gerais
state in southeastern Brazil
. The Araçuaí River flows through the Jequitinhonha Valley in the northeast of Minas Gerais, through the town of Araçuaí
, which the river takes its name from. It is a tributary of the Jequitinhonha River
, flowing south from its right bank. The confluence of the river is located at 16°45′45"S 42°0′32"W. Tributaries include the Gravatá River
, Setúbal River
, Capivara River
, Fanado River
and the Itamarandiba River
.
Management and other state operational systems, the Araçuaí River raises in the Senador Modestino Gonçalves district and joins the Jequitinhonha River in the Araçuai district near the Araçuai town, after traversing a distance of 319.2 kilometres (198.3 mi) from its source.
The Araçuaí River valley is famous for the settlements that got established during the gold rush period in early 18th century, in the region of Minas Novas
when Sebastião Leme do Prado located gold veins. The Berilo
town, known then as Água Suja, got established at the confluence of the Araçuaí River and the Água Suja stream. As gold mines were fully exploited and exhausted in the valleys' by 1730s, agricultural produce got a boost with cultivation of corn and cotton. Cattle breeding in ranches also evolved as a basic sustenance need of the people. However, in the 19th century Arucai became one of the important cotton producing regions in northern region of Minas
and was one of major supply bases for a number of cotton mills that got established by 1868 with the initiative of the Mascernhas brothers, not only in the Municipal district of Sete Lagoas
but also in several other municipal districts close to the cotton producing regions.
The Araçuaí River valley is part of one the four districts in the northeast of Minas Gerais (considered as cradle of mineral resources, as it has the largest pegmatite
source in Brazil) where major deposits of aquamarine
, one of the precious gemstone repository in Brazil, has been found. The area has been identified along the Araçuaí River course on the north and its southern tributaries on the south. Consequently, in the southern part of the river valley, the cities of Minas Novas, Turmalina
, Capelinha
, Malacacheta
, Novo Cruzeiro
and Lufa have been established. The primary and secondary deposits have been fully exploited in some of the well known mines that surround the small town of Araçuaí (in the middle of Minas Gerais province), such as the Coronel Murta (for aquamarine
), the Rubelita (for tourmaline
), Itinga
and Taquaral
. However, in spite of so many rich mines, the rural town of Araçuaí, in the upper Jequitinhonha Valley, has not developed and is considered the poorest part with "its social and economic similarities to the semi-arid northeast of Brazil".
The Araçuaí River caused severe floods in 1928, which resulted in damages to most buildings and mansions along its river bank. However, the monuments that have survived the flood devastation are the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church and the old mansions of Domingos de Abreu Vieira in Araçuaí town.
Geology
The geological formation of the Araçuaí River valley has been categorized as the Araçuaí Belt or the Araçuaí Orogen, a confined orogen. Its Africa
n counterpart is known as the West Congo Belt, with the southern limit extending to the São Francisco Craton. Its formation is attributed to the Mesozoic
age, as a Araçuaí-West Congo Orogen, a single belt of the Araçuaí-West Congo Orogen, also known as the Brasiliano-Pan-African orogen. The world's largest pegmatite
deposits, with gemstones
such as emeralds, topaz
, aquamarine and tourmaline are found in these geological formations. The Pegmaties also have lithium
-bearing strata in the Aricuai-Itinga region of the Jequithinhona valley in the province; 2500 tonnes of petalite
was exported in the past, in addition to domestic consumption of 1600 tonnes. Other by-products produced included lepidolite
, amblygonite
(used for conversion to lithium
chemicals) and spodumene
.
and Carbonita
cities. Under this plan, funded by the World Bank
, with a loan of US$ 198 million with 20% matching funds shared by the concerned two city municipalities, reservoirs and distribution network have been proposed to benefit a population of 47,000 in the two cities with sanitation facilities. IGAM, the Minas Gerais state water management body facilitated this project on the river, from November 2002.
Power development
In 1990, $50 million was reported to have been spent on two sets of generators for the Santa Rita Dam on the Araçuaí River, with the purpose of generating 75 megawatts.
or curimatus elegans Steindachnerina
(Steindachneridion is a genus
of South America
n Pimelodid catfish
). During a field study of fish species in the Jequitinhonha basin of which Araçuaí River valley is a sub basin, 19 species were identified including "Astyanax
lacustris; Astyanax
rivularis; Characidium
sp 1; Hyphessobrycon
sp.; Hemigrammus
sp.; Hoplias malabaricus
; Parotocinclus
sp.; Otothyris travassosi
; Hypostomus
sp.; Hypostominae
; Pimelodella
sp.; Rhamdia
jequitinhonha
; Trichomycterus jequitinhonha
; Trichomycterus itacambiruçu
; Trichomycterus
sp.n. 2; Poecilia reticulata; Geophagus brasiliensis
; Oreochromis niloticus
; and Synbranchus marmoratus
.
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
state in southeastern 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 Araçuaí River flows through the Jequitinhonha Valley in the northeast of Minas Gerais, through the town of Araçuaí
Araçuaí
Araçuaí is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais in the Jequitinhonha River valley. The Araçuaí River, a tribuatary of the Jequitinhonha, flows through it.. Its population as of 2007 was estimated to be 36,083 people living in a total area of 2,235 km²....
, which the river takes its name from. It is a tributary of the Jequitinhonha River
Jequitinhonha River
thumb|Source of the river in [[Serro]]|rightThe Jequitinhonha River is a river that flows mainly through the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Its source lies near Diamantina in the Serra do Espinhaço at an elevation of 1,200 m, after which it flows northward and then east-northeastward across the...
, flowing south from its right bank. The confluence of the river is located at 16°45′45"S 42°0′32"W. Tributaries include the Gravatá River
Gravatá River (Minas Gerais)
-See also:*List of rivers of Minas Gerais* ] map]* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
, Setúbal River
Setúbal River
-See also:* ] map]* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
, Capivara River
Capivara River (Araçuaí River)
The Capivara River is a river of Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil.-See also:* ] map]* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
, Fanado River
Fanado River
-See also:* ] map]* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
and the Itamarandiba River
Itamarandiba River
-OMG Itmarandiba:It is half polluted and the other half is corpses of the bodies that have died in that place, a old story that tells kids not to go swimming is because it has been knowen to forcefully drown people and if they do go swimming the dead will tickle their feet, but is said in a...
.
River valley
According to the Fundação João Pinheiro (FJP) (João Pinheiro Foundation), an agency of the government of the state of Minas Gerais, which has the responsibility to provide technical support services to the State Secretariat for Planning andManagement and other state operational systems, the Araçuaí River raises in the Senador Modestino Gonçalves district and joins the Jequitinhonha River in the Araçuai district near the Araçuai town, after traversing a distance of 319.2 kilometres (198.3 mi) from its source.
The Araçuaí River valley is famous for the settlements that got established during the gold rush period in early 18th century, in the region of Minas Novas
Minas Novas
Minas Novas is a municipality in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 30,578 in a total area of 1,810 km². The elevation of the urban area is 635 meters. It is part of the IBGE statistical meso-region of Jequitinhonha and the micro-region of Capelinha...
when Sebastião Leme do Prado located gold veins. The Berilo
Berilo
Berilo is a municipality in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 13,214 in a total area of 586 km². The elevation is 401 meters. It is part of the IBGE statistical meso-region of Jequitinhonha and the micro-region of Capelinha...
town, known then as Água Suja, got established at the confluence of the Araçuaí River and the Água Suja stream. As gold mines were fully exploited and exhausted in the valleys' by 1730s, agricultural produce got a boost with cultivation of corn and cotton. Cattle breeding in ranches also evolved as a basic sustenance need of the people. However, in the 19th century Arucai became one of the important cotton producing regions in northern region of Minas
Minas
Minas are ancient Near Eastern units of weight, and hence, also units of currency.Places* Minas Gerais, Brazil* Minas, Uruguay* Minas Department, Córdoba* Minas Department, Neuquén* Minas, Cuba, a municipality in Cuba...
and was one of major supply bases for a number of cotton mills that got established by 1868 with the initiative of the Mascernhas brothers, not only in the Municipal district of Sete Lagoas
Sete Lagoas
Sete Lagoas is a city in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The municipal area is 537 km² while the population was 217,506 in 2007.-Location:...
but also in several other municipal districts close to the cotton producing regions.
The Araçuaí River valley is part of one the four districts in the northeast of Minas Gerais (considered as cradle of mineral resources, as it has the largest pegmatite
Pegmatite
A pegmatite is a very crystalline, intrusive igneous rock composed of interlocking crystals usually larger than 2.5 cm in size; such rocks are referred to as pegmatitic....
source in Brazil) where major deposits of aquamarine
Aquamarine
Aquamarine may mean:* Aquamarine , a color, a shade between green and blue and clear* Aquamarine , a gemstone-quality blue berylAquamarine may also refer to:...
, one of the precious gemstone repository in Brazil, has been found. The area has been identified along the Araçuaí River course on the north and its southern tributaries on the south. Consequently, in the southern part of the river valley, the cities of Minas Novas, Turmalina
Turmalina
Turmalina is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 was 2,169 and the area is 147.86 km². The elevation is 467 m....
, Capelinha
Capelinha
Capelinha is a Brazilian municipality located in the north-center of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 33,061 living in a total area of 966 km². The city belongs to the statistical mesoregion of Jequitinhonha and to the statistical microregion of Capelinha. It became a...
, Malacacheta
Malacacheta
Malacacheta is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was estimated to be 17,917 people living in a total area of 719 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion of Vale do Mucuri and to the micro-region of Teófilo Otoni. It became a...
, Novo Cruzeiro
Novo Cruzeiro
Novo Cruzeiro is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was estimated to be 30,331 people living in a total area of 1,701 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion of Jequitinhonha and to the microregion of Araçuaí. The...
and Lufa have been established. The primary and secondary deposits have been fully exploited in some of the well known mines that surround the small town of Araçuaí (in the middle of Minas Gerais province), such as the Coronel Murta (for aquamarine
Aquamarine
Aquamarine may mean:* Aquamarine , a color, a shade between green and blue and clear* Aquamarine , a gemstone-quality blue berylAquamarine may also refer to:...
), the Rubelita (for tourmaline
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a crystal boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors...
), Itinga
Itinga
Itinga is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 14,587 in a total area of 1,641 km²....
and Taquaral
Taquaral
Taquaral is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 was 2,867 and the area is 54.42 km². The elevation is 639 m....
. However, in spite of so many rich mines, the rural town of Araçuaí, in the upper Jequitinhonha Valley, has not developed and is considered the poorest part with "its social and economic similarities to the semi-arid northeast of Brazil".
The Araçuaí River caused severe floods in 1928, which resulted in damages to most buildings and mansions along its river bank. However, the monuments that have survived the flood devastation are the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church and the old mansions of Domingos de Abreu Vieira in Araçuaí town.
Geology
The geological formation of the Araçuaí River valley has been categorized as the Araçuaí Belt or the Araçuaí Orogen, a confined orogen. Its Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n counterpart is known as the West Congo Belt, with the southern limit extending to the São Francisco Craton. Its formation is attributed to the Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
age, as a Araçuaí-West Congo Orogen, a single belt of the Araçuaí-West Congo Orogen, also known as the Brasiliano-Pan-African orogen. The world's largest pegmatite
Pegmatite
A pegmatite is a very crystalline, intrusive igneous rock composed of interlocking crystals usually larger than 2.5 cm in size; such rocks are referred to as pegmatitic....
deposits, with gemstones
Gemstones
Gemstones is the third solo album by Adam Green, released in 2005. The album is characterised by the heavy presence of Wurlitzer piano, whereas its predecessor relied on a string section in its instrumentation.-Track listing:#Gemstones – 2:24...
such as emeralds, topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
, aquamarine and tourmaline are found in these geological formations. The Pegmaties also have lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
-bearing strata in the Aricuai-Itinga region of the Jequithinhona valley in the province; 2500 tonnes of petalite
Petalite
Petalite, also known as castorite, is a lithium aluminium tectosilicate mineral LiAlSi4O10, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. Petalite is a member of the feldspathoid group. It occurs as colorless, grey, yellow, yellow grey, to white tabular crystals and columnar masses. Occurs in...
was exported in the past, in addition to domestic consumption of 1600 tonnes. Other by-products produced included lepidolite
Lepidolite
Lepidolite Lepidolite Lepidolite (KLi2Al(Al,Si)3O10(F,OH)2 is a lilac-gray or rose-colored phyllosilicate mineral of the mica group that is a secondary source of lithium. It is associated with other lithium-bearing minerals like spodumene in pegmatite bodies. It is one of the major sources of the...
, amblygonite
Amblygonite
Amblygonite is a fluorophosphate mineral, AlPO4, composed of lithium, sodium, aluminium, phosphate, fluoride and hydroxide. The mineral occurs in pegmatite deposits and is easily mistaken for albite and other feldspars. Its density, cleavage and flame test for lithium are diagnostic. Amblygonite...
(used for conversion to lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
chemicals) and spodumene
Spodumene
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl2, and is a source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite , yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size...
.
Water resources
A water management system is under implementation, which envisages to provide water supply and sanitation services to the AracuaiAraçuaí
Araçuaí is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais in the Jequitinhonha River valley. The Araçuaí River, a tribuatary of the Jequitinhonha, flows through it.. Its population as of 2007 was estimated to be 36,083 people living in a total area of 2,235 km²....
and Carbonita
Carbonita
Carbonita is a municipality in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 10,145 in a total area of 1,454 km². The elevation of the town center is 751 meters. It is part of the IBGE statistical meso-region of Jequitinhonha and the micro-region of...
cities. Under this plan, funded by 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...
, with a loan of US$ 198 million with 20% matching funds shared by the concerned two city municipalities, reservoirs and distribution network have been proposed to benefit a population of 47,000 in the two cities with sanitation facilities. IGAM, the Minas Gerais state water management body facilitated this project on the river, from November 2002.
Power development
In 1990, $50 million was reported to have been spent on two sets of generators for the Santa Rita Dam on the Araçuaí River, with the purpose of generating 75 megawatts.
Aqua fauna
One of the rear fish species found in 1874 in the Araçuaí River is the Steindachnerina elegansSteindachneridion
Steindachneridion is a genus of South American Pimelodid catfish .-Taxonomy:The first species of the genus, S. parahybae, was described in 1877 by Franz Steindachner under the name Platystoma parahybae. Later, Carl H. Eigenmann and Rosa Smith Eigenmann described Steindachneridia, named for...
or curimatus elegans Steindachnerina
Steindachneridion
Steindachneridion is a genus of South American Pimelodid catfish .-Taxonomy:The first species of the genus, S. parahybae, was described in 1877 by Franz Steindachner under the name Platystoma parahybae. Later, Carl H. Eigenmann and Rosa Smith Eigenmann described Steindachneridia, named for...
(Steindachneridion is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n Pimelodid catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
). During a field study of fish species in the Jequitinhonha basin of which Araçuaí River valley is a sub basin, 19 species were identified including "Astyanax
Astyanax
In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe. His birth name was Scamandrius , but the people of Troy nicknamed him Astyanax In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of...
lacustris; Astyanax
Astyanax
In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe. His birth name was Scamandrius , but the people of Troy nicknamed him Astyanax In Greek mythology, Astyanax was the son of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and Princess Andromache of...
rivularis; Characidium
Characium
Characium is a genus of algae, in the family Characiaceae.-Species List:* C. acuminatum* C. ambiguum* C. angustum* C. astipitatum* C. braunii* C. bulgariense* C. cerassiforme* C. conicum* C. epipyxis...
sp 1; Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family of order Characiformes. The Hyphessobrycon species are among the fishes known as tetras. All species of this genus are native to the Neotropic ecozone in South America.-Taxonomy:This large genus of characins includes over 100...
sp.; Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus pulcher
Hemigrammus pulcher is a semi-popular aquarium species, also known as the pretty tetra, garnet tetra or black wedge tetra ...
sp.; Hoplias malabaricus
Erythrinidae
The Erythrinidae are a family of freshwater fish found in rivers from Costa Rica south as far as Argentina. They are common and are usually caught with hooks by fishermen, partially because of their voracious behaviour....
; Parotocinclus
Parotocinclus
Parotocinclus is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:By an analysis published in 2005, Parotocinclus is not a monophyletic genus. P. jumbo is not closely related to P. maculicauda, but is positioned, instead, as a basal lineage of the Hypoptopomatinae. Additionally, P....
sp.; Otothyris travassosi
Otothyris travassosi
Otothyris travassosi is a species of catfish of the family Loricariidae....
; Hypostomus
Hypostomus
Hypostomus is the largest genus of the armored catfish family Loricariidae. It includes the popular freshwater aquarium fish Plecostomus...
sp.; Hypostominae
Hypostominae
Hypostominae is a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.Studies conducted with representatives of some genera of Hypostominae showed that within thisgroup, the diploid number ranges from 2n = 52 to 2n = 80...
; Pimelodella
Pimelodella
Pimelodella is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.Pimelodella is the largest genus in the family. However, it is in need of taxonomic revision....
sp.; Rhamdia
Rhamdia
Rhamdia is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.The monophyly of Rhamdia is not yet established.Rhamdia catfishes are nocturnal, opportunistic carnivores. This genus includes a number of troglobitic members, encompassing a number of taxa, including R. quelen urichi, R. laticauda...
jequitinhonha
Jequitinhonha
Jequitinhonha is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais.The population as of 2007 was estimated to be 23,982 people living in a total area of 3,518 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion of Jequitinhonha and to the microregion of Almenara. ...
; Trichomycterus jequitinhonha
Trichomycterus
Trichomycterus is a genus of catfishes, the largest genus in the family Trichomycteridae with over 100 species currently described.-Taxonomy:This genus is defined by the lack of specializations found in other trichomycterids and is certainly polyphyletic...
; Trichomycterus itacambiruçu
Trichomycterus
Trichomycterus is a genus of catfishes, the largest genus in the family Trichomycteridae with over 100 species currently described.-Taxonomy:This genus is defined by the lack of specializations found in other trichomycterids and is certainly polyphyletic...
; Trichomycterus
Trichomycterus
Trichomycterus is a genus of catfishes, the largest genus in the family Trichomycteridae with over 100 species currently described.-Taxonomy:This genus is defined by the lack of specializations found in other trichomycterids and is certainly polyphyletic...
sp.n. 2; Poecilia reticulata; Geophagus brasiliensis
Geophagus brasiliensis
The pearl cichlid is a freshwater fish species, a member of the South American Cichlid family. Cichlid species are popular in fishkeeping aquaria.-Appearance:...
; Oreochromis niloticus
Oreochromis niloticus
The Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a relatively large cichlid fish, which is native to Africa from Egypt south to East and Central Africa, and as far west as Gambia. It is also native to Israel, and numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range.It is also commercially...
; and Synbranchus marmoratus
Swamp eel
The swamp eels are a family of freshwater eel-like fishes of the worldwide tropics.-Description:...
.