Sobradinho Reservoir

Sobradinho Reservoir is an artificial lake on the São Francisco River in the state of Bahia, Brazil, created by the construction of Sobradinho Dam and completed in 1979. It is one of Brazil’s largest reservoirs by surface area and an important regional water and power resource.

The reservoir forms an extensive inland water body with long, irregular shorelines. Visitors use the area for boating, sport fishing and shoreline observation; the nearby town of Sobradinho is the principal service and access point for tours and local fishing activity.

The reservoir was formed when the Sobradinho Dam was built on the São Francisco River in the 1970s as part of a regional hydroelectric and water-management program. The dam and lake submerged roads, farmland and settlements and reshaped the regional economy around fishing and hydropower.

The lake sits in north-central Bahia on the São Francisco River, with the town of Sobradinho on its shore and other small municipalities along its banks. The landscape around the reservoir is semi-arid caatinga and irrigated river valley rather than coastal or mountainous terrain.

• Viewpoints: Best viewing from the dam and the town waterfront where broad panoramas of the lake and shoreline are visible at low and high water levels.
• Water levels: Water level fluctuates seasonally with the São Francisco River flow, affecting shoreline extent and boat access.

What to See #

• Sobradinho Dam: The dam that created the reservoir, completed in 1979, houses a hydroelectric plant operated by Brazil's federal utility and marks the upstream end of the impounded section of the São Francisco River.
• Sobradinho town: The town of Sobradinho sits on the reservoir's shore and serves as the main access point for boat trips, fishing charters and viewpoint access to the lake.