Sobradinho Reservoir

Sobradinho Reservoir
Location of  Sobradinho Reservoir in Brazil.
Location of  Sobradinho Reservoir in Brazil.
Sobradinho Reservoir
Location within Brazil
Interactive map of Sobradinho Reservoir
LocationSobradinho, Brazil
Coordinates09°22′00″S 40°54′00″W / 9.36667°S 40.90000°W / -9.36667; -40.90000
São Francisco River
São Francisco River
498,425 km2 (192,443 mi2)
Basin countriesBrazil
First flooded
1982
Surface area
4,214 km2 (1,627 mi2)
Average depth
8.6 m (28.2 ft)
Max. depth30 m (98 ft)
Water volume
34,100,000,000 m3 (1.20×1012 ft3)
Residence time0.35 years
Surface elevation
392.5 m (1,287.7 ft)


The Sobradinho Reservoir (Portuguese: Lago de Sobradinho) is a large reservoir located in Sobradinho, north of the Brazilian state of Bahia. The reservoir measures approximately 320 km (200 mi) long, 4,214 km2 (1,627 mi2) in surface area, and a storage capacity of 34.1 km3 (8.2 mi3) at its nominal elevation of 392.5 m (1,287.7 ft), making it the 15th largest reservoir (artificial lake) in the world. The lake encloses the waters of the São Francisco River, one of the largest and most important rivers in Brazil.

A Satellite picture of Sobradinho Reservoir in August 2018.

The reservoir, which represents 60.4% of the hydroelectric power resources of the Northeast of Brazil, has conditions to guarantee the power supply for the region for two years but its water level is highly variable. In some drought years the energy supply is threatened.