- Três Marias
Três Marias is a small Brazilian city in northwestern
Minas Gerais . In 2007 the population was 26,431 in a total area of 2,763 km². [ [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/default.php IBGE] ]Climate
The
climate is tropical semi-humid, with an annual averagetemperature of 22.5degrees Celsius , and an average annual maximum of 28.8 °F; average annual minimum: 16.5 °C; average annual rainfall: 1442 mm. The altitude varies between 504 and 975 meters. [ [http://www.tresmarias-mg.com.br/ Prefeitura municipal] ]Location
Três Marias is located at the north end of one of the largest reservoirs in Brazil--the
Represa Três Marias --and is close to thedam which controls water entering the São Francisco river. The city lies on the important federal highway BR-040, which linksBelo Horizonte toBrasília . Neighboring municipalities are:Buritizeiro ,Lassance , (N),Felixlândia (S),Corinto (E)Morada Nova andSão Gonçalo do Abaeté (W)Distances
*Belo Horizonte : 276 km
*Brasília : 438 km
*João Pinheiro : 130 km
*Patos de Minas : 170 kmTrês Marias Statistical Micro-region
Três Marias is also a statistical microregion including the following municipalities:
Abaeté ,Biquinhas ,Cedro do Abaeté ,Morada Nova de Minas ,Paineiras ,Pompeu , andTrês Marias . In 2000 the population was 89,092 inhabitants in a total area of 10,541.70 km². The population density was 8.45 inhab/km² (2000) [ [http://www.citybrazil.com.br/mg/regioes/tresmarias/ Citybrazil] ]Economic Activities
The economy is based on agriculture, cattle raising, tourism, light industry and the informal economy. The GDP in 2005 was R$ 839 million, of which 515 million was generated by industry--namely, the hydroelectric plant of Três Marias. There were 03 banks. The number of automobiles for the municipality was 3,708 (2007), one for every 7 inhabitants. In 2006 the largest employer was public administration with around 1,200 workers.
In the rural area there were 420 establishments on 113,000 hectares. More than half of the area was natural pasture. 1,500 persons were occupied in agriculture. 74 of the farms had tractors, a ratio of one in six. The cattle herd had 28,000 head. The main crops were rice, sugarcane, corn, and soybeans. In general terms the agricultural production was modest for a municipality of such a large area. [ [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/default.php IBGE] ]
Health and Education
In 2005 there were 19 clinics (14 public and 05 private) and 01 hospital (private) with 50 beds. The nearest cities with advanced health care were
Patos de Minas , 170 km, andBelo Horizonte , 276 km. There were 15 pre-primary schools (10 public and 05 private), 24 primary schools (19 public and 05 private), and 04 middle schools (02 public and 02 private). There was a branch of one public institute of higher learning. [ [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/default.php IBGE] ]Origin of the name
There are several versions of stories that explain the name of the city. There are those who affirm, based on
astronomy , that it is because of the threestar s belonging to theconstellation Orion, and that are permanently visible in this region.Another possible source of the name are the three
waterfall s that once existed where the reservoir would eventually be built.But the most popular explanation refers to three sisters who lived on the right bank of the river. This version talks of a couple who lived on the bank of the river who had triplets, a rare case even today. The story goes that their birth was a topic of subject of much discussion, with its fame spreading throughout the region. They were three beautiful girls all called Maria. But the waterfall where the couple lived with their three daughters began to be called the Waterfall of the Three Marias, which disappeared after the building of the dam. The legend adds that the three Marias died by drowning in the river. However, as there is no documentary evidence in any registrar to prove its veracity, the tale remains anecdotal. The less poetic, official name of the
hydroelectric station is "Bernardo Mascarenhas". [ [http://www.tresmarias-mg.com.br/ Prefeitura municipal] ]The lake and dam of Tres Marias
The lake of Tres Marias began with the damming of the
São Francisco River , formed by the construction of one of the largest earth dams in the world. The objectives were to control the flow of water of the river in the periodical floods and improve navegability; the use ofhydroelectric power and the development of industry and irrigation. Begun in1957 , this great project was finished in January1961 , almost a world record in this type of construction.The dam is 2,700 meters long with a base of 600 and a height of 75 meters. Its plant produces 396,000 KW of power. The lake, known as the "Sweet Sea of Minas", has 21 billion square meters of water, a surface area of 1,040 square kilometers (8.7 times greater than
Guanabara Bay ), and provides water to 8 municipalities; one of the many islands formed in the lake is anecological station ; the Estação Ecologica de Pirapitinga.The speed of construction was due to the commitment of President
Juscelino Kibitschek , who also completed the bridge over the São Francisco river, theBR 040 highway, and the new federal capital. The construction of the dam was carried out in two shifts, using approximately 10,000 workers. [ [http://www.tresmarias-mg.com.br/ Prefeitura municipal] ]References
ee also
*
List of municipalities in Minas Gerais External links
* [http://www.tresmarias-mg.com.br/ Official site of Três Marias]
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