Balbina Dam

The Balbina Dam (Portuguese "Usina Hidrelétrica de Balbina") is a hydroelectric dam and power plant on the Uatumã River in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil. The location is under the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo jurisdiction, in the state of Amazonas.

It was built from 1985 to 1989 and is managed by Manaus Energia, under the Eletronorte system. The first of five generators began operating in February 1989. The dam generates an average of 112.2 MW of electricity from the river system and floods a total of 2360 km² of rainforest [cite web|author=Philip M. Fearnside|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/l0504508pv1632u2/|title= Balbina Dam, Amazonas|publisher=Department of Ecology, National Institute for Research in the Amazon (INPA)|date=2006-08-26|accessdate=2007-12-04]

The dam was established to provide a renewable electricity supply to the city of Manaus but was considered by locals a controversial project from the start, due to the loss of forest and displacement of tribal homes grounds such as the Amerindian tribe. It was also criticized for its expensive construction and maintenance costs. [ [http://www.cepa.if.usp.br/energia/energia1999/Grupo2B/Hidraulica/balbina.htm Balbina ] ] .

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