Xingu River: Difference between revisions
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==Fish== |
==Fish== |
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The numerous rapids prevent most migratory fish from using the river. More than 450 fish species have been documented in the Xingu River Basin and it is estimated that the total is around 600 fish species, including many [[endemics]].<ref>Camargo, M., T. Giarrizzo and V. Isaac (2004). ''Review of the geographic distribution of fish fauna in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil.'' [[Ecotropica]] 10: 123–147</ref> At least 193 fish species living in rapids are known from the lower Xingu |
The numerous rapids prevent most migratory fish from using the river. More than 450 fish species have been documented in the Xingu River Basin and it is estimated that the total is around 600 fish species, including many [[endemics]].<ref>Camargo, M., T. Giarrizzo and V. Isaac (2004). ''Review of the geographic distribution of fish fauna in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil.'' [[Ecotropica]] 10: 123–147</ref> At least 193 fish species living in rapids are known from the lower Xingu and at least 26 of these are endemic.<ref name=Hyland/> From 2008 to 2018 alone, 24 new fish species have been described from the river<ref name=Hyland>Hyland, T: ''[http://exelmagazine.org/article/race-against-time/ Race against time.]'' Retrieved 4 June 2014.</ref><ref name=Sousa2018>{{cite journal| author1=Sousa, L.M. | author2=M.S. Chaves | author3=A. Akama | author4=J. Zuanon | author5=M.H. Sabaj | year=2018 | title=Platydoras birindellii, new species of striped raphael catfish (Siluriformes: Doradidae) from the Xingu Basin, Brazil | journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia | volume=166 | issue=1 | pages=1–13 | doi=10.1635/053.166.0106 }}</ref> Many species are seriously threatened by the dam, which will significantly alter the flow in the Volta Grande rapids<ref>Ekström, J. (23 December 2007) ''[http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=360 Hydroelectric dam constructions in Amazonas.]'' Retrieved 10 February 2013.</ref><ref>Survival International (2009). ''[http://assets.survivalinternational.org/documents/266/Experts_Panel_BeloMonte_summary_oct2009.pdf Experts Panel Assesses Belo Monte Dam Viability].'' Retrieved 10 February 2013.</ref> |
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==Sources and footnotes== |
==Sources and footnotes== |
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* |
*Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon, 2003, Chapters 1,2,3 and 8. |
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*footnotes {{reflist}} |
*footnotes {{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 04:21, 8 October 2020
The Xingu River (/ʃiːŋˈɡuː/ sheeng-GOO; Portuguese: Rio Xingu, Portuguese pronunciation: [ʃĩˈɡu]) is a long north-flowing river in the eastern Amazon basin of Brazil. It is the easternmost major tributary of the Amazon. To the east is the Tocantins River, a small part of which may enter the Amazon. To the west is the Tapajos River.
It is about 2100km long, about as long as the Ohio River and its Allegheny tributary. Its basin is about 504,000 km2, roughly the size of France, and makes up about 7.3 percent of the Amazon basin.[1] Its average discharge is about 9,700 m3 /s, which contributes about 4-5% of the Amazon’s waters. Since it is a clearwater river flowing off the Brazilian Highlands it contributes relatively little sediment to the main river.
The river can rise as much as five meters. High water is in Mar-Apr and low water is in Sep-Oct, although this varies with location. At Altamira in the period 1971-1995 the highest flow was 32,298 and lowest flow 808 m3/s. [2].
Description
Its mouth is about 420 km from the Atlantic. Ocean tides are felt about 100km up the Xingu. The lower river north of the Big Bend is very broad, at least at high water.
About 180km south of the mouth (in a straight line) is the Volta Grande or Big Bend where the river makes an S-curve. The Trans-Amazonian Highway crosses here. Near the highway is the Belo Monte Dam. The river drops a few hundred feet to the Amazon lowland and the numerous cataracts are a major divide for aquatic life. The rapids tended to block European expansion upriver.
About 270km south of the Amazon the Xingu's major tributary, the Iriri River, joins from the west. It flows north perhaps 500km before turning east to join the Xingu. To the west is the low Serra do Cachimbo which separates the basins of the Xingu and Tapajos.
South of the Big Bend it flows northward about 900km through undeveloped rainforest. The exception is a significant area of deforestation and development near São Félix do Xingu where the Fresco River comes in from the east. This is about 550km south of the mouth. About 900km south of its mouth in enters Pará from Mato Grosso. The headwaters of the Xingu in Mato Grosso was one of the last parts of Brazil to be reached by Europeans. For this see Xingu Indigenous Park.
It flows through the Amazonian rainforest except for some scrub-savanna at its headwaters. Around half of its basin is in conservation units. The areas of deforestation are along the Trans-Amazon highway, a projection from the east near São Felix do Xingu and on three sides of the headwaters area.
The only developed crossings appear to be the Trans-Amazon Highway and a dirt road with ferry in Mato Grosso west of São José do Xingu. The only notable towns are Porto de Moz near the mouth, Vitória do Xingu, Altamira, Para on the Big Bend and São Felix.
Historical tribes were, from north to south, the Apenqu at the mouth, the Taconyape, Juruna along most of the river, then the Kayapo and the tribes of the Xingu Indigenous Park.
Fish
The numerous rapids prevent most migratory fish from using the river. More than 450 fish species have been documented in the Xingu River Basin and it is estimated that the total is around 600 fish species, including many endemics.[3] At least 193 fish species living in rapids are known from the lower Xingu and at least 26 of these are endemic.[4] From 2008 to 2018 alone, 24 new fish species have been described from the river[4][5] Many species are seriously threatened by the dam, which will significantly alter the flow in the Volta Grande rapids[6][7]
Sources and footnotes
- Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon, 2003, Chapters 1,2,3 and 8.
- footnotes
- ^ per Smithonian Atlas. Other sources have different figures and it is not clear why they differ. It is also not clear which branch is the official headwaters.
- ^ GRDC - Amazon Basin - Station: Altamira
- ^ Camargo, M., T. Giarrizzo and V. Isaac (2004). Review of the geographic distribution of fish fauna in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil. Ecotropica 10: 123–147
- ^ a b Hyland, T: Race against time. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ Sousa, L.M.; M.S. Chaves; A. Akama; J. Zuanon; M.H. Sabaj (2018). "Platydoras birindellii, new species of striped raphael catfish (Siluriformes: Doradidae) from the Xingu Basin, Brazil". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 166 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1635/053.166.0106.
- ^ Ekström, J. (23 December 2007) Hydroelectric dam constructions in Amazonas. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Survival International (2009). Experts Panel Assesses Belo Monte Dam Viability. Retrieved 10 February 2013.