Paraíba do Sul
| Rio Paraíba do Sul | |
|---|---|
The Rio Paraíba do Sul near Jacareí, SP | |
Paraíba do Sul watershed (Interactive map) | |
| Location | |
| Country | Brazil |
| state | São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Atlantic Ocean, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil |
• coordinates | 21°37′S 41°01′W / 21.62°S 41.01°W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 1,137 km (706 mi) |
| Basin size | 56,000 km2 |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Rio Muriaé, Rio Pomba, Rio Paraibuna, Rio Jaguari |
| • right | Rio Dois Rios, Rio Piaha, Rio Paraí |
The Paraíba do Sul (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁi.u paɾaˈibɐ du ˈsuw]), or simply Paraíba, is a river in southeast Brazil. It flows 1,137 km (706 mi) west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga to the sea near Campos dos Goytacazes. The river receives its name when it meets the river Paraibuna at the Paraibuna dam.
Its main tributaries are the rivers Jaguari, Buquira, Paraibuna, Preto, Pomba and Muriaé. These last two are the longest and join the main river 140 km (87 mi) and 50 km (31 mi) from the mouth respectively .
The valley of the Paraíba do Sul ranges from the latitudes 20°26' and 23°39'S and the longitudes of 41° and 46°30'W and covers an area of about 57,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi) distributed over three states. The main economic activities are industry and cattle raising.