The lake of the Balbina Hydroelectric Power Plant is located on the Uatumã River, in the north-eastern part of the state of Amazonas, under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo. The dam was built from 1985 to 1989 and the first of five generators went into operation in February 1989. The dam floods an area of 2,360 square kilometres. As a result, the methane released from its vast reservoir, proportional to its output, the Balbina dam emits more greenhouse gases than most coal-fired power stations, mainly because its flooded area has not been deforested. The dam is one of the least efficient in Brazil in terms of flooded area.

Source: Amazon Agency