PARANAPANEMA RIVER

Portuguese Rio Paranapanema, river, rising south of So Paulo in the Serra do Paranapiacaba, southeastern Brazil, and flowing in a west-northwesterly direction for 560 mi (900 km) before entering the Paran River at Prto So Jos. After receiving the Itarar, it forms part of the So PauloParan state border. There are numerous rapids along its course, which is navigable only for the last 50 mi. Dam-flood control projects are near Piraju and Jacarzinho. Coffee and cotton are grown in the river basin, which occupies part of the fertile Paran Plateau. Tributaries include the Rio das Cinzas and Rio Tibagi, the latter having an important hydroelectric station near Monte Alegre.