Três Marias is a Brazilian municipality΄ in northwestern Minas Gerais. In 2007 the population was 26,431 in a total area of 2,763 km2.
Climate
The climate is tropical semi-humid, with an annual average temperature of, and an average annual maximum of ; average annual minimum: ; average annual rainfall:. The altitude varies between.
The economy is based on agriculture, cattle raising, tourism, light industry and the informal economy. The GDP in 2005 was R$839 million, of which 515 million was generated by industry—namely, the hydroelectric plant of Três Marias. There were 03 banks. The number of automobiles for the municipality was 3,708, one for every 7 inhabitants. In 2006 the largest employer was public administration with around 1,200 workers. In the rural area there were 420 establishments on 113,000 hectares. More than half of the area was natural pasture. 1,500 persons were occupied in agriculture. 74 of the farms had tractors, a ratio of one in six. The cattle herd had 28,000 head. The main crops were rice, sugarcane, corn, and soybeans. In general terms the agricultural production was modest for a municipality of such a large area.
Health and education
In 2005 there were 19 clinics and 01 hospital with 50 beds. The nearest cities with advanced health care were Patos de Minas, 170 km, and Belo Horizonte, 276 km. There were 15 pre-primary schools, 24 primary schools, and 04 middle schools. There was a branch of one public institute of higher learning.
Origin of the name
There are several versions of stories that explain the name of the city. There are those who affirm, based on astronomy, that it is because of the three stars belonging to the constellation Orion, and that are permanently visible in this region. Another possible source of the name are the three waterfalls that once existed where the reservoir would eventually be built. But the most popular explanation refers to three sisters who lived on the right bank of the river. This version talks of a couple who lived on the bank of the river who had triplets, a rare case even today. The story goes that their birth was a topic of subject of much discussion, with its fame spreading throughout the region. They were three beautiful girls all called Maria. But the waterfall where the couple lived with their three daughters began to be called the Waterfall of the Three Marias, which disappeared after the building of the dam. The legend adds that the three Marias died by drowning in the river. However, as there is no documentary evidence in any registrar to prove its veracity, the tale remains anecdotal. The less poetic, official name of the hydroelectric station is "Bernardo Mascarenhas".
The lake and dam of Tres Marias
The lake of Tres Marias began with the damming of the São Francisco River, formed by the construction of one of the largest earth dams in the world. The objectives were to control the flow of water of the river in the periodical floods and improve navigability; the use of hydroelectric power and the development of industry and irrigation. Begun in 1957, this great project was finished in January 1961, almost a world record in this type of construction. The dam is long with a height of. Its plant produces 396,000 KW of power. The lake, known as the "Sweet Sea of Minas", has 21 billion cubic ms of water, a surface area of , and provides water to 8 municipalities; one of the many islands formed in the lake is an ecological station; the Estação Ecologica de Pirapitinga. The speed of construction was due to the commitment of President Juscelino Kubitschek, who also completed the bridge over the São Francisco river, the BR 040 highway, and the new federal capital. The construction of the dam was carried out in two shifts, using approximately 10,000 workers.
