The "Hydrobusinesses" in the rivers of the Amazon

Abstract

This paper focuses on Amazon rivers history as "hydrobusiness" systems. It is based on sources of historiographical production from recordings of water use and representations using analysis of river appropriation, in the context of regional development planning between 1950 and 1985, which emphasized progress and economic growth. The sources used were speeches, legislation, government plans and reports, and dialogue with classic and contemporaneous bibliography concerning the various aspects of interactions between rivers and human societies. The sources showed that Amazon rivers have played a central role in territory occupation, circulation of people, ideas, merchandise and subsumption of water as a propelling force for industrial and urban operation, notably large mining and metallurgical projects. New meanings have been assigned to the waters: kilowatts and commodities, relegating to an inferior condition the traditional relations between the Amazon and its communities.