Santo Antonio Dam

Construction of the Santo Antonio dam near Porto Velho in Brazil's western Amazonian state of Rondonia. The 7.7 billion dollar dam on the Madeira River is the center of a new round of the age-old question of environment versus development. Proponents say tha Brazil needs more energy to grow and that the energy output per square kilometer of flooded area is one of the best ever. Detractors complain that fish stocks and indigenous populations will suffer.The dam will go online in December 2011 and make the Madeira River navegable for the first time - giving Bolivia access to the Atlantic ocean. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

brasilbrazilamazonhydroelectricenergyenvironmentflooddevelopmentengle20091117105557