The das Velhas river has been of great importance in the development of the central region of Minas Gerais, because it is one of the main roads by which the gold cycle evolved.

From its source, the das Velhas River passes through other historical cities in the region, among which Sabará, Santa Luzia, Belo Horizonte etc.

The dispute over the existing mines led to the War of the Emboabas, at the end of which the Minas Gerais region became a captaincy administered directly by the Portuguese crown.

Behind the station the river receives a great quantity of sewage from the Arrudas and Onça streams, both crossing the city of Belo Horizonte.

Because of the historic and environmental importance the Manuelzão project was initiated in 1997 by the Medical Faculty of the University of Minas Gerais, with the goal of finding a way to bring back life in the basin of the Das Velhas.