It was constructed for hydroelectric power production and flood control.

In August 1981, the dam began to impound the reservoir and the first generator became operation in 1982, the last in 1983.

The dam was inaugurated in 1983 by Brazilian president João Batista Figueiredo.

[1] The dam is 1,507 metres (4,944 ft) long and 158 metres (518 ft) tall and withholds a reservoir with a capacity of 17.6 cubic kilometres (14,300,000 acre⋅ft) and surface area of 703 square kilometres (271 sq mi).

The dam's power plant contains four 298 megawatts (400,000 hp) generators powered by Francis turbines for a total installed capacity of 1,192 megawatts (1,598,000 hp).