The Rio Jequitinhonha is one of eastern Brazil's most significant river systems, originating near Diamantina in the Espinhaço Mountains (Serra do Espinhaço) at an elevation of approximately 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) in Minas Gerais state. From its headwaters, the river flows northward and then east-northeastward across the uplands before descending to the coastal plain at the city of Jequitinhonha, ultimately emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Belmonte in Bahia state after a total course of approximately 1,090 kilometres (680 miles). The river drains a basin of roughly 78,451 square kilometres and passes through one of the more remote and historically underserved regions of Minas Gerais. One of its most dramatic natural features is the Cachoeira do Salto Grande near Salto da Divisa, a waterfall standing 43 metres (141 feet) high. Major tributaries include the Araçuaí, Piauí, São Miguel, Itacambiruçu, Salinas, São Pedro, and São Francisco rivers, all of which contribute to the basin's remarkable aquatic biodiversity.