Fishing near Petrolina, Pernambuco

Petrolina sits on the right bank of the Rio São Francisco in the Sertão of Pernambuco, directly across from Juazeiro, Bahia. The river — locally called Velho Chico — is the defining water here, wide enough that its sandy banks are known as praias. Upstream, the Represa de Sobradinho adds a large reservoir to the regional fishing picture. Fish dishes are a staple of local cuisine, reflecting how central the river has always been to life in the Vale do São Francisco.