| Guaíba | |
| Native Name: | Portuguese: Guaíba |
| Location: | Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Coordinates: | -30.2167°N -51.2333°W |
| Type: | Lake or river |
| Cities: | Porto Alegre |
| Pushpin Map: | Brazil |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location in Brazil. |
Guaíba (pronounced as /pt/) is a major water body in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. It is commonly referred to either as a "river" (Portuguese: Rio Guaíba) or as a "lake" (Portuguese: Lago Guaíba|link=no|label=none).[1] [2] The Jacuí River, the Sinos River, the Gravataí River and the Caí River empty into Guaíba from the north, which in its turn empties into the Lagoa dos Patos, the largest lagoon in South America further down south. The body of water covers in total.
Both Porto Alegre, the capital and most populous city of Rio Grande do Sul, and Viamão lie on its eastern shore. The cities of Guaíba, Eldorado do Sul and Barra do Ribeiro lie opposite to Porto Alegre, on the western shore. Guaíba is navigable, and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through Lagoa dos Patos and its outlet channel, located further south, near the city of Rio Grande. A major flood occurred on 3rd May 2024.[3]