Overview:

is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Completed in 1984, it was the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world until the Three Gorges Dam in China was completed in 2012. The Itaipu Dam is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Brazil and Paraguay and provides electricity to both countries. It is operated jointly by Brazil and Paraguay under the treaty of Itaipu. The Itaipu Dam is a bi-national project owned by Brazil (84.7%) and Paraguay (15.3%). The Dam is named after an islet in the Paraná River which has the same name. It is located 20 km north of the Friendship Bridge, which connects the two countries. The Itaipu Dam is 201 m high and 7.9 km long with a total storage capacity of 38.4 km3. The power plant is powered by 20 generating units with a capacity of 700 MW each, resulting in a total installed capacity of 14,000 MW. The plant generates around 103 TWh per year and is the single largest contributor to South America's energy grid. The water released from the Itaipu Dam flows through the Paraná River and into the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Brazil
Prominent Features:

1. Itaipu is the world's largest producer of hydroelectric power in terms of energy generation, providing approximately 75% of Paraguay's and 19% of Brazil's electricity. 2. The dam features a total of 20 Francis turbines, each with 700 MW capacity making it the world’s second-largest hydroelectric power station behind the Three Gorges Dam in China. 3. The reservoir, with a total area of 1,350 km², is one of the largest in the world. It is also the largest artificially created lake in Brazil. 4. The construction of the dam caused the displacement of 14,000 people, most of whom were relocated to nearby cities. 5. The dam also serves as an important environmental preserve and numerous species of birds and mammals have been spotted around the lake created by the dam. 6. Itaipu Dam is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the region, with over 2 million international visitors per year. 7. There is also a visitors centre located at the dam, offering access to its top and bottom galleries, while also boasting breathtaking views of the dam's structures up to the lake. 8. Apart from hydroelectric power production, Itaipú also works to preserve the local fauna and flora, visitors can observe the activities of local educational projects safeguarding the area's native species. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Brazil.

History:

The Itaipu Dam in Brazil was built to provide energy and is considered one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world. It was commissioned in 1983 by the governments of Brazil and Paraguay, and construction began in 1975. The Itaipu project was a major engineering feat. Construction of the dam and its related infrastructure was completed in 1982, and the first turbine was commissioned in 1984. The project cost an estimated $20 million, making it one of the most expensive infrastructure projects ever undertaken in South America. At the time of its construction, it was one of the ten largest hydroelectric power plants in the world. The dam created a lake of 4,344km2 in size which was used to contribute to the energy produced by the turbines. Itaipu generates 14,000 megawatts of power and supplies close to 75% of Brazil’s energy needs. Today, Itaipu is considered to be a model for sustainable development, with the addition of a nature reserve and other green initiatives implemented to preserve the environment and local biodiversity. It has also been recognized by the United Nations Development Program as a “Global 500” project for its sustainable development efforts. Visit one of the famous monuments of Brazil with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Itaipu is the world’s largest operational hydroelectric power plant, producing more electricity than any dam except the Three Gorges Dam in China. 2. Itaipu Dam is a binational venture between Brazil and Paraguay; designed by a joint team of Brazilian and Paraguayan engineers. 3. It was built between 1975-1991 and reaches nearly 1 mile in width and 720 feet in height. 4. It spans nearly 3 miles across the Paraná River border, separating Brazil and Paraguay. 5. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $20 billion. 6. Itaipu is estimated to have an annual power production of 104.5 billion kilowatt hours annually, of which around 89 percent is exported to Brazil. 7. In 2016, Itaipu was designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 8. The dam also serves as a protected wildlife area for more than 1,000 species of plants and 200 species of animals, including endangered species such as the giant otter, giant anteater and jaguar. One of the historical monuments of Brazil, it tells the story of a bygone era