- Address: Avenida Tancredo Neves, 6.731, Foz do Iguaçu - PR, 85856-970
- Phone: + 595 61 599 8094
- Website: www.itaipu.gov.py
- E-mail: cturistico@itaipu.gov.py
- Opening date: 1984.
- Working hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Height: 196 m
- Length of the dam: 7235 m
In 2016, Itapu HPP produced more than 103 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, and became the only hydroelectric power plant in the world that achieved such indicators. This fact undoubtedly caused great interest to the power station and a lot of questions: where is the Itaipa HPP located? What are its dimensions? Where does the electricity produced by it go?
The world's most powerful Itaipu HPP is on the Parana River - just on the border of Brazil and Paraguay , 20 km from Foz do Iguaçu, the famous tourist center, the "three-border city", where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are in contact. Thanks to this, Itaipa HPP is easy to find on the map.
Characteristics of the dam and hydroelectric power station
The Itaipu dam was erected on the "base" of the island at the mouth of Parana, in honor of which it received its name. In translation from Guarani this word means "sounding stone". Preparatory work on construction began in 1971, but the work was not started until 1979. In the rock, a 150-meter canal was cut through, which became the new channel of Parana, and only after the drying of the main riverbed did the construction of the hydroelectric station begin.
When it was erected, almost 64 million cubic meters of land and rock were removed, and 12.6 million cubic meters of concrete and 15 million of soil were consumed. The reservoir was filled with water in 1982, and in 1984 the first power generators were commissioned.
Itapu provides Paraguay with electricity by 100%, and also satisfies more than 20% of Brazil's needs. The plant has 20 generators with a capacity of 700 megawatts. Most of the time due to the excess of the design head their capacity is 750 MW. Some of the generators operate at a frequency of 50 Hz (it is adopted for Paraguayan power networks), part of it is 60 Hz (the frequency of electricity in Brazil); while part of the energy "produced for Paraguay" is converted and supplied to Brazil.
Itaipu is not only the most powerful hydroelectric power station in the world, but also one of the two largest hydraulic structures. The Itaipu dam strikes with its dimensions: its height is 196 m, and its length is more than 7 km. HPP Itaipu even produces a stunning impression even in the photo, and the "live" spectacle without exaggeration is unforgettable. The Itaipu dam on Paraná forms a reservoir, the area of which is 1350 square meters. km. In 1994, HPP was recognized as one of the wonders of the world.
How to visit HPP?
You can visit the Itaipa hydroelectric station on any day of the week. The first excursion takes place at 8:00, then every hour, the last one starts at 16:00. The excursion also includes viewing a small film telling about the construction and operation of the dam. You can get on the tour as part of a pre-formed group, or independently, but in the latter case you should have a passport or other identification document.
A visit to Itaipu is free. Should wear comfortable shoes, although the tour and is not a pedestrian - on the dam visitors carry on a special bus. In addition, sightseers will see the generator room, located 139 m below sea level.
The Museum
At the hydropower plant, the Guarani land museum Itaipu works. You can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00. To get to the museum, you also need to have an identity document with you.