Itaipu HPP is one of the 7 wonders of the world

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

For the construction of this miracle of engineering, the path of one of America's great rivers was changed, and implacable enemies had to join forces. Today it is the largest power plant in the world, on a par with the Three Gorges in China. All this is about the Itaipu hydroelectric power station, which is located on the border of Paraguay and Brazil.

Water resource

Today, the Itaipu HPP generates 103.9 million MWh. This fully provides Paraguay with electricity and 1/5 covers the needs of Brazil. And in the 1970s, the banks of the Parana River on the map was an impenetrable jungle. In addition, the river flows exactly along the border of completely non-peaceful states - Brazil and Paraguay.

But common sense and the need for electricity overcame hostility and an agreement on cooperation between these countries in the construction of the largest dam on America's greatest river was signed.

Taming the River

The construction of this structure, which began in 1975, lasted 18 years and cost $27 billion. On its constructionemployed 49 thousand workers. 50 million tons of soil were dug out, this would be enough for 8 Channel tunnels. 12.3 million cubic meters of concrete were used, which would be enough for 210 football stadiums. Iron and steel "Itaipu" would be enough for 400 Eiffel Towers.

In order to let the Parana River (on the map below) run in a different direction, a channel 3 kilometers long, about 90 meters deep and 150 meters wide, was pierced in the rocks.

There were no casu alties

To ensure the construction of their homes and farms had to leave about 10 thousand inhabitants of the area. In addition, 100 square kilometers of arable land had to be sacrificed for the reservoir.

Great work has been done by conservation organizations to relocate wild animals.

And the Guaira Saint Quedas waterfalls have gone forever into the base of the dam. This miracle of nature from seven cascades from a height of 40 meters dropped water 6 times more than Niagara Falls. In January 1982, thousands of locals and tourists came to say goodbye to the falls. The wooden bridge gave way and a tragic accident claimed 80 lives.

General data

18 Itaipu HPP generators were commissioned in 1991. In 2007, 2 more generators were commissioned. Interestingly, the 700-megawatt generators are divided equally between the parties to the binary agreement.

This largest hydroelectric power station includes the following facilities:

• The dam, the length of which is 7235 meters, the width -400 meters, height - 196 meters.
• Spillway with a flow of 62200 m/s.
• Fish channel on the Brazilian part of the dam.

14 GW hydroelectric capacity, 98 billion kWh average annual output.

The dam of the station formed a reservoir 170 kilometers long, 12 kilometers wide with a total water surface area of 1350 square kilometers. The depth of the reservoir is 100 meters, and they were filled with water for 14 days.

Maximum energy production was achieved in 2016 and amounted to 103.1 billion kWh.

The area of the station is such that workers inside the facility move on bicycles.

The very best

In 1991, the Itaipu hydroelectric power station becomes the most powerful in the world - it generates 100 billion kWh of electricity per year. That's enough to light up 12 million light bulbs at the same time!

Its dam was 20 times the length of the longest dam of that time - the Hoover Dam (USA). And Russia's largest dam, the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, is 1,074 meters long.

The border of the countries of Paraguay and Brazil runs exactly in the middle of the control room of the station, the work of which is monitored in shifts by specialists from these countries.

Open to visitors

The place where the Itaipu hydroelectric power station is located is a picturesque landscape of rocks and rainforest. Many tourists come to admire the 7th wonder of the world and a grandiose evidence of engineering. All instructions are written in two languages -Portuguese and Spanish, the order of which changes depending on the side of the dam.

Visiting the station is practically free - come to the start time of the tour (from 8 am and every hour until 4 pm), put on the issued helmet and you can explore the station under the control of guides. Conditions for visiting - the presence of documents, well, decent clothes (in shorts and flip flops they may not be allowed in).

Attendance is free, you will be taken by bus along the dam. The station has park areas where you can see wild animals, and an astronomy center.

This ambitious hydroelectric project is amazing even in the photo, and seeing it with your own eyes, it will be remembered for a lifetime.