To build this miracle of engineering, the path of one of the great rivers of America was changed, and the irreconcilable enemies had to join forces. Today it is the largest power plant in the world, along with the Three Gorges in China. All this about the Itaipu hydroelectric station, which is located on the border of Paraguay and Brazil.
Water resource
Today Itaypu HPP produces 103.9 million MW / h. This fully supplies Paraguay with electricity and 1/5 covers the needs of Brazil. And in the 1970s, the bank of the Parana River on the map was an impenetrable jungle. In addition, the river flows precisely along the border of completely non-peaceful states - Brazil and Paraguay.
But common sense and the need for electricity overpowered the hostility and an agreement on the cooperation of these countries in the construction of the largest dam on America's greatest river was signed.
Taming the river
The construction of this facility, begun in 1975, lasted 18 years, costing $ 27 billion. 49 thousand workers worked on its construction. 50 million tons of soil were dug, which would be enough for 8 tunnels of the English Channel. 12.3 million cubic meters of concrete were used, which would be enough for 210 football stadiums. Iron and steel Itaypu would be enough for 400 Eiffel towers.
In order to launch the Parana River (on the map below) in a different direction, a channel 3 km long was pierced in the rocks, its depth was about 90 meters and its width was 150 meters.
No casualties
To ensure the construction of their homes and farms, about 10 thousand residents of this territory had to leave. In addition, 100 square kilometers of arable land had to be donated under the reservoir.
Huge work was carried out by nature protection organizations for the resettlement of wild animals.
And forever gone to the base of the dam was the Guaira Saint Quedas waterfalls. This natural wonder of seven cascades from a height of 40 meters dumped water 6 times more than Niagara Falls. In January 1982, thousands of locals and tourists came to say goodbye to the waterfall. The wooden bridge could not stand it, and a tragic accident claimed 80 lives.
general information
18 Itaypu hydroelectric generators were put into operation in 1991. In 2007, 2 more generators were put into operation. It is interesting that the 700-megawatt generators are divided equally between the parties to the binary agreement.
The following facilities are part of this largest hydroelectric station:
- The dam is 7235 meters long, 400 meters wide and 196 meters high.
- Spillway with a flow of 62,200 cubic meters / s.
- Fishing channel on the Brazilian part of the dam.
The capacity of the hydroelectric power station is 14 GW; the average annual output is 98 billion kW / h.
The station dam formed a reservoir with a length of 170 kilometers, a width of 12 kilometers with a total surface area of 1350 square kilometers of water. The depth of the reservoir is 100 meters, and they were filled with water for 14 days.
Maximum indicators of energy production were achieved in 2016 and amounted to 103, 1 billion kW / h.
The area of the station is such that the workers inside the building move on bicycles.
Most most
In 1991, Itaipu HPP became the most powerful in the world - it generates 100 billion kWh of electricity per year. This is enough to simultaneously light 12 million light bulbs!
Its dam was 20 times the length of the longest dam of that time - the Hoover Dam (USA). And the largest dam in Russia - the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric station - has a length of 1074 meters.
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 by experts from these countries.
Open to visitors
The place where the Itaipu hydroelectric station is located is a picturesque landscape of rocks and a rainforest. Many tourists come to admire the 7th wonder of the world and the grandiose testimony of engineering. All instructions are written in two languages - Portuguese and Spanish, the order of which varies depending on the side of the dam.
Visiting the station is practically free - go to the time of the start of the excursion (from 8 a.m. and every hour until 4 p.m.), put on your helmet and you can inspect the station under the guidance of guides. Visiting conditions - the presence of documents, well, decent clothes (in shorts and flip flops they might not be allowed).
The visit is free, you will be taken by bus on the dam. At the station there are park areas where you can see wild animals, and an astronomy center.
This ambitious hydropower project in the photo is amazing, and when you see it with your own eyes, it is remembered for a lifetime.