Itaipú Hydroelectric Factory

Built on Paraná River, in the frontier with Brazil and Paraguay, with installed power of 12,600 MW, Itaipú Hydroelectric Factory is responsible of generating 25% of the Electric energy used in Brazil and of 95% of the energy used in Paraguay.

Itaipú - "land that sings" in Guaraní Language- is the result of a treatment signed on 26th April, 1973 between Brazil and Paraguay establishing that the energy produced by the Hydroelectric Factory would be divided in even rates for both countries. The construction started in 1975 and ended in 1991 having 18 turbines in all which are capable of generating 93.4 millions of MW / h

Thanks to the imposing engineering work, Itaipú has become a great touristic attraction in Foz de Iguazú. Video displays and an interesting guide tour around its building will help the visitor find a beautiful panoramic view from the central vantage point to the lake formed by the dam. One can observe the diversion channel, the worker's wall paint and the worker's wood where each employee that has worked for the company for 15 years plants a tree.

Appart from that, in the area of the lake, there is an important touristic offer, and one can enjoy water activities or sport fishing.


Astonishing figures

The pace of construction of Itaipú was equivalent to the construction of a 20-storey building every 55 minutes.

With the total amount of concrete used to build Itaipú, 210 stadiums like "Maracaná" of Rio de Janeiro could be built.

The size got by the rock and digged soil is equivalent to more than twice the size of "Pan de Azúcar" in Rio de Janeiro.

The iron and steel used in the construction would be enough to build 380 times Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Itaipú drain can drain 62 million liters per seconds, 40 times the amount of Iguazú Falls.

Main Features of the Factory

Lake

Area: 1,350 km²
Water volume: 29 thousand millions m³
Length: 170 km

Reservoir

Maximum Height: 196 m

Total Length: 7.760 m

Drain

Maximum Discharge Capacity: 62.200 m³ /s

Pressure Piping

Internal Diameter: 10,50 m
Nominal Discharge: 690 m³/s

Machines House

Length: 968 m
Maximum Height: 102 m

Generator Units

Amount: 18
Power: 715 MW
Maximum Project Fall: 118,4 m
Approximate Weight: 6.600 t

Customs Requirements to enter Brazil

1. Identity Card
Argentinean or citizenship: I.D
Other Nationalities: passport with Brazilian Visa according to International Agreements in force.

2. Green Card of the vehicle with name of the owner.
If the vehicle does not belong to the tourist, authorization by the owner signed at a Notary´s office.
According to a Law inforced in Argentina in 1980, it is compulsory to have the licence number engraved in windscreens for vehicles from Argentina.

3. Driving Licence ( It is not necessary to have International Driving Card)

4. Children
If you travel with children, you must take Marriage Book or Birth certificate of them.
If only one of the parents travels with a childre, he must take an authorization signed by the other parent at a Notary´s office.
If the child travels without any of his parents, he will have to take an authorization signed by both parents at a Notary´s office.