Itaipu Dam Dam

Address: Itaipu Binacional - on the Paraná River between Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Hernandarias, Alto Paraná (Paraguay)

Website: https://www.itaipu.gov.br/

Itaipu Dam is a large hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River on the border between Paraguay and Brazil, and is one of the world’s largest power-producing facilities. The dam and its reservoir were constructed in a bi-national project carried out by the two countries.

The plant houses a large series of turbine-generator units that supply electricity to both nations and has been notable for high annual generation figures. The facility includes a sizable reservoir, a concrete dam structure, and extensive powerplant and transmission infrastructure.

Construction began in the 1970s and major works were completed in the early 1980s as a joint venture between Paraguay and Brazil. The dam is located on the Paraná River near the border town of Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side and Ciudad del Este on the Paraguayan side.

• Installed capacity: Installed generating capacity is 14,000 megawatts, making it one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power plants by capacity.
• Construction period: Construction spanned the 1970s and early 1980s, with major civil works carried out jointly by Paraguay and Brazil on the Paraná River border.

Itaipu Dam sits on the Paraná River at the Brazil-Paraguay border near Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay). The dam and its visitors’ centre are reached by road from either city; taxis, tour operators and local buses/tour coaches run to the site and guided visits depart from the dam’s visitor facilities.

• Book an official Itaipu Binacional guided tour in advance and aim for an early tour slot; tours run from both the Brazilian side (Foz do Iguaçu) and the Paraguayan side (near Ciudad del Este).
• Bring a passport if you plan to cross from one side of the binational complex to the other or if your tour includes cross-border movements - international ID is routinely required.
• Check the visitor-centre schedule so you can include the panoramic viewpoints and the technical/turbine-area tour segments; those parts are guided and run at set times.