Itaipu Dam
Usina Hidrelétrica de Itaipu
A hydroelectric plant jointly built by Brazil and Paraguay, the world's second largest, with a 7.7 km long dam and a 196 m high wall, offering a panoramic tour and a special tour into the generator halls.
Itaipu Dam sits on the Paraná River 15 km north of Foz do Iguaçu. Built jointly by Brazil and Paraguay between 1975 and 1984, it has an installed capacity of 14 million kW. Its output once ranked first in the world, and it is now second only to the Three Gorges Dam. It supplies about 90% of Paraguay's electricity and about 10% of Brazil's. The dam is 7.7 km long and up to 196 m high, and the American Society of Civil Engineers named it one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. Tours depart from the visitor center on the Brazilian side, which has an introductory film in Chinese. There are two main tours. The Panoramic Tour (Visita Panorâmica, about BRL 60, 1.5 hours) takes a bus to the dam's central observation deck and spillway, where you can get out and take photos. When the spillway gates open, the water flows like a waterfall. The Special Circuit (Circuito Especial, about BRL 130, 2.5 hours) takes you into the dam's inner corridors, the control room and the huge generator hall, and you stand on the border line between the two countries. Long trousers and closed-toe shoes are required, and visitors must be 14 or older. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the light show (Iluminação da Barragem, about BRL 40) lights up the dam section by section. The grounds also have an ecomuseum (Ecomuseu), a biological refuge (Refúgio Biológico, for jaguars and birds) and boat rides on the Kattamaram reservoir. Tours run at fixed times each day, roughly 08:00 to 16:30. In peak season, book in advance on the official website. From downtown Foz do Iguaçu, take bus 101 or 102, or a taxi, for about 20 minutes. A visit takes about 2 to 3 hours. You can combine it with the Brazilian-side waterfalls on the same day, visiting the falls in the morning and the dam in the afternoon. There is also a visitor entrance on the Paraguayan side, but it is less convenient for tourists than the Brazilian side.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–16:30 (timed-entry tours)
Nearby sights
- Chen Tien Buddhist Temple
- Ciudad del Este
- Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque
- Monday Falls
- Triple Frontier Landmark (Marco das Três Fronteiras)
- La Feirinha (Puerto Iguazú)
- La Aripuca
- Güirá Oga Wildlife Refuge