The Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant or Itaipu Binacional, whatever you prefer to call it, is huge both in importance for us and in size.
What people know about it generally comes down to: where it is located, what it does to our lives and that you can take walks inside it, but it's much more than that, therefore, to make it even easier and more instigating your tour of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant, which I know you will do when you come to tour in Foz do Iguaçu.
So let's go to the curiosities
-The name “itaipu” originates from the Tupi-Guarani language and means “stone that sings”.
-Itaipu Binacional, as the name suggests, is a Binational entity, belonging to the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Paraguay. The countries have the same participation in the entity: Eletrobras has 50% and the Administración Nacional de Eletricidad with another 50%, representing Brazil and Paraguay.
-Geological studies indicate a useful life of at least 200 years for Itaipu Binacional.
-Itaipu Binacional began planning in the 60s, however, construction only began in the 70s and the last generating unit was installed in 2007.
-The Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant began generating energy in May 1984.
-The amount of concrete used to build the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant could build 210 stadiums the size of the Maracanã Stadium.
-The steel and iron that were used to build the Itaipu Plant would be enough to build 380 Eiffel Towers.
-Itaipu Binacional is a world leader in the production of clean and renewable energy, having produced more than 2,5 billion MWh since the beginning of its operation.
-Construction directly involved more than 40 thousand workers.
-The Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant brought thousands of new workers from all over Brazil to the city of Foz do Iguaçu, in order for these people to live, it was necessary to build homes, thus giving rise to the oldest neighborhoods of Foz: Vila A, Vila B and Villa C.
Each one is intended for different worker positions, the better the position, the bigger and better the housing.
Village A: intended for mid-level technicians and the administrative sector, with initially 2.200 houses.
Vila B: intended for engineering workers and management at Itaipu, with initially 221 houses.
Vila C: intended for dam workers and direct construction workers, with initially 2.900 houses.
-Itaipu Binacional contributes greatly to tourism in Foz do Iguaçu, since its opening, it has received more than 16 million visitors.
-The flow rate of each of the plant's turbines is 700 m³ of water per second, this is about half the average flow rate found at Iguaçu Falls.
-By diverting the Paraná River to make it possible to build the Itaipu dam, experts had little time to collect the species of plants and animals that live there, so that they would not be lost or die. This operation was called “Mmba Kuera” or “Pega bicho” in Guarani.
-The Bela Vista Biological Refuge was created, today an attraction in the city, which brings together a veterinary hospital, zoo, quarantine, environmental education, a research center for the production of new forest seedlings and much more to care for the species of animals and plants that arrived.
These are some of the curiosities and facts about Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant. You can find this and much more daily on the Tarobá Hotel blog.
Keep an eye on our blog, here we update you about tours and facilities in Foz do Iguaçu and local tourism.
I hope you enjoyed knowing a little more about this special attraction and that it will definitely be part of your tour itinerary in Foz.
