The Itaipu Dam spans which South American river?

The Itaipu Dam spans which South American river? The answer is the Paraná River.

Itaipu is built on the Paraná at the Brazil-Paraguay border, near Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. It is a binational hydroelectric project operated by both countries and is one of the largest power stations ever constructed.

Brazil and Paraguay signed the Itaipu Treaty in 1973, and construction began in 1975. The first generating unit started operating in 1984; the final two of its 20 units entered service in 2007. Together, the units provide an installed capacity of 14,000 megawatts.

The reservoir flooded the former Guaíra Falls, also called Sete Quedas, in 1982. The nearby Iguaçu Falls are a frequent source of confusion: they lie on the Iguaçu River, which joins the Paraná downstream from the dam. The Paraná itself is one of the major rivers of the Río de la Plata basin.