Which dam on the Paraná River is one of the world's largest hydroelectric plants? Itaipu Dam is the answer.
Itaipu is a binational hydroelectric project on the Brazil–Paraguay border, where the Paraná River forms part of the boundary. Its name comes from Guaraní and is commonly translated as “the sounding stone,” after an island near the construction site.
Brazil and Paraguay signed the Itaipu Treaty in 1973, construction began in 1975, and the first generating unit started operating in 1984. The completed plant has 20 Francis turbines with a combined installed capacity of 14,000 megawatts. Its reservoir flooded about 1,350 square kilometres.
A common mix-up is calling Itaipu the world’s largest hydroelectric plant without qualification. Three Gorges Dam has greater installed capacity, while Itaipu has often ranked among the leaders in annual electricity production. The project is also notable because its ownership and operation are shared by two countries.