MEGASTRUCTURES Itaipu Inspired

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MEGASTRUCTURES



Season 1 Episode 7: The World's Most Powerful Dam (2004)

The Itaipu Dam in South America, the world's largest source of hydroelectric power, which lies on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Engineers faced the tasks of laying millions of tons of concrete and diverting the course of the Parana river to complete the project and provide electricity for the two countries



Itaipu Dam



In the Paraná River of South America, lies the Itaipú Dam. Costing 20 billion dollars, the Itaipú Dam is the world's largest and most powerful hydroelectric power plant. It is a representation of the efforts and accomplishment of two countries, Brazil and Paraguay. The episode examines the efforts undertaken and the sacrifices made to construct the dam, including how the largest diversion channel was constructed to divert water from the world’s 7th largest river away from the main construction site.