itaipu dam

ITAIPU
DAM


INTRODUCTION

The Itaipu hydroelectric power plant is located on the Parana River and strands the countries of Brazil and Paraguay. Aside from numerous problems due to its size and capacity, Itaipu represents an interesting political and environmental case. The political dimension of the dam is mainly due to the dual ownership of the Parana River and the economic might of Brazil compared to Paraguay.

HOW DOES HYDRO – ELECTRICITY WORK?

The theory behind hydro - electricity is to build a dam on a large river that has a significant drop in height. The dam stores lots of water behind it in the upper reservoir. Near the bottom of the dam wall there is the water intake, called a penstock. Gravity causes the water to fall through the penstock inside the dam. At the end of the penstock there is a turbine propeller, which is turned by the moving water. The shaft from the turbine goes up into the generator, which produces the power. Power lines are connected to the ge...