Itaipú Dam

Itaipú Dam

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center - Earthshots

The world’s largest hydroelectric power plant is on the Paraná River between Paraguay and Brazil. The Itaipú Dam is capable of producing 14,000 megawatts of power. The reservoir behind the dam formed in 1982 and covers 1,350 square kilometers.

The entire dam is nearly 8 kilometers long. The maximum discharge capacity of the spillway is 62,200 cubic meters per second, 40 times the mean discharge of Iguazú Falls.

Just below the dam is the rapidly expanding city of Ciudad del Este. Its estimated population in 2015 was 317,525.

Imagery

Feb. 23, 1973, Landsat 1 (path/row 240/78) — location of Itaipú Dam, South America
Dec. 4, 1988, Landsat 5 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Jan. 17, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Nov. 2, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Nov. 7, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Oct. 30, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Aug. 20, 2022, Landsat 9 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
Aug. 20, 2022, Landsat 9 (path/row 224/78) — Itaipú Dam, South America
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