REPRESA DE YACYRETÁ

Yacyretá means "place of the moon", or "place of difficult waters", in Guarani. More modest than Itaipu, this hydroelectric dam is nonetheless a monumental work of art, measuring 808 m long and 80 m wide. The power station comprises 20 turbines, each capable of generating 160 MW. Each turbine passes through 2,600 million liters of water per hour! The energy produced (20,000 GWh/year) is used by Argentina (90%) and Paraguay (10%). The locks (27 m wide, 238 m long) enable boats to pass from one level to another in 45 minutes. The fish also have their own elevator: attracted by artificial currents, they enter an elevator that takes them up from the river to the reservoir lake. Construction began in 1983, and the first turbine went into operation in 1994. The rise in water level to form Lake Yacyretá has displaced thousands of people and destroyed wildlife habitats. Nevertheless, the dam produces "clean" energy and provides well-paid work (many of which are fictitious jobs...). The water level has been raised in recent years to increase production potential to 83 m above sea level. The bi-national entity of Yacyretá (EBY) takes care of the visit, with transport to the dam via the island of Yacyretá, after an introductory film. Arrive 30 minutes before the visit, to register and visit the museum (pre-Columbian ceramics and objects from different periods).