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calivoodoo22:29 UTC09 Mar 2008

Hi Everybody,

I am in Foz de Iguazu (BRA) now and interested in going to the Itaipu Dam. I thought it would be fun to go to the Paraguayan side just to get a glimpse of Paraguay but I am wondering if it is worth the hassle. I have heard the traffic crossing the bridge can be gnarly. Also, is a visit to the dam a much better experience on one side or the other?

I have a half-day only so I want to choose wisely. Thanks!

ericos09:54 UTC10 Mar 2008

You can only visit the dam at one point. It is on the border of the two lands. The middle of the river Parana forms the border of the countries. The dam belongs to the two countries. The point to visit is nobody land.

capelo13:05 UTC10 Mar 2008

Hi mate,
as far as I know, the Tourist Visitor Centre is in Hernandarias (Paraguayan side). From there, you have buses which are free to go to the main dam and view point. Just accros from the place you also have a small Zoo and the Museum of Guarani Heritage.

check Itaipu dam official site for more info.

ericos13:33 UTC10 Mar 2008

I visited already 5 times (as a touristic guide) the dam. Each time I chose the "special" visit. We reach the visit point starting in Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu) and go directly to the point without crossing the bridge (ponte da Amizade) to Paraguay. During the visit you cross the dam and at that moment you are in Paraguay because the border is in the middle of the river Parana.
In the commando room you will see a Brazilian part and a Paraguayan part each near the other in hte same room. The Brazilians produce the electricity on 60 Hertz as in the United States and the Paraguayans produce the electricity on 50 Hertz as the Europeans. Even so Brazil buys almost all the electricity from Paraguay.

brambora19:38 UTC12 Mar 2008

Hi everyone, we are also going to be visiting soon, and I wanted to ask if you have to 'officially' cross the border, i.e. have to present documentation etc? I don't remember reading anything to this extent in LP, but I may be wrong. Thanks!

colebozbourne23:30 UTC12 Mar 2008

No documentation is needed to cross the border, or visit the dam, only if you are going to travel deeper into the country.

Edited by: Colebozbourne

Itaipu Dam - Better in BRA or PGY? Country forums / South America / Brazil
calivoodoo22:29 UTC09 Mar 2008	Hi Everybody, I am in Foz de Iguazu (BRA) now and interested in going to the Itaipu Dam. I thought it would be fun to go to the Paraguayan side just to get a glimpse of Paraguay but I am wondering if it is worth the hassle. I have heard the traffic crossing the bridge can be gnarly. Also, is a visit to the dam a much better experience on one side or the other? I have a half-day only so I want to choose wisely. Thanks!
ericos09:54 UTC10 Mar 2008	You can only visit the dam at one point. It is on the border of the two lands. The middle of the river Parana forms the border of the countries. The dam belongs to the two countries. The point to visit is nobody land.	1
capelo13:05 UTC10 Mar 2008	Hi mate, as far as I know, the Tourist Visitor Centre is in Hernandarias (Paraguayan side). From there, you have buses which are free to go to the main dam and view point. Just accros from the place you also have a small Zoo and the Museum of Guarani Heritage. check Itaipu dam official site for more info.	2
ericos13:33 UTC10 Mar 2008	I visited already 5 times (as a touristic guide) the dam. Each time I chose the "special" visit. We reach the visit point starting in Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu) and go directly to the point without crossing the bridge (ponte da Amizade) to Paraguay. During the visit you cross the dam and at that moment you are in Paraguay because the border is in the middle of the river Parana. In the commando room you will see a Brazilian part and a Paraguayan part each near the other in hte same room. The Brazilians produce the electricity on 60 Hertz as in the United States and the Paraguayans produce the electricity on 50 Hertz as the Europeans. Even so Brazil buys almost all the electricity from Paraguay.	3
brambora19:38 UTC12 Mar 2008	Hi everyone, we are also going to be visiting soon, and I wanted to ask if you have to 'officially' cross the border, i.e. have to present documentation etc? I don't remember reading anything to this extent in LP, but I may be wrong. Thanks!	4
colebozbourne23:30 UTC12 Mar 2008	No documentation is needed to cross the border, or visit the dam, only if you are going to travel deeper into the country. Edited by: Colebozbourne	5

Itaipu Dam - Better in BRA or PGY?