In the year 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers elected Itaipu hydroelectric power plant as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Here are some of the important parameters of gigantic Itaipu hydroelectric power plant that make it wondrous:
1) The total length of the dam is 7234m having the crest elevation of 225m. Instead of considering it as a single dam, you can consider it made up of several dams like earth-fill dam, rock-fill dam, main concrete dam, and concrete wind dam.
2) The flow of water through Itaipu spillways is about 62.2 thousand cu meters per second, which is almost 40 times more than flow of water in Iguacu Falls.
3) The height of dam is unbelievably high measuring 196 meters, which is almost equivalent to the height of 65 storey building.
4) During construction of Itaipu dam the course of world’s seventh largest river, Parana River, was changed and along with it 50 millions tones of earth and rock.
5) The total amount of concrete used in the construction of Itaipu hydroelectric power plant could construct almost 210 football stadiums.
6) The total amount of steel and iron used in Itaipu dam can be used to erect 380 Eiffel Towers.
7) In the construction of Itaipu hydroelectric power plant almost forty thousand workers were involved. Apart from the monumental size of the dam, Itaipu is also a shinning example of the cooperation and friendship between the two neighboring countries of the world. It shows how the friendship between the countries can lead to flourishing and strengthening of the two countries.
