Yacyretá Dam, Embankment dam at Argentina-Paraguay border.
The Yacyretá power station stretches over 800 meters (2600 feet) on both sides of the national border between Argentina and Paraguay. Twenty turbines process the Paraná waters while a large navigation lock runs parallel to the dam wall, allowing river traffic to pass.
The 1925 protocol between Argentina and Paraguay opened the way for using the Alto Paraná falls, and the Treaty of Yacyretá was signed in 1973. Construction began on 3 December 1983; the navigation lock opened in 1993 and the first Kaplan turbine in 1994. The twentieth unit followed in 1998, and the reservoir reached its planned level only in 2011.
The name Yacyretá derives from the Guaraní jasy retã, meaning "land of the moon", after the island the dam submerged. The reservoir covered Talavera Island entirely and 90% of Yacyretá Island. A fish ladder lets dorado and surubí swim upstream past the 25-metre difference to spawn.
The lock stretches over 260 meters (850 feet) in length and allows larger cargo vessels to move upstream and downstream. Visitors can view the dam from a distance at adjacent shore areas, with access to the actual site limited.
The structure generates electricity for both neighboring countries, dividing output through a fixed formula. During heavy rain the reservoir can rise noticeably within days, and additional spillway gates are then opened.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,334 contributors worldwide.
