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.
Both governments started building in 1983 after years of negotiating the costs. The first turbine began operating in 1994, with further expansion stages continuing into the 2010s.
Families once living along the riverbanks moved away when the reservoir formed. Few traces remain today of the islands that now rest beneath the raised water level.
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.
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