Hernandarias District, district and city in Alto Paraná, Paraguay
Hernandarias is a city in Alto Paraná Department in Paraguay, situated between the Acaray and Paraná rivers. The city shows a mix of modern buildings and traditional areas, with busy streets near the riverbanks where fishing and small boats are common.
The city was founded in 1896 as a small yerba mate settlement and thrived in its early years thanks to large processing factories. The Acaray Dam was built in the late 1960s as Paraguay's first major dam project, followed by the Itaipu Dam, one of the world's largest, constructed between 1976 and 1982, which transformed it into an energy hub.
Hernandarias takes its name from a colonial governor and was originally called Tacurú Pucú in Guaraní, referring to large earth mounds. The city preserves Guaraní language and traditions in daily life, celebrating them through festivals like National Yerba Mate Day in October, where music, dance, and local foods reflect the indigenous heritage.
The city sits about 15 kilometers from Ciudad del Este and is easily reached via main roads, with regular bus and car services connecting to larger nearby cities. Visitors can tour the dams, explore protected natural areas, and visit cultural sites, with guided tours and informational displays available at most attractions.
The Acaray power plant was Paraguay's first major dam project in the 1960s, but the Itaipu Dam project was so monumental that the city became instrumental in generating vast electricity for South America. These two dam sites make this place a globally important energy center that draws many visitors wanting to understand the technical wonders and impact on the region.
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