Itaipu Dam

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/itaipu-dam

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How tall is Itaipu Dam?14,000 megawatts (MW)
2. What is the location?Paraná River, border of Brazil and Paraguay
3. What is the year construction began?1975
4. What is the Itaipu Dam and where is it located?The Itaipu Dam is a huge concrete wall on the Paraná River, built between Brazil and Paraguay. It holds back the river to make electricity for both countries.
5. How does the dam make electricity?Water from the reservoir flows through 20 big pipes called penstocks. The water turns turbines, which spin generators to produce power.

Hydroelectric Power Plant: A facility that generates electricity using the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water.
Francis Turbine: A type of water turbine widely used in hydroelectric power generation, characterized by its mixed flow design.
Reservoir: An artificial lake created by building a dam, used for storing water for various purposes.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Gases released into the atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to climate change.