Guaíra is a Brazilian municipality in western Paraná. It is located on Brazil's border with Paraguay and the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, on the banks of the Paraná River, bordering the Paraguayan city of Salto del Guairá and Mundo Novo in Mato Grosso do Sul. This stretch of the river, which holds the title of the largest archipelago in South America, is considered the Portal do Pantanal Paranaense, forming a biodiversity corridor with more than 200 islands, hundreds of species of vertebrates, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as 170 species of fish.
The Sete Quedas, also known as the "Seven Falls," were once the world's largest waterfalls in terms of flow rate. They were located on the Paraná River, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, near the towns of Guaíra on the Brazilian side and Salto del Guairá on the Paraguayan side.
Some facts about the Sete Quedas:
- *Waterfall structure*: The falls consisted of 19 individual waterfalls divided into seven groups. The main channel was approximately 4 km long and 170 meters deep.
- *Flow rate*: The Sete Quedas had an average flow rate of 13,000 m³/s, with a maximum of 50,000 m³/s, making them the waterfalls with the highest flow rate in the world.
- *Descent*: The falls were flooded in 1982 during the construction of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. The damming of the Paraná Reservoir lasted only 14 days, and the waterfalls disappeared on October 27, 1982.
- *Impact*: The construction of the power plant and the flooding of the waterfalls had serious impacts on the environment and the local population. Thousands of people had to be relocated, and the region lost its tourist appeal.
Today, the Sete Quedas are only a reminder of the natural beauty that once existed. However, the region around the Itaipu Reservoir remains an important tourist destination, especially for visitors who want to experience the enormous energy production of the power plant.
Translated by Google •
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