Sacrificing Guaíra Falls: Geopolitics and the Environmental Impact of South America's Biggest Dam, 1962–1982
In October 1982, Itaipu Dam's reservoir flooded Guaíra Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls and a cherished natural monument. The Brazilian military government argued this was a necessary sacrifice for development and that at that time Brazil needed energy more than environmental p...
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| Published in: | Luso-Brazilian review 2023-07, Vol.60 (1), p.37 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng ; por |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | In October 1982, Itaipu Dam's reservoir flooded Guaíra Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls and a cherished natural monument. The Brazilian military government argued this was a necessary sacrifice for development and that at that time Brazil needed energy more than environmental protection. This narrative is enticing but incorrect. The military government could have pursued alternative power production while sparing the falls, as in the scheme that renowned Brazilian engineer Octávio Marcondes Ferraz outlined in the project's original blueprints. However, his original design was politically problematic and reignited a border dispute that raised the specter of Brazil and Paraguay's bellicose past. Thus, Brazil chose to pursue Itaipu at the cost of the famous falls because Itaipu presented an immediate solution to an international conflict that threatened to undermine the military regime's legitimacy. |
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| ISSN: | 0024-7413 1548-9957 |