Prep Assignment:
Hydropower is a very popular and substantial method of harnessing energy throughout the world. To prepare to visit Iguacu, students watched three assigned videos about different hydroelectric dams around the world.
The Itaipu Dam on the Parana River borders Brazil and Paraguay. When designed, it was expected to be the world’s most powerful hydro dam, six times more powerful than the Hoover Dam. While this would mean an immaculate amount of energy harnessed, it would also result in the flooding of farmland, homes and wildlife habitat. Once Brazil and Paraguay came to an agreement, a diversion channel was created to change the migration path of piranhas. According to the video, this was one of the most difficult diversions. To prepare for the diversion, the Brazilian government had to survey and essentially buy out the homes of the people who owned the land (similar to a takings in the U.S.). Population counts were conducted environmentalists relocated as many species as they could. While this dam is very significant in Brazil’s energy production, it was also extremely expensive to construct after factoring the materials, labor costs and living expenses of workers (including housing), and the cost of the flooding of agricultural lands. The Itaipu Dam was not the only dam that made a costly impact on its immediate surroundings.
The Grand Coulee Dam, considered the “Promise of America”, was built during FDR’s New Deal campaign and invigorated American’s freedoms symbolizing growth, prosperity, and power. Following the Great Depression, the dam provided jobs for hundreds of unemployed Americans and promised cheap electricity. Clearly, it was too early in history for FDR to conduct an environmental impact statement. The diversion flooded many acres of ancient burial grounds and areas sacred to Native American culture. Decades later, the dam has had significant impacts on Columbia River Basin salmon another fish. Similar issues are being found with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China.
China has one of the fastest growing economies on Earth, and requires a new form of electricity to keep up with its immense industrialization. The Three Gorges Dam is expected to provide power to millions and claim the title of The Largest Dam in the World. When analyzing the costs of the two previous dams discussed, one can only imagine the cost of displacement and materials that China will be subject to after completion. In addition, the dam is being built in a high traffic zone, and China’s solution is to construct an elevator where boats will be lifted up and over the dam. This could be very dangerous, time and energy consuming.
As with any source of electricity, hydroelectric power has its pros and cons. Overall, it is relatively safe and does not emit greenhouse gases into the air, provides cheap power and labor to a nation. If construction proves successful for China, however, water may replace or substitute the burning of fossil fuels as a cleaner, friendlier, more sustainable form of energy.
Hydropower is a very popular and substantial method of harnessing energy throughout the world. To prepare to visit Iguacu, students watched three assigned videos about different hydroelectric dams around the world.
The Itaipu Dam on the Parana River borders Brazil and Paraguay. When designed, it was expected to be the world’s most powerful hydro dam, six times more powerful than the Hoover Dam. While this would mean an immaculate amount of energy harnessed, it would also result in the flooding of farmland, homes and wildlife habitat. Once Brazil and Paraguay came to an agreement, a diversion channel was created to change the migration path of piranhas. According to the video, this was one of the most difficult diversions. To prepare for the diversion, the Brazilian government had to survey and essentially buy out the homes of the people who owned the land (similar to a takings in the U.S.). Population counts were conducted environmentalists relocated as many species as they could. While this dam is very significant in Brazil’s energy production, it was also extremely expensive to construct after factoring the materials, labor costs and living expenses of workers (including housing), and the cost of the flooding of agricultural lands. The Itaipu Dam was not the only dam that made a costly impact on its immediate surroundings.
The Grand Coulee Dam, considered the “Promise of America”, was built during FDR’s New Deal campaign and invigorated American’s freedoms symbolizing growth, prosperity, and power. Following the Great Depression, the dam provided jobs for hundreds of unemployed Americans and promised cheap electricity. Clearly, it was too early in history for FDR to conduct an environmental impact statement. The diversion flooded many acres of ancient burial grounds and areas sacred to Native American culture. Decades later, the dam has had significant impacts on Columbia River Basin salmon another fish. Similar issues are being found with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China.
China has one of the fastest growing economies on Earth, and requires a new form of electricity to keep up with its immense industrialization. The Three Gorges Dam is expected to provide power to millions and claim the title of The Largest Dam in the World. When analyzing the costs of the two previous dams discussed, one can only imagine the cost of displacement and materials that China will be subject to after completion. In addition, the dam is being built in a high traffic zone, and China’s solution is to construct an elevator where boats will be lifted up and over the dam. This could be very dangerous, time and energy consuming.
As with any source of electricity, hydroelectric power has its pros and cons. Overall, it is relatively safe and does not emit greenhouse gases into the air, provides cheap power and labor to a nation. If construction proves successful for China, however, water may replace or substitute the burning of fossil fuels as a cleaner, friendlier, more sustainable form of energy.
Day Ten:
Today I woke up feeling like a million bucks and we ventured to Iguassu Falls where we took a short hike through the forest and got up close and personal with the waterfalls themselves. When we first arrived, we were greeted by an interesting animal called a coati, which looked like a cross between a raccoon and an anteater. Although these rodents looked like the cutest and furriest little things, it was clear that the area had a clear problem with overpopulation and management as many of them rely on diets of fast food garbage. Signs everywhere read “Do Not Feed the Quatis”, however, they did not seem very effective.
The falls were ginormous and each one amazed me more. Even my iPhone 5S could not take a panorama that did these natural masterpieces justice (probably should have gotten a Droid). At one point, we even got to walk out along a boardwalk and get drenched by the high water pressure. The fun did not stop there.
For only a few more Reals, the group was able to take a trip down to the falls, board a small motor boat and actually ride underneath. While I initially did not want to spend the money, I knew I would never have this opportunity again. On the way down, we stopped along a path where the tour guide took us down to a small stream. Along the way our guide pointed out aloe plants and trees that are apparently endangered due to their high demand in the golf club and violin industry. He told a story of the previous Sunday where his tour group actually saw a jaguar, but the tourists scared it away in their excitement. This story was exciting but did not sit well with me because I know these disruptions may make the jaguars frequent that area less and alter the entire ecosystem.
The boat ride afterwards was amazing and we all returned not needing a shower, but it did seem to me like the main focus of both the driver and the tour guide was mostly on taking selfies of the passengers which they would later try to sell. Overall, it was definitely worth the money and the experience of a lifetime.
Afterwards, Anthony and Harley gave us our final presentation about the energy and biodiversity in Iguassu to prepare us for tomorrow’s visit to Ipaitu Dam. As Anthony described, eighty three percent of the electricity produced in Brazil is hydropower. Constructed in 1971, the dam is seven hundred and forty feet high, five miles long and consists of a series of multiple dams. The amount of concrete and steel used for the completion of the dam could have built three hundred and fifty Eiffel towers and it is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
This information is overwhelming! Not only have I never visited a manmade dam before, but now I am being told that I am preparing to visit the most productive dam ever created. There have, of course, been issues with the dam, including frequent power outages and the extinction of twelve species of fish. Visiting the dam tomorrow and learning of its yield will help to give us a better sense of the benefits and drawbacks of such a large structure on the economic, social and environmental impacts on Brazil.
Today I woke up feeling like a million bucks and we ventured to Iguassu Falls where we took a short hike through the forest and got up close and personal with the waterfalls themselves. When we first arrived, we were greeted by an interesting animal called a coati, which looked like a cross between a raccoon and an anteater. Although these rodents looked like the cutest and furriest little things, it was clear that the area had a clear problem with overpopulation and management as many of them rely on diets of fast food garbage. Signs everywhere read “Do Not Feed the Quatis”, however, they did not seem very effective.
The falls were ginormous and each one amazed me more. Even my iPhone 5S could not take a panorama that did these natural masterpieces justice (probably should have gotten a Droid). At one point, we even got to walk out along a boardwalk and get drenched by the high water pressure. The fun did not stop there.
For only a few more Reals, the group was able to take a trip down to the falls, board a small motor boat and actually ride underneath. While I initially did not want to spend the money, I knew I would never have this opportunity again. On the way down, we stopped along a path where the tour guide took us down to a small stream. Along the way our guide pointed out aloe plants and trees that are apparently endangered due to their high demand in the golf club and violin industry. He told a story of the previous Sunday where his tour group actually saw a jaguar, but the tourists scared it away in their excitement. This story was exciting but did not sit well with me because I know these disruptions may make the jaguars frequent that area less and alter the entire ecosystem.
The boat ride afterwards was amazing and we all returned not needing a shower, but it did seem to me like the main focus of both the driver and the tour guide was mostly on taking selfies of the passengers which they would later try to sell. Overall, it was definitely worth the money and the experience of a lifetime.
Afterwards, Anthony and Harley gave us our final presentation about the energy and biodiversity in Iguassu to prepare us for tomorrow’s visit to Ipaitu Dam. As Anthony described, eighty three percent of the electricity produced in Brazil is hydropower. Constructed in 1971, the dam is seven hundred and forty feet high, five miles long and consists of a series of multiple dams. The amount of concrete and steel used for the completion of the dam could have built three hundred and fifty Eiffel towers and it is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
This information is overwhelming! Not only have I never visited a manmade dam before, but now I am being told that I am preparing to visit the most productive dam ever created. There have, of course, been issues with the dam, including frequent power outages and the extinction of twelve species of fish. Visiting the dam tomorrow and learning of its yield will help to give us a better sense of the benefits and drawbacks of such a large structure on the economic, social and environmental impacts on Brazil.
Day Eleven:
Today we woke up early and dressed for our visit to the Itaipu Dam, where we were to be given the exclusive tour. We learned many things about the dam, such as the fact that it is a shared commodity between Brazil and Paraguay. Last year, Paraguay used only ten percent of the fifty percent of generated electricity that they were allotted. The rest was given back to Brazil.
The operating room of the dam consists of two Brazilian and two Paraguayan engineers, as well as one main rotating engineer. This group cooperates for all day to day operations as well as important decision making. The operating room looked like something from out of a movie and a black border line between the two countries ran right down the center.
We entered the main portion of the dam where we got to see the size and mechanics of the turbines. As the tour guide described, each turbine can run for about fifty years until it needs to be replaced. It is also better to have fewer turbines running at full capacity than to have all of them running at only eighty percent. The dam itself is also run by hydroelectric power, and it takes about half of one turbine to power the dam alone. I found it interesting that one hundred percent of the water used for the dam is returned to the dam after being cooled down.
After touring the dam, the group returned to the hostel and went with a few of the guests and the owner to a small spot along the Parana River to skip rocks and swim. The evening was very relaxing and it almost reminded me of being back home and going to the lake as I used to when I was a child (however I have never nailed the art of rock skipping). After the sun went down, we walked up to what happened to be a small building where a husband and wife cooked delicious fish and chip dinners and I tried a delicious form of cold Brazilian tea. When they ran out of fish, we found ourselves eating fresh chicken, bones and all, and it was absolutely delicious.
Today was a very educational and peaceful day and it makes me sad to think that our time in Brazil is almost over. We ended the night laughing with the Brazilians and promising the hostel owner we would give him a good online review.
Today we woke up early and dressed for our visit to the Itaipu Dam, where we were to be given the exclusive tour. We learned many things about the dam, such as the fact that it is a shared commodity between Brazil and Paraguay. Last year, Paraguay used only ten percent of the fifty percent of generated electricity that they were allotted. The rest was given back to Brazil.
The operating room of the dam consists of two Brazilian and two Paraguayan engineers, as well as one main rotating engineer. This group cooperates for all day to day operations as well as important decision making. The operating room looked like something from out of a movie and a black border line between the two countries ran right down the center.
We entered the main portion of the dam where we got to see the size and mechanics of the turbines. As the tour guide described, each turbine can run for about fifty years until it needs to be replaced. It is also better to have fewer turbines running at full capacity than to have all of them running at only eighty percent. The dam itself is also run by hydroelectric power, and it takes about half of one turbine to power the dam alone. I found it interesting that one hundred percent of the water used for the dam is returned to the dam after being cooled down.
After touring the dam, the group returned to the hostel and went with a few of the guests and the owner to a small spot along the Parana River to skip rocks and swim. The evening was very relaxing and it almost reminded me of being back home and going to the lake as I used to when I was a child (however I have never nailed the art of rock skipping). After the sun went down, we walked up to what happened to be a small building where a husband and wife cooked delicious fish and chip dinners and I tried a delicious form of cold Brazilian tea. When they ran out of fish, we found ourselves eating fresh chicken, bones and all, and it was absolutely delicious.
Today was a very educational and peaceful day and it makes me sad to think that our time in Brazil is almost over. We ended the night laughing with the Brazilians and promising the hostel owner we would give him a good online review.
Day Twelve:
Today we are preparing our final Brazilian flight back to the city of Rio de Janeiro. After packing our things, a few of us had an interesting conversation with another guest staying at the hostel named Steve. Steve is a journalist, originally from Connecticut, and scheduled to meet with Jamie Lerner in just a few days about sustainability and his struggles and triumphs in Curitiba.
I found it interesting to talk to Steve about his life after college, seeing as his life seems pretty ideal. As a journalist, Steve travels (out of his own pocket mostly) but budgets based on his articles and often gets exclusive tours and interviews for his free publicity. Steve writes for three different magazines and publishers, but it seems as if much of his work is freelance.
Although journalism sounds like an awesome job, I could not see myself dedicating that much time to writing and the competition, and would probably not stick with it for so long due to my need for stability and constant income. Steve admitted that he probably would not be on this career path for the rest of his life and that he is honestly unsure of what he wants to do after, but did not seem too concerned. He was enamored by our mission on the Brazil trip and our sustainable goals.
At lunch time we said our goodbyes and stopped at a churrascaria on our way to the airport. The meat was delicious and never-ending, but it was not what I thought it would be and the atmosphere gave the impression that we probably just did not find a good one. The food in general in Iguassu was very generic and each city had its own version of “Brazilian” cuisine that did not seem to change much. The best meal in this city was undoubtedly the homemade Brazilian BBQ the first night at the hostel.
We flew for the second and final time out of the prehistoric-looking airport in anticipation for revisiting our beloved Rio once again.
Today we are preparing our final Brazilian flight back to the city of Rio de Janeiro. After packing our things, a few of us had an interesting conversation with another guest staying at the hostel named Steve. Steve is a journalist, originally from Connecticut, and scheduled to meet with Jamie Lerner in just a few days about sustainability and his struggles and triumphs in Curitiba.
I found it interesting to talk to Steve about his life after college, seeing as his life seems pretty ideal. As a journalist, Steve travels (out of his own pocket mostly) but budgets based on his articles and often gets exclusive tours and interviews for his free publicity. Steve writes for three different magazines and publishers, but it seems as if much of his work is freelance.
Although journalism sounds like an awesome job, I could not see myself dedicating that much time to writing and the competition, and would probably not stick with it for so long due to my need for stability and constant income. Steve admitted that he probably would not be on this career path for the rest of his life and that he is honestly unsure of what he wants to do after, but did not seem too concerned. He was enamored by our mission on the Brazil trip and our sustainable goals.
At lunch time we said our goodbyes and stopped at a churrascaria on our way to the airport. The meat was delicious and never-ending, but it was not what I thought it would be and the atmosphere gave the impression that we probably just did not find a good one. The food in general in Iguassu was very generic and each city had its own version of “Brazilian” cuisine that did not seem to change much. The best meal in this city was undoubtedly the homemade Brazilian BBQ the first night at the hostel.
We flew for the second and final time out of the prehistoric-looking airport in anticipation for revisiting our beloved Rio once again.