ENTERTAINMENT

As an excellent complement to the natural attractions of the region, Foz offers the traveller a range of entertainment options, as well as the chance to purchase typical Brazilian textile products (on the famous Avenida Brasil in the city center).

Tropicana Bird Park
Shows a huge variety of native birds in an environment specially adapted to keep birds of great beauty and color in the best conditions. Located a few m from the entrance to the National Park.

Three Frontiers Marker
As on the Argentine side, a marker has been built at the junction of the Iguazu and Parana Rivers to show the point where three countries meet.

Municipal Zoo
In the center of the city, on JK Av, is the zoo in which the most beautiful animals from the region can be observed. Of particular beauty is the black yaguareté. Entrance is gratis.

Helicopter Trips
Flying over the Waterfalls in a helicopter is one of the activities that make it possible to observe all the beauty of this outstanding paradise. The Helisul Company leaves from its heliport, which is located on Avenida de las Cataratas, on the road to the National Park. The flight takes seven minutes and costs US$ 70 per person.

Acquamania Water Park
This Park is open from October to March. It has big slides and pools for all ages. It is located on Avenida das Cataratas, Km 6. It opens from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Artesanato Tres Fronteiras [Three Frontiers Crafts Fair]
This space is devoted to the sale of handcrafts, items of semi-precious stone, and pieces carved in wood or stone. Souvenirs with a range of types and prices can be found in the Crafts Fair. It is located on Avenida das Cataratas, Km It is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam
This dam on the Parana River is one of the largest constructions in the world. Built on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, has an installed capacity of 12,600 MW, and is responsible for generating 25% of the electricity consumed in Brazil, and 95% of that used in Paraguay.

Itaipú or the land that sings, in Guarani language, is the result of a treaty signed on April 26, 1973 between Brazil and Paraguay establishing that the energy produced by the hydroelectric power station should be divided equally between the two countries. The construction of the station started in 1975, and was ended in 1991.

40,000 workers took part in its construction, and 9,600 houses were built for them on both banks of the Parana, as well as hospitals and schools. The reservoir flooded an area of 1,350 square km, and contains 29 billion cubic m of water.

The generating station has 18 turbines of 700,000 KW each. The main dam is 1,406 m in length, and has a height of 185 m, the equivalent to a 62-storey building.

The total length of the dams is eight km, and the water flowing through the sluice gate is the equivalent of 30 times the volume of water of the Iguazu Falls, i.e., 58,000 cubic m per second. It is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

Thanks to this amazing engineering work, Itaipú has become a great tourist attraction in Foz de Iguaçu. Videos are shown and there is an interesting guided tour through the installations, taking the visitor to the central lookout point, which will give him a fine panoramic view of the lake formed by the dam. Visitors can also see the diversion canal, the laborers' mural, and the workers' wood, where after working 15 years every employee in the dam plants a tree.

In the lake area there is considerable tourist activity, including sailing and sports fishing.

Surprising figures

• The building rate of Itaipú was equivalent to the construction of a twenty storey building every 55 minutes.
• With the volume of concrete used in the construction of Itaipú, 210 stadiums like the Maracaná in Río de Janeiro (one of the world's largest soccer stadiums) could have been built.
• The total volume of earth and rock excavated in Itaipú is more than twice the volume of the Sugar Loaf Mountain in Río de Janeiro.
• 380 Eiffel towers could be built with the iron and steel used in the construction of the power station.
• The Itaipú sluice gate discharges 62 million liters a second: 40 times more than the average flow of the Iguazu Falls!

NIGHTLIFE

Iguassu Boulevard Entertainment Center
With a wide gastronomic offer, a cinema, ten modern-technology bowling alleys, a cyber café, bingo, musical shows and a beer garden, this entertainment center offers an interesting option for leisure time. (Opens from noon to 11 p.m.)

Oba-Oba Brazilian Samba Mulatto Show
With its show including the different Brazilian dances and some very beautiful mulatas, it affords a delightful moment while one savors a caipirinha. From 11 p.m. to 1 a.m

Golf
In the city of Foz do Iguaçu stands the Iguassu Golf Club & Resort, only 5 km away from Puerto Iguazu. With its five-star hotel infrastructure, this magnificent resort has an 18-hole course.

The Clubhouse offers a sauna, changing rooms, Pro Shop, tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, a pool, fishing, archery and soccer and every possible facility. It also has a covered and floodlit driving range. Clubs, shoes and carts are for hire. Caddies and golf classes are available.