Iguazú Waterfalls

Spectacular waterfalls, nature lovers' paradise in all its splendour, amid subtropical forests. Iguazú was discovered by the Spanish colonist Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541 and it is surrounded by the National Park Iguazú. The UNESCO declared it Patrimony of Humanity in 1984.

Iguazú in Guarani language means big water, and that is exactly what it is. The "Garganta del Diablo" (Throat of the Devil) , formed by a semicircle of 200m in diameter and 80 meters high is really huge.

Located on the river Iguazú, which forms the frontier between Argentina and Brazil, the waterfalls are made up of about 160 to 270 falls depending on the volume of water the river carries. They are higher, bigger and more beautiful than the Niagara Falls in the United States and the Victoria Falls in Africa.

The catchment area of the river comprises more than 62,000 square kilometres, descending from the near mountains of Curitiba (Brazil) of more than 1,000 meters high, and along more than 500 kilometres. It receives water of about thirty tributaries before reaching the waterfalls that are 160 meters high. Then it reaches a width of 3 kilometres travelling along islands covered by forests. There are smaller falls along 3 or 4 kilometres until finally the water reaches the Iguazú falls which are 2.5 kilometres wide.

These huge waterfalls carry 1700 m³ water per second, yet during the rainy season this amount of water can reach 25.000 m ³.

The noise made by the water in the Garganta del Diablo and the vapour that forms enormous rainbows with the sunlight, or the visits of the falls at dusk, when the swifts catch insects in the air, are difficult to forget.

One can also see the waterfalls from below. The track leads among begonias, orchids, ferns and palms and one can see toucans, parrots and swifts and myriad of butterflies of all colours.

The city of Puerto Iguazú is about 15 kilometres away. It is a picturesque town with excellent hotels of international level.

It is said that Argentina owns the show and Brazil gets paid for it. Most falls are in Argentine territory, but the best panoramic view is from the Brazilian side, especially in the morning or at sunset when the light allows you to take the best pictures. If one wants to have the possibility of going near the waterfalls or even the possibility of walking under the falls or see the impressive Garganta del Diablo (from Puerto Canoas), then the Argentine side is the better choice.

In the national park that surrounds them, formed by a subtropical forest, benefited by rain forest climate, it is possible to make photographic safaris and cavalcades along narrow paths:

(Macuco, of 4 km is the ideal one to cover by foot at dawn and at sunset, Yacaratia, of 30 km should be made by car or on horseback), or to discover immense varieties of mammals, birds, wild flowers, insects, butterflies and reptiles.

The park was created in 1934 and has 67,600 hectares. It is crossed by a track, Route N 101 which can be used by bus if it does not rain.

The flora and fauna can be seen when travelling along paths from the tourist information centre.

From Argentina - in Puerto Iguazú, in the area of the waterfalls or in the tourist centre - as well as from the Brazilian side - in Foz do Iguaçu or near the waterfalls - different types of trips and safaris can be hired. One can travel by boat, four wheel drive vehicles, one can walk at moonlight, or hire horses and even (regrettably) fly in helicopters.