IGUAZU FALLS: A MUST STOP IN SOUTH AMERICA

Located near Foz do Iguaçu (Parana), on the 3 borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the Iguazu Falls have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and 1986 and are one of the « 7 wonders of world ».

1,000 km from the border of Brazil and Paraguay, the Iguazu Falls are located 20% in the Brazilian region of Parana in the Iguazu National Park and 80% in Argentina in the province of Misiones, on the other side of the river.

In Iguazu Park, an Argentinian national park of more than 67,620 ha, created in 1934 in the northeast of the country, 275 waterfalls (or 12,620 ha) and sub-tropical forests shelter exceptional biodiversity with more than 2,000 plant species and 450 kinds of birds. Whether you are on the Brazilian or Argentinian side, it is possible to visit the parks, declared « World Heritage » by UNESCO in 1984 and 1986, thanks to roads equipped with elevators and ramps. Furthermore, the incredible landscape allowed the filming of famous films like Indiana Jones 4 and OSS 117.

You can also visit the GuîraOra animal park, founded in 1997 by 2 naturists specializing in the rehabilitation of wild birds. It extends over 19 ha and is home to more than 40 different species of trees, some of which can measure up to 30 m in height. It also welcomes more than 30 animals and has released more than 70 since its creation.

Iguazu Falls

The Iguazu Falls are one of the most beautiful and largest waterfalls in the world with an average height of 72 m, 200 falls spread over 3 km in the middle of the tropical region. The best way to admire this grandiose spectacle is from a helicopter. For those who prefer dry land, there are footbridges that allow you to get as close as possible to the waterfalls, to the point of being drenched.

Brazilian side

There is no season to visit the Brazilian shore, each of them shows a different landscape, characterized by a change of color and a variable quantity of water. From this side, we have a panoramic view of a gigantic aquatic theater because the Brazilian bank is located a little further below the falls, allowing us to observe the impressive chasm into which the 200 streams and waterfalls flow. The visit to the Brazilian side allows an approach and an overview of the Iguazu Falls.
In October 2022, the state of Parana in Brazil experienced very heavy rainfall, causing an increase almost 10 times higher than normal, or 14.5 million liters per second. damaging more than 400 homes, leaving more than 120 people homeless in 24 municipalities and forcing the preventive closure of a flooded footbridge leading to Devil’s Gorge.

Argentinian side

The Argentinian side, mainly located at the top of the cliffs from which the different arms of the Iguazu River flow, allows you to find yourself in the heart of the falls with a deafening spectacle of 6 million liters of water per second pouring down every day. The site is equipped with 7 km of footbridges, most of which overlook the falls, allowing you to take a hike with a few scares during passages that make you dizzy. A small “ecological” train takes you to the large footbridge of more than 2 km to reach Garganta del diablo (Devil’s Throat) above the falls. The 275 waterfalls, the highest of which can reach 80 m high, flow from a 2.5 km long crater in the shape of an amphitheater. We continually observe a fog illuminated by a rainbow, linked to the power released by 14 waterfalls joining forces at the top of a 100 m crater, crushing millions of liters of water which pour down every second with a immense power in a deafening noise.

The Garganta of the Diablo

A small train takes visitors to « The Devil’s Throat », on the upper course of the Iguazu River which must be crossed for more than a km from island to island to reach the cataract and witness a grandiose spectacle where 2,700m of waterfalls draw an arc in a roaring noise. In times of heavy rain, the flow becomes significant and colors its water with sediment. (you might think you see gold flowing). The 70 m high falls are surrounded by thick mist. Devil’s Throat is the most famous of the Iguazu Falls with 14 waterfalls falling 80 m into a cloudy mist, it is also the highest of the 275 waterfalls, it is spread across the border between Brazil and Argentina.

For those who wish, a Zodiac expedition is possible. It leads to the foot of one of the waterfalls’ curtains of water.

The Iguazu Falls are a natural, unique and impressive spectacle in the world. This incomparable spectacle attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is ahead of Victoria Falls in Africa, between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Niagara Falls between the USA and Canada. They are the only ones to appear in the ranking of « 7 wonders of the world » with Halong Bay in Vietnam, the Amazon in Brazil, Jeju Island in South Korea, Komodo Island in Indonesia, the river underground of Puerto Princesa in South Africa.

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VERONIQUE YANG

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