Iguazu Falls

The waterfall system consists of about 270 falls along 2.7 kilometers (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 meters (269 feet) in height, though the majority is about 64 meters (210 feet). The Devil's Throat, a U-shaped 150-metre-wide and 700-metre-long (490 by 2300 feet) cliff, is the most impressive of all, and marks the border between Argentina and Brazil. Most of the falls are within Argentine territory, but from the Brazilian side a more panoramic view of the Devil's throat is obtained. Many islands split up the falls, including several large ones. About 900 meters of the 2.7-kilometre length does not have water flowing over it. The first European to find the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Alvaro Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, after whom one of the falls in the Argentine side is named.

The falls are shared by the Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguacu National Park (Brazil). These parks were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

The name Iguazu comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (big). The legend says that a god pretended to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipú, who fled with her mortal lover in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

There are two main towns on either side of the falls: Foz do Iguaçu in the Brazilian state of Paraná, and Puerto Iguazú in the Argentine province of Misiones. Other important tourist attractions near the falls include the Itapúa hydroelectric power plant, and the Jesuit Missions of the Guarani’s in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

Comparisons to other famous falls

Upon seeing Iguazu, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!" Vastly larger than North America's Niagara Falls, Iguazu is rivaled only by Southern Africa's Victoria Falls which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe (this is excluding extremely large rapid-like falls such as Livingston de Chutes and Boyoma Falls). Whilst Iguazu is wider because it is split into about 270 discreet falls and large islands, Victoria is the largest curtain of water in the world, at over a mile wide and over 90 meters (300 feet) in height (in low flow it is split into five by islands; in high flow it can be uninterrupted).

The water falling over Iguazu in peak flow has a surface area of about 400,000 square meters (1.3 million square feet) whilst Victoria in peak flow has a surface area of over 550,000 square meters (1.8 million square feet). By comparison, Niagara has a surface area of under 183,000 square meters (600,000 square feet). Victoria's annual peak flow is also greater than Iguazu's annual peak—9.1 million liters per second versus 6.5 million—though in times of extreme flood the two have recorded very similar maximum water discharge (well in excess of 12 million liters per second.). Niagara's annual peak flow is about 2.8 million liters per second, although an all-time peak of 6.8 million has been recorded. Surprisingly, Niagara discharges the most water per year as its water flow does not vary greatly depending on the season. Iguazu and Victoria fluctuate enormously in their flow rate, and can almost disappear in the dry season. Mist rises between 30 and 150 meters (100 and 500 feet) from Iguazu's Devil's throat, and over 300 meters (1,000 feet) above Victoria (sometimes over 600 meters).

Iguazu, however, affords better views and walkways and its shape allows for spectacular vistas. At one point a person can stand and be surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls. The Devil's throat has water pouring into it from three different sides, which makes for an exceptional sight. Likewise, because Iguazu is split into many relatively small cataracts, one can view this portion at a time. Victoria does not allow this, as it is essentially one cataract that falls into a canyon and is too immense to appreciate at once (except from the air). Iguazu and Victoria are generally regarded as the world's most spectacular waterfalls, with people divided as to which is the more impressive.

As of 24 July, 2006 a severe drought in South America has reduced the amount of water in the river that river feeds the falls and become parched, reducing the amount of water flowing over the falls to be reduced to 80,000 gallons per second, down from the normal 350,000-400,000 gallons. It may be October before the falls return to normal.

Iguazu is included in our 13/15 days trip.