Iguazu Falls – Brazil

Amazing Natural Wonder

Iguazu falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the boarder of the Brazilian state of Parana & Argentine province of Misiones. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 meters (269 ft) in height, though the majority is about 64 meters (210 ft). Devil’s throat, a U-shaped 82 meters high, 150 meters wide & 700 meters long (490 by 2300 ft cataract, is the most impressive of all, & marks the border between Argentina & Brazil. 2/3 of falls are within the Argentine territory.  About 900 meters of the 2.7km length does not have water flowing over it. The edge of the basalt cap recedes only 3mm per year. The water of lower Iguazu collects in a canyon that drains in to the Parana River in Argentina, shortly downstream from the Itaipu dam.

The falls can be reached from the two main towns on either side of the falls: Foz du Iguacu in the Brazilian state of Parana, & Puerto Iguacu in the Argentine province of Misiones as well as from Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) on the other side of the Parana River from Foz du Iguacu. The falls are shares by the iguazu national park (Argentina) & Iguazu national park (Brazil). Theses falls were designated UNESCO world heritage sites in 1984 & 86, respectively. The fall area provides opportunities for water sports & rock climbing.

Upon seeing Iguazu, the United State’s First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed, “Poor Niagara”. Iguazu is also often compared with South Africa’s Victoria Falls which separates Zambia & Zimbabwe. Iguazu, however, affords better views & walkways & its shape allows for spectacular vistas. At one point a person can stand & be surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls. The Devil’s throat has water pouring in to it from three sides. Likewise, because Iguazu is split in to many relatively small falls, one can view this portion at a time. Victoria does not allow this as it is essentially one waterfall that falls in to a canyon & its too immense to appreciate at once. In some of the movies this falls were features Moonraker, The mission & Indiana Jones, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

for more audio visual stuff do check out YouTube channel : Exotic Vacations