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THE IGUAZÚ WATERFALLS - MISIONES PROVINCE |
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Click here to see a video of the Waterfalls
Geographic Description: From its source in the Serra do Mar,
not far from the Atlantic coast, the Rio Iguazu (or Iguassu) flows westward
for about 820 miles across southern Brazil. Gathering tributaries, the
river grows steadily in volume as it meanders across the uplands of the
Parana Plateau. Step by step it makes its way toward sea level, tumbling
over some 70 waterFalls that interrupt its course.
But the river takes its grandest leap just a short distance above its
confluence with the Parana, where the Iguazu forms a boundary between Argentina
and Brazil. Plunging at last off the edge of the plateau, the river thunders
down in what one observer likened to the "awesome spectacle of an ocean
pouring into an abyss." The thunderous roaring of the water can be heard
from miles away.
Strung out along the rim of a crescent-shaped cliff about 2.5 miles
long is a series of some 275 individual cascades and waterFalls separated
by rocky, densely wooded islets. Some of the cascades plummet straight
down for 269 feet into the gorge below. Others are interrupted by ledges
and send up clouds of mist and spray, creating a dazzling display of rainbows.
The Falls, which would be memorable in any setting, are made all the
more beautiful by their lush surroundings. The luxuriant forests are filled
with bamboo, palms, and delicate tree ferns. Brilliantly feathered parrots
and macaws flit through the foliage, competing for attention with the exotic
blooms of wild orchids, begonias, and bromeliads.
Click here to see an interactive picture
of the falls
Click here to see the 2nd. interactive
picture
IGUAZÚ is part of the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
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The Falls are at their best during the rainy season from November to
March. The flow slows down during the rest of the year, sometimes drastically.
In May and June of 1978 the Falls dried up completely for 28 days, the
first time such a thing had happened since 1934. But, normally, Iguazu
is a dependable, ever-changing spectacle throughout the year.
The name Iguazu simply means "great waters" in the local Indian language.
According to legend, the great waterfall was created in an outburst of
rage by the god of the Iguazu River, who lived in a particularly wild and
violent area of the downpour called the Garganta do Diablo (Devil's Throat).
The Falls are close to the point where the Iguazu and the Parana rivers
join and the boundaries of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay converge. The
countries are linked by two bridges: the Amizada (Friendship) Bridge between
Brazil and Paraguay, and the Tancredo Neves Bridge between Brazil and Argentina.
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