Bordering the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, are one of the most mesmerising natural wonders; Iguassu Falls.
Divided into the upper and lower Iguassu, the waterfall is taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horseshoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguassu River. Four times the width of Niagara Falls, Iguassu Falls are divided by various islands into separate waterfalls. One of the best known is Devil’s Throat or Gargantua del Diablo with its perpetual spray high over the falls. Other notable falls are the San Martin, Bossetti, and Bernabe Mendez.
The first European to find the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541, after whom one of the falls on the Argentine side is named. The falls were rediscovered by Boselli at the end of the nineteenth century, and one of the Argentine falls was later named after him.
The falls were created as a result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. During the rainy season of November to March the rate of flow of water over the falls can reach between an astonishing 1,300 m³/s to 1,500 m³/scubic metres per second.
As one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world and were short-listed as a candidate to be one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.
Watch in awe of these mighty waterfalls on our Highlights of Brazil, 12 day itinerary from only £3,050, or call our experts now on 08452 703 862.
About Dave Orrock
Other articles by Dave Orrock
My passion for travel, and in particular Latin America, began in 1998 when I visited Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for the first time. The Islands were instrumental in fostering a love of the fantastic wildlife to be found on this continent. I have been fortunate enough to have had many great wildlife encounters, including blue-footed boobies in Ecuador, condors in Peru and caiman in Bolivia – although volunteering with capuchin monkeys in a Bolivian animal sanctuary stands out the most!
My second visit to South America triggered another keen interest in the Pre-Colombian civilizations of the continent. Machu Picchu in Peru was just as awe-inspiring on the third visit as the first! Its location in the Cloudforest at the end of the Inca Trail encompasses what for me is the true appeal of the continent – the combination of fascinating history, an array of outdoor adventures and breathtaking natural beauty. More recently I have had the pleasure of visiting some less well-known archaeological sites, including the spectacular Kuelap, hotly tipped to be the ‘new Machu Picchu.’ To my mind, there’s no need to stand one against the other – both are outstanding historical sites.
After several years in the sales department at Bales, where I also worked with Canada and Australia, I have recently moved to the Product Department. I am now revelling in the challenge of applying my knowledge and love of Latin America to developing the holidays we feature here, and ensuring that as many of our clients as possible discover the superb wildlife, history, cuisine and landscapes on offer.
