Iguazu Falls is a beautiful place on the border of Argentina and Brazil, because of which many tourists go to South America. They are on the list of natural wonders, and the Iguazu National Parks, home to rare plants and animals, are listed as World Heritage Sites. In total, the complex includes 275 waterfalls, the maximum height reaches 82 m, but most of the cascades are no more than 60 m. True, this was not always the case!
Natural features of the Iguazu Falls
The natural complex is caused by basalt deposits. The rock appeared more than 130 million years ago, and only 20,000 years ago the first waterfalls began to form near the Iguazu River. At first they were small, but by now they have grown to impressive sizes. Basalt build-ups are still forming, but it will not be possible to see changes in the next hundreds of years. The first waterfalls appeared near the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana, but over the years they have moved 28 km.
The complex itself is a set of cascading streams scattered throughout the gorge. The largest waterfall is called the Devil's Throat; it is the border between the states mentioned. Other cascading streams have no less interesting names: Three Musketeers, Flower Leap, Two Sisters. The photos under these massive streams are charming, because in sunny weather a rainbow appears everywhere, and the spray is refreshing on hot days.
Discovery history
The Kaingang and Guarani tribes used to live near the Iguazu Falls. In 1541, Cabeza de Vaca became the discoverer of this territory, making his way into the interior of South America. He was looking for the famous treasures of El Dorado, so the natural miracle did not make much of an impression on him. But contemporaries find the complex a real "gold" among the creations of nature.
Today this place is a popular tourist destination. For those who are interested in how to get to it, it is worth saying that the following cities are located near the natural attraction:
- Puerto Iguazo, owned by Argentina;
- Foz do Iguacu in Brazil;
- Ciudad del Este, which is part of Paraguay.
Tours to Iguazu are organized from these countries, but it is believed that it will be possible to visit more beauty from Argentina, but in Brazil the view from the top is so amazing that no pictures will convey the real charm of these places. Today in both countries there are walking trails, cable cars, as well as exciting excursions to the foot of the gorge.
Legends of the appearance of a miracle of nature
Ever since the times when tribal inhabitants lived on the territory of the Iguazu Falls, there were legends about the divine creation of this place. The incredible beauty, it seemed, could only be created by the gods, so it was believed that the waterfalls appeared from a fit of anger of the ruler of the heavenly kingdom, who was in love with the charming aboriginal Naipa, but was rejected by her. The rejected god split the river bed along which the girl and her chosen one swam.
There is another interpretation, according to which the gods decided to punish the lovers for disobedience and opened an insurmountable abyss between them in the form of a deep gorge. The girl was turned into a stone washed by the waters of Iguazu, and the young man was given the image of a tree, forever chained to the shore and forced to admire the chosen one, but not be able to reunite with her.
We recommend reading about Blood Falls.
Regardless of which story seems more true, tourists are happy to arrive in the countries from which you can get to the largest waterfall complex in South America and enjoy the spray that scatters around.
