IGUASSU FALLS, CATARATAS DEL IGUAZÚ, CATARATAS DO
IGUAÇU, Paraná, Brazil.
BRAZILIAN
SIDE
Iguaçu's
falls are one of the planet’s natural wonders, UNESCO in 1986 consider it a Natural
Patrimony of Humanity. Formed on Iguaçu river, the falls go down an average height of 60
meters by an extension of 2700 meters. The number of falls varies from 270 to 150,
depending on the river's outflow. The major part of the falls is located in Argentina, but
all its beauty can be admired also on Brazilian side. Several trails takes the visitor to
runways and lookouts to observe the falls. The Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Iguaçu
National Park) (1852 sqkm) preserves Atlantic Forest area with a very diversified fauna
and flora. About 350 birds springs live there, 250 butterflies and 50 mammals. The first
European to discovered the falls was the Spaniard Alvaro Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, in 1542,
he named the falls Salto de Santa Maria.
