Iguazu
Falls - the third largest river in South America after the Amazon and Orinoco
River, a tributary of the Parana, has its origins high in the mountains of the
Serra do Mar to the east of Sao Paulo.
Passing
thirteen hundred miles of virgin forests, it is converted into a powerful stream
of Parana on the hill, through which rushes down about 70 waterfalls.
Along the
River Iguazu, it borders Argentina and Brazil.To the north
of the river - Brazil, to the south - Argentina. The
boundary divides the waterfall itself, and the National Park. At
26 km from the confluence of the Iguazu Falls are located in the Parana past
waterfalls, which are so named - Iguazu Falls, or as they are referred to as the
"Devil's Throat."According
to ancient Indian legend, a brave soldier stole from his favorite god of the
forest. As
a result, the angry god of the earth broke down the direction of the river to
the fugitives were unable to sail in a canoe, and were always doomed to fall in
the circle he created the waterfall.The word Iguaçu and Indian origin.
In the language
of the Guarani it means great or big water. This
name seemed the best way is to this mighty and majestic
waterfalls.The Europeans discovered
Iguazú Falls in 1541. Was
it a European conqueror, Alvaro Nunez de Vaca Kavesa, wade through the dense
thickets with a small detachment to the new town of Asuncion, and stumbled to
the waterfalls are absolutely unexpectedly.The
Spaniard recorded only in his own magazine, I found a great waterfall (he called
it Santa Maria), and because the canoe had to be moved along the shore in his
round. For
several centuries, scientists have only visited a waterfall, while in 1916 the
famous pilot aeronautics pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont did not flown over it on
the plane.Santos-Dumont
was so impressed by beauty of these places, which immediately rushed to the
Brazilian Government to the opening of the National Park, which has now been in
existence since January 10, 1939.In
1984, Argentine, and in 1986 - Brazil, part of the Iguazu National Park are
included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Falls each second
drops down from 3 to 10 million liters. water, depending on the season.
The
river falls into the groove with the 2-steep basalt steps, presumably formed 120
million years ago, in the form of a narrow horseshoe, with numerous streams and
streams that are separated by rocky islands covered with lush tropical
vegetation.The
height of the waterfall over 70 meters total width of two steps - about 3 km.
"275
separate streams and water jets tend down from a rocky plateau, accompanied by a
large number of rainbows."During
the dry season, a waterfall can be divided into two individual parts in the form
of 2-crescents. Every half-moon - about a
kilometer wide. Moreover,
presumably once in 40 years of drought are such that the Iguazu completely dry.
And
then a huge waterfall is converted into an ordinary basalt ledge. The
last time was in May-June 1978, when 28 days is not a single drop has fallen off
a cliff. Although,
certainly, to see such an empty canyon, knowing that it is virtually always
filled with water, is also an incredible sight.There
are, of course, and the powerful floods in the rainy season, when even the
locals are in deep shock from this amount of water that suddenly falls on their
heads.
The
largest part of the waterfall is located on the Argentine side, but it can be
seen better with the Brazilian. On
the part of Argentina can only look down, and from the whole panorama is
available in Brazil.
Go to the
waterfalls can be reached by land, air or water. This is true
both for Argentina and Brazil for their parts. The fastest way - through the air.
Almost
at the very entrance to the National Park is a helipad, where you can make a
seven-minute flight to the waterfalls.It
is a means of transport - a helicopter - offers the opportunity to see Iguazu
falls entirely. True,
that would get on the seven-minute helicopter ride, will have about an hour to
defend in the queue, waiting for his seat in a helicopter.
After
enjoying the spectacle can go on mile footpath along the river, or rather above
the river. In the
course of a walk you can stay at several observation sites. At
the end of the footpath which goes gradually down from the edge of the canyon
you will come to a large area in front of "Devil's Throat", which is constantly
hanging in the air spray and spray a rainbow.