Iguazú Waterfalls and National Park - Misiones, Argentina
Posted by: 
denben
S 25° 41.738 W 054° 26.245
21J E 757168 N 7155527
Iguazú Waterfalls and National Park, province of Misiones, Argentina.
Waymark Code: WMBMGC
Location: Argentina
Date Posted: 06/02/2011
Views: 25
From: Iguazú National Park's Official Site
"The Iguazú National Park was created in 1934, with approximately 67,620 hectares/167,091 acres and was declared “Natural Heritage to the Humanity” by the UNESCO in 1984 due to its scenic beauties and to the great biological diversity of the subtropical forest.
This natural sanctuary, located in the Argentina’s northeaster corner, bestowed with benevolent rains and temperatures (15ºC/59°F average in Winter and 30ºC/ 86°F average in Summer) brings about a very humid atmosphere almost windless due to the leafy vegetation canopy. The Iguazú river has a total extension of 1320 km/ 820 miles until flowing into the Paraná River, 23 km/ 14 miles after the waterfalls.
Inside the National Park, the river widens to about 1500 meters/ 0.9 miles and turns south, next it turns north, in the shape of a wide “U” where the river mouth presents the abrupt slump of soil which conforms the cataratas: a magnificent waterfall.
All along the above mentioned prominent curve, a proliferation of reefs, islets and prolonged islands provoke the fragmentation of the river in numerous branches. When the river reaches the cliff, each branch becomes a waterfall and together comprise the great Iguazú Waterfalls.
An unforgetable experience and a spectacle of nature, the falls are considered a wonder of the world. They originated 200 thousand years ago in the place that is known today as “the 3 frontiers” marked with stone pillars, where the Iguassu river and the Paraná river meet. A geological fault produced on the Paraná river made the outlet of the Iguassu river become an abrupt cascade approximately 80 meters high. From that point, where the falls originate to where the Devil’s Throat is located today, covers 23 kilometers. This is due to the slow process of erosion, however the steep drop which defines them as waterfalls remains.
This original cascade, has become the most impressive falls of the group, The Devil’s Throat. Eighty meters high, it is located on the principal river course. Depending on the water level, you can see anywhere between 160 a 260 falls, that on average flow at a rate of 1500 cubic meters of water per second.
The violence of the falls produce a permanent fog, where sunbeams form multiple rainbows of incredible beauty.
This wonder of nature permits the observation of one of the most unique landscapes in the World; constituted by the upper Iguazu River and the Subtropical Forest, which frame the incredible Devil's Throat balcony. Three ring-shaped balconies permit a special view of the colossal “throat”, the culmination of the journey: a giant horseshoe-shaped waterfall 150 meters / 492 feet long, and 80 meters / 262 feet high. Here the water falls with such potency that it creates dense clouds of vapor as it pours into the river below."
Name of Source Book: 1000 Places To See Before You Die (2003)
Page Location in Source Book: 812-813
Type of Waymark: Site, Park, Waterfalls
Location of Coordinates: The Devil's Throat Falls
Cost of Admission (Parks, Museums, etc.): 100.00 (listed in local currency)
List Available Hours, Dates, Season:
The park is open all year round from 8:00 to 18:00
Official Tourism Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Because of the vastness of many of the "non-localized" sites (Gobi Desert, Great Wall of China), waymark owners are encouraged to allow visits that reflect different perspectives and experiences.
Localized waymark sites (Structures, Landmarks, Businesses) should reflect standard waymarking visit criteria (Logs & photos).