The Iguazú river has a total extension of 1320 km miles until flowing into the Paraná River, 23 km after the waterfalls.
Inside the National Park, the river widens to about 1500 meters 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 long, and 80 meters high. Here the water falls with such potency that it creates dense clouds of vapor as it pours into the river below.
It is possible to reach the Park along National Routes Nº 12 and Nº 101 which cross the National Park. The closest city to the park is Puerto Iguazu, which is 17 kilometers to the West.
The public transportation of the city of Puerto Iguazu operates a busline which carries passengers to Iguazu Park. Departing from the “Hito Tres Fronteras” (Three Borders Landmark, Iguazu) the bus departs every half hour, beginning at 7:30 and ending at 18:30. The bus returning from the Iguazu National Park to the city also departs every half hour, beginning at 08:15, until the final departure at 19:15.
The following services are available in Iguazú Park: train tour, boat tour, restaurants, cafeteria, bookstore...
General admission fees are 100 Argentinian pesos.
N.B. The coordinates were taken at the Devil's Throat lookout
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