| The work Iguaçú means "big water"
in the tupi-guarani etymology. The Iguaçú river, which forms the
Falls eighteen km before the river meets the Paraná river, overcomes a
ground unevenness and plunges 65m with a width of 2,780m. Its geological formation
dates back to approximately 150 million years. | |
|
The Iguaçú River is 1,200 wide
upstream from the Falls and downstream it narrows down to a 65m channel. The total
width of the Fall in the Brazilian territory is around 800m and 1,900m on the
Argentinean side. Depending on the river flow, the number of waterfalls ranges
from 150 to 300 and the height of said waterfalls ranges from 40 to 82m, accounting
for a 2,700m semicircular shape. The average water flow of the river is around
1,500m3, ranging from 500m3/s during the draught season to 6,500m3/s during the
flood season. The individual waterfalls may range from 20 to 300 depending
on the water volume. The large waterfalls are 19, three of them on the Brazilian
side (Floriano, Deodoro and Benjamin Constant) while the remaining ones are on
the Argentinean side. The position of the waterfalls, most of them on the Argentinean
side and facing Brazil, provide a better view to those admiring the scenery from
the Brazilian side.
 | | After
taking a wide turn and the rapids, the bulk of the falls plunges laterally into
the deep erosion gorge, the Devil's Gorge. This 85m high waterfall is the one
most appreciated by tourists; its shape resembles a horseshoe. |
|
The Iguaçu Falls
