Iguazu Falls, Brazil

Iguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, on the border of the Argentina province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana, are one of the world’s largest waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles)  in a horseshoe shape. 

The legend says that a God planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

The truth says that Iguazu Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left a large crack in the earth. The name of the falls comes from the Guaraní word for "great water." 

Four times the width of Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls are divided by various islands into separate waterfalls. One of the best known is Devil's Throat, or Gargantua del Diablo with its perpetual spray high over the falls. Other notable falls are the San Martin, Bossetti, and Bernabe Mendez.

Devil's Throat Waterfall

Gargantua del Diablo Waterfall

San Martin Waterfall

Bossetti Waterfall

While the ancient Brazilian tribes knew of its thunderous beauty, it was only officially ‘discovered’ in 1541, when the European explorer, the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, came across its breathtaking beauty. 

Today, the Iguazu Falls are owned by the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Iguazú National Park in Argentina and the Iguaçu National Park in Brazil.

The best times to see Iguazu Falls are in the spring and fall. Summer is intensely tropically hot and humid, and in winter the water level is considerably lower.