Day 21 -- Iguazu Falls

They say one should never underestimate the power of nature:  and I was reminded of that today as I viewed the awe-inspiring sight of a 3km wide river hurtling into space and crashing down 65 metres to find its new level.

At the moment the upper river is flowing at a good pace after recent rains.  As it approaches Iguazu it spreads wide.  The cliffs, for want of a better word, that create the falls stretch in a semi-circular rim from the Brazilian edge nearly 3km to the Argentinian edge.  20% of the falls are in Brazil, 80% in Argentina - even though the border is the middle of the river.  Just a quirk of geography.

Stated out at 7.30 on the usual run around several hotels to collect other tourists, then we entered the National Park and reached the main entrance to the Falls.  They have taken Eco-tourism very seriously, maintaining as small a human footprint as possible.  A mini-train transports the hundreds of tourists the 2km to the start of the walks.  There are three, each a well engineered walkway of steel mesh just above river level.  The first walk (1100m out, then back) is to the Devil's Throat, the largest and noisiest of the falls.  So much mist, I could never catch a glimpse of the river below.  This track takes you up very close and personal with the falls... You can actually see the river cascading away below you as you stand on the walkway.  The second trail is called the Upper Circuit, 2.2km one way round.  This passes over numerous smaller falls as the river is split by small islands on the plateau rim.  Guide said between 200 and 400 individual falls, depending on wetaher and water flow.

After 4km in the 30C heat and near 100% humidity, lunch was a welcome break.  In the afternoon some were doing the boat ride up under the falls; others the lower circuit (1.4km) which would follow the lower river and allow them to see the falls from below.  I was booked to go to the Brazilian side, so with 2 English ladies and a wonderful Brazilian guide we headed across the border.  A minor hiccup:  my Argentinian reciprocity payment slip was missing, but the guide sorted it out with immigration.  (I risked not being able to get back into Argentina).  The Brazilian walk is quite different.  Concrete paths on their side of the river, but it provides wonderful panoramic views of the entire falls.  The sheer majesty of it all is only really seen from Brazil.  And they are very civilized:  after walking all the way down to lower river level they provide an elevator to get back up!

It was a full day, and my feet tonight are a bit of a mess.  Some TLC before bed.  Needless to say I took far too many photos, and I won't bore you with too many of them.  Will post a select group to give you some idea of the enjoyment I had in being here.  Off to Rio tomorrow (without Bing and Bob and Dorothy).

You can check out the photos Here.