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Discover the Wonder: Top 15 Amazing Fun Facts About Iguazu Falls You Can't Miss!

illustration of iguazu-falls
Prepare to be swept away by fascinating insights into the majestic Iguazu Falls – where nature's grandeur and thrilling trivia flow together in perfect harmony.

1. Iguazu Falls: The Leonardo DiCaprio of Waterfalls

If Mother Nature had her own version of the Oscars, Iguazu Falls would be the Leonardo DiCaprio of waterfalls, constantly overlooked for Niagara and Victoria, but still charming everyone's socks off: As one of the world's largest waterfall systems straddling Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls proudly boasts 275 individual falls, captivating the hearts of countless visitors each year.
Source => safari365.com

2. Eleanor Roosevelt's "Leaky Spigot" Comparison

Eleanor Roosevelt must have been truly "fallen" for Iguazu when she visited, as she cheekily proclaimed that Niagara looked like nothing more than a leaky spigot in comparison: In all seriousness, Iguazu Falls does indeed dwarf Niagara, boasting a width nearly three times greater and a height twice as tall as its North American counterpart.
Source => afsusa.org

3. The Party Destination for Rainbows

When the Iguazu Falls throws a party, even the rainbows come out to play: The horseshoe-shaped falls dazzle visitors with an abundance of rainbows that dance in the mist created by the division into their 275 separate waterfalls. These dazzling heights range between 200 and 269 feet, making for a stunning South American spectacle.
Source => kids.britannica.com

4. The 2006 Identity Crisis: Creek or Waterfall?

Who turned off the faucet in 2006? Iguazu Falls suffered an identity crisis, thinking it was a mere creek!: During a severe drought that year, the water flow dwindled to just 300 m3/s until early December, impacting tourism. But fear not, for the falls bounced back and now proudly boast a staggering flow rate of 1,756 m3/s (62,010 cu ft/s) as one of the world's most magnificent natural spectacles.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Devil's Throat: Where the Devil Takes a Splash

5. Devil's Throat: Where the Devil Takes a Splash

If the Devil went down to Iguazu, he'd be sure to make a splash: The Devil's Throat at Iguazu Falls is the most awe-inspiring waterfall of the bunch, standing majestically at 82 meters high and boasting an average flow of 1,800 cubic meters per second, surrounded by unique flora and fauna!
Source => iguazuargentina.com

6. Shutter Instincts: Iguazu on Your Bucket List

If you're a photography enthusiast, following your "shutter" instincts to Iguazu Falls might just be the drop in the bucket (list) you need: Behold the awe-inspiring marvel from a specially-built platform that cantilevers over the Devil's Throat, a horseshoe-shaped precipice on the edge of watery oblivion, and capture memories accessible from both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of the falls.
Source => journeylatinamerica.com

7. Elton John's Feathered Rivals at Iguazu Falls

If you're a bird enthusiast who finds feathers more fabulous than Elton John's wardrobe, Iguazu Falls might just tickle your avian-loving fancy: This natural wonder is home to over 400 species of birds, featuring such flamboyant characters as the Toco Toucan, Chestnut-eared Aracari, and Green-headed Tanager flitting about in the National Parks nearby.
Source => thewildlifediaries.com

8. The Ultimate Feathered Friends Party Hub

If birds of a feather flock together, then Iguazu Falls is the ultimate party hub for our feathered friends: Over 2,000 plant species and around 400 species of birds coexist in this vibrant oasis, including the flashy toucan and the daredevil great dusky swifts who love lounging behind the curtain of water at Floriano Falls.
Source => outpostmagazine.com

9. If Iguazu Falls were a Shampoo…

If Iguazu Falls were a shampoo, it would boast of an "80-meter drop and 3-kilometer span to leave your surroundings soaked in lush sub-tropical goodness": This magnificent waterfall, one of the largest in the world, rests on the border between Argentina and Brazil, within Iguazu National Park – a biodiverse paradise teeming with over 2000 plant species, 400 bird species, and around 80 mammal species, including fabulous creatures like the broad-snouted caiman, giant anteater, harpy eagle, ocelot, and jaguar.
Source => whc.unesco.org

Iguazu's Lemonade out of Tourist Lemons

10. Iguazu's Lemonade out of Tourist Lemons

When life gave the Iguazu Falls lemons, they made lemonade out of tourists: Despite the global souring of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, this breathtaking locale managed to entice 513,567 daring souls in 2021, according to Iguazú National Park authorities—a far cry from the usual 1.5 million annual visitors, but still a rather zesty turnout given the circumstances.
Source => iguazufalls.com

11. Chasing Waterfalls: Mother Nature's Masterpiece

Whoever said "don't go chasing waterfalls" clearly never experienced the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring masterpiece that Mother Nature created on the border of Argentina and Brazil: Behold the majestic Iguazu Falls, cascading down a thunderous 80-meter drop and stretching almost 3 kilometers wide. Nestled within the heart of the Iguazú National Park, this riveting spectacle rightfully earned its spot on the World Heritage List as one of the largest and most visually stunning waterfalls in the world.
Source => whc.unesco.org

12. Forever Young: 135 Million Year Old Waterfall

If Iguazu Falls could talk, it would probably tell you that age is just a number, and it's still as youthful as ever despite 135 million years in the making: The breathtaking waterfall was formed after a volcanic activity that resulted in a bedrock of inter-layered basalt and sandstone, over which the unstoppable Iguazu River carved out the magnificent falls we admire today. If that's not enough to leave you in awe, the falls continue to beat the odds by steadily retreating due to erosion – they've already moved 28 km from their original position!
Source => exploringtheearth.com

13. Full Moon Walking Tour: Devilish Adventures

If you find yourself in a devilish mood under the moonlight and need a hair-raising adventure, let your inner nightcrawler join the Full Moon Walking Tour to Iguazu Falls: Here, you can witness the breathtaking Devil's Throat circuit of the falls, illuminated only by lunar beams, offered on specific dates throughout the year, guided by experienced escorts, and featuring convenient hotel transportation from Puerto Iguazu or Foz de Iguazu.
Source => iguazufalls.com

14. Iguazu's Lunar Rainbow Party

When the moon decides to paint the town red - or rather, all the colors of the spectrum - Iguazu Falls knows how to throw a fantastic lunar party: Blessed with the magical occurrence of night rainbows during certain full-moon nights, these spectacular rainbows are created when moonlight passes through water particles from the falls, best seen from the Devil's Throat - a sight sure to make even the gods envious.
Source => iguazufallstours.info

Aquaman's Hydroelectric Engineering Feat

15. Aquaman's Hydroelectric Engineering Feat

Behold the alternate universe where Aquaman is an electrical engineer: The Itaipu Dam, located on the Paraná River between Paraguay and Brazil, effortlessly generates a whopping 14,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power, thanks to its jaw-dropping size and impressive spillway capacity. This engineering marvel commands a reservoir the size of a small country, but beware - not all is well in paradise, as there's always a hidden price to pay when humans morph rivers into superhero-charged electrical fences.
Source => eros.usgs.gov

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