This true wonder of nature is surrounded by mysteries, legends and myths about its origin, so we list 20 interesting facts about Iguaçu Falls and the National Park.
As waterfalls of Iguaçu they attract millions of visitors every year and it is impossible not to be enchanted by the wonders that the attraction provides.
Get ready for this adventure and let's go!
1- The first man to see the Falls!
First of all, know that the first white man to see the Iguaçu Falls was the Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñes Cabeza de Vaca, in 1542.
Enchanted by the beauty of the waters, he baptized them with the curious name of “Santa Maria Waterfalls”.
2- Did the Iguaçu Falls ever have an owner?
The Iguazu Falls were once the private property of a Uruguayan named Jesús Val.
One of the functions of the Iguaçu Military Colony was to distribute land to the settlers and that was how Jesús Val became the owner of the land where the Iguaçu National Park is located.
3- Santos Dumont helped make Cataratas a public utility!
Santos Dumont, after being dazzled by the beauty of the Falls, used all his influence to have the Province of Paraná expropriate the lands, declaring them to be of public use.
4- A former owner without losses!
Anyone who thinks that Uruguayan Jesús Val was at a loss is mistaken.
In return for the expropriation of the site, he received the amount of 298:716$322 (Two hundred and ninety-eight contos, seven hundred and sixteen thousand, three hundred and twenty two réis).
That is, approximately 130 thousand reais today.
5- When was the National Park created?
The Iguaçu National Park was effectively created on January 10, 1939, as a result of Decree-Law No. 1.035 of the President of the Republic, Getúlio Vargas.
6- How big is the Iguaçu National Park?
The Iguaçu National Park has a total of 185 thousand hectares, an area intended to be the largest in Brazil dedicated to the preservation of the Atlantic Forest.
7- The largest subtropical forest in the world!
Above all what has already been said, the Iguaçu National Park is the largest subtropical rainforest reserve in the world.
8- A World Heritage Site!
On November 17, 1986, it received the distinction, granted by UNESCO, of Natural Heritage of Humanity.
9- Named one of the Seven Wonders of the World
Not only a World Heritage Site, but also November 11th, 2011, the Iguaçu Falls were chosen as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
10- #CataratasDay
#CataratasDay is a day to raise awareness about the conservation of the Iguaçu National Park and the entire region.
By the way, it always takes place on November 11th, the same day that the Iguaçu Falls were chosen as one of the 7 World Wonders of Nature.
11- In the ranking of the most visited parks in Brazil
The Iguaçu National Park is one of the most visited conservation units in Brazil, in fact, until 2019, before the pandemic, it was only behind the Tijuca National Park, where Christ the Redeemer is located.
Just to give you an example, its visitation record was in 2019, when it received two million people that year!
12- The meaning of “Iguaçu”
The word Iguaçu comes from Guarani and means “big water”.
Also read: >> IGUAÇU FALLS, ONE OF THE 4 WATERFALLS YOU MUST SEE! <<
13- Largest set of waterfalls in the world
The Iguaçu Falls are made up of 275 waterfalls up to 80 meters high. However, the number of falls varies from 150 to 300, depending on the river flow.
14- The size of the Falls
Another curiosity to mention is that the shapes of the waterfalls resemble a horseshoe, the total length of this “horseshoe”, namely, is 2.700m (1.900m in Argentina and 800m in Brazil).
15- Voted the Seventh Attraction on the Planet
It is not enough to be one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Nature, but visitors from all over the world have chosen the majestic Iguaçu Falls as one of the top attractions in the world.
This is the Travelers Choice 2022 – Best of the Best award from Trip Advisor
16- The Falls is between 2 countries
Did you know that the waterfalls are located between Brazil and Argentina?
However, on the Brazilian side, it is possible to visit the Falls via Iguacu National Park, in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná.
On the Argentine side, where 80% of the waterfalls are located, visits take place at National Park Iguazu, through the city of Puerto Iguazú, in the province of Missiones.
17- The gigantic flow of Iguaçu Falls
Above the Falls, the Iguaçu River measures 1.200 meters wide, after traveling 1.320 km, in an East-West direction.
The average flow of the river is 1.500m³/s, and during the dry season this number drops to 300m³/s and, during floods, it reaches 6.500m³/s.
It is worth mentioning that in October 2022 the Falls recorded a flow record, reaching a flow of 16,5 million liters per second.
18- A curious legend
Indigenous legend has it that M'boy, a god in the form of a snake, planned to marry a beautiful Indian woman named Naipi.
Unfortunately for the god, on the wedding day Naipi fled with his beloved Tarobá, a young warrior, in a canoe.
In anger, the god cut the river, creating the falls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.
19- The source of the Iguaçu River
The Iguaçu National Park protects the entire basin of the Floriano River, one of the tributaries of the Iguaçu River, a rarity in the Southern Region of Brazil due to its water quality, whose sources are close to the BR-277 highway, between Céu Azul and Santa Terezinha de Itaipu .
20- How were the Falls born?
The Iguaçu River originates in Brazil, in the Serra do Mar, state of Paraná.
It runs through many kilometers of plain, just before its mouth, it faces a large drop in level, a rupture caused by a geological fault.
This fracture gives rise to a gigantic system of waterfalls known as the Iguaçu Falls.
Did you like the list?
These 20 interesting facts about Foz do Iguaçu and Iguaçu National Park are just the beginning, the attraction has many other charms and we are sure that after seeing this list, you will be dying to visit!
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Staying in comfortable and safe accommodation that you and your family deserve, you can enjoy this and other attractions in Foz do Iguaçu.
Such as Parque das Aves, Marco das Três Fronteiras, among other incredible tours in the trinational region, that is, which include neighboring countries – Ciudad del Este – Py and Puerto Iguazú – AR!
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*Update: 11/11/2022 | Joelma Oliveira
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