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Strung out along the rim of a crescent-shaped cliff about 2.5 miles long is a series
of some 275 individual cascades and waterFalls separated by rocky, densely wooded islets. Some of
the cascades plummet straight down for 269 feet into the gorge below. Others are interrupted by
ledges and send up clouds of mist and spray, creating a dazzling display of rainbows.
The Falls, which would be memorable in any setting, are made all the more beautiful by their lush surroundings. The luxuriant forests are filled with bamboo, palms, and delicate tree ferns. Brilliantly feathered parrots and macaws flit through the foliage, competing for attention with the exotic blooms of wild orchids, begonias, and bromeliads.
The Falls are at their best during the rainy season from November to March. The flow slows down during the rest of the year, sometimes drastically. In May and June of 1978 the Falls dried up completely for 28 days, the first time such a thing had happened since 1934. But, normally, Iguazu is a dependable, ever-changing spectacle throughout the year.
The name Iguazu simply means "great waters" in the local Indian language. According to
legend, the great waterfall was created in an outburst of rage by the god of the Iguazu River, who
lived in a particularly wild and violent area of the downpour called the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). The
Falls are close to the point where the Iguazu and the Parana rivers join and the boundaries
of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay converge. The countries are
linked by two bridges: the Amistad (Friendship) Bridge between Brazil and Paraguay, and
the Tancredo Neves Bridge between Brazil and Argentina.
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The greatness Iguazú
Iguazú Waterfalls seen from a boat
Devil's Throat
Weather Conditions at Iguazú
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