Iguassu Falls

Location
The Iguassu Falls are one of the World's largest and most famous waterfalls. They are found about 24 kilometres from where the Iguassu river joins the Parana river. They are found on the border of Argentina and Brazil.

The Iguassu Falls are made up of 275 waterfalls which topple over the towering cliffs. The crest of the falls is more than 60 metres high.

The waterfalls drop as both a cascade and a cataract. There are differences in appearance between the falls in the wet and dry season.

In the dry season, visitors can see two separate falls, as two crescents of water are formed. Each crescent of water is 732 metres wide. During the dry season there is less rainfall, so the water level in the Iguassu river drops. There is less water travelling over the Iguassu Falls, so they split into two separate waterfalls.

Iguassu Falls in the dry season

In the wet season the two crescents join together to make one large waterfall about 4 kilometres wide. This change in the waterfalls is because there is more rainfall in the wet season, so more rain water enters the river Iguassu at its source in north-eastern Brazil.

Iguassu Falls in the wet season

Tourism
The Iguassu Falls are one of the world's greatest tourist attractions. Visitors can walk across a bridge close to the Falls. They can take a boat trip to view them more closely.

Also in the area there is the Iguassu National Park where tourists can view the wildlife and vegetation. Boating is also available on the Parana and Iguassu rivers. People can also visit the Itaipu Dam, one of the world's largest hydro-electric power stations.

Iguassu Falls: another picture