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Grandes Viajes

The cataracts of the Iguassú

“Iguazú” the Indians shouted when they discovered the waterfalls. The word means “big waters” in the Guaraní language, and what they had discovered, as they made their way down the River Paraná towards the ocean, were the gigantic falls today famous. Never had they seen any so dangerous, so impressive.

The Spanish conquistadors didn’t yet know them, and it would be some time before they were named the Saint Mary Falls by Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. No one could have imagined then that the incredible cataracts were situated at the intersection of the future Brzsil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Iguassú was formed by the disruption caused to the river bed by the erosive action of the water. The bed was made up of a mass of hard rocks set in softer earth. The rocks became a barrier to the river and the pent-up waters forced their way over them to the other side. The violence of the river as it poured over the edge was sufficient to wear down the ground. Thereby the fall grew progressively higher. Finally a great canyon, The Devil’s Throat was produced.

Waterfalls or cataracts? Which is the correct name? From a geological point of view, there’s no essential difference between them. Although the word waterfalls is normally given to quite high ones found in streams and rivers without much water, the term cataract is usually applied to more spectacular but relatively low falls, occurring in rivers with a large volume of water.

Iguassú, with a total of 275 falls, reaching on average a height of 70 meters each, properly deserves the name of cataract.

The 11,3000 cubic meters of water per second are the result of tropical downpours and, consequently, neither uniform nor consistent. From August to October, during the dry season, the volume is seven times less than during the rainy months form November to March. These considerable seasonal variations explain why the Iguassú has never been harnessed for hydro-electrical power.

But if the cataracts have been spared commercial exploitation, their tourist importance is still growing. The old summer residence of the Brazilian emperor now competes with the Argentinean international hotel. A series of catwalks, footbridges and vantage points have been built to welcome visitors. And around the cataracts, like a protective screen, the Iguassú National Park has been declared a Heritage of Mankind by the Unesco.

Iguassú is therefore a staggering spectacle which runs non-stop and never disappoints.