by Tommy Williams '11
Iguazú National Park is the national park in the city of Iguazú in the Misiones province, which contains the famous Iguazú Falls. Since Iguazú is located on the northeast corner of Argentina, it is shared between both Argentina and Brazil. You are close enough to see Brazil and the walkways that are in Brazilian territory.
It takes about fifteen hours in bus from Santa Fe to Misiones, so the group and I arrived bleary-eyed but ready to see the saltos (waterfalls). We were driven in a rented van to our hotel, and after a quick check in we were on our way to the Iguazú National Park. It only takes about twenty minutes, but there is a bus service from the park to the city which has buses every thirty minutes from 7:15 AM to 7:15 PM.
First, we took the Circuito Superior (Upper Circuit), a 650 meter walk which showed us most of the falls along the upper lip. On the Upper Circuit, we saw the from the Salto Dos Hermanas to the Salto Mibiguá. After returning we went back to the main operation center and went on a 4x4 ride through the jungle.
The Upper Circuit
On our ride, our guide told us more about the conservation of the park and what needs to be done to preserve it. Iguazú is a World Heritage Site, meaning that it's extremely important to the natural world. It has over 2,000 different species of vascular plants and is home to many important animals like the jaguar and tapir. Our guide further explained that only seven percent of the original forest remains, and that there are many poachers who will come into the park and cut out the hearts of palm on trees on palm trees, effectively killing them.
After the ride in the 4x4 we went on a boat ride through the Rio Iguazú Inferior (Lower Iguazú River). The river is also shared between Brazil and Argentina, so the drivers had to remain on the right side to not violate protocol. During the ride we saw the Salto Tres Mosqueteros and then we went under the Salto San Martin. Note: If you do not wish to be miserably wet for the rest of the day, wear waterproof clothing or bring a change of clothes.
Rainbow on the Salto Tres Mosqueteros
Following a thorough soaking, we headed along the Circuito Inferior (Lower Circuit) for a closer look at the waterfalls we saw earlier in the morning. It was a lot more up close and personal and offered great views for photos.
The Lower Circuit
We then walked up to the main part of the center and had lunch in a tenedor libre (buffet). Even though the group had already paid for the meal, drinks always cost extra and are usually priced around six or seven pesos. The food there was very good along with desserts like minted pears.
Later, we went to the train station and took it to the Garganta Station. From there we took a 1100 meter walk to see the most famous waterfall there, La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat). We saw one cayman, a turtle, and several toucans on the way there. All under the walkway's there was some type of animal to see.
Before we arrived at The Devil's Throat, we saw chunks of concrete and metal railings below in the water. Our guide explained to us that back in 1992 there was an inundación (flood), that swept away many of the previous walkways. It was hard to believe that something as solid and heavy could be swept away by water, but when I heard the roaring up ahead, I was then convinced about the power of water.
The Devil's Throat
The Devil's Throat made me go into shock. There was a constant roar, like there was a massive thunderstorm going on, and a constant spray of water that hit you in the face. When I was brave enough to peer into the depths, I only saw about fifty feet down, as it was shielded by fountains of mist. As I looked around, everyone seemed like ants in comparison to this mighty beast of a waterfall. It was something that I won't forget about Argentina.
Iguazú National Park is a great destination for tourists visiting Argentina and natives alike. It's also important to preserve the park for environmental purposes and to be reminded by the awesome power of nature.
by Tommy Williams '11
