Brazil: The Iguaçu Falls

Hi folks, take a look at this amazing place. It is worth a visit for sure.

The word Iguaçú means “big water” in the tupi-guarani etymology. The Iguaçú river, which forms the Falls eighteen km before the river meets the Paraná river, overcomes a ground unevenness and plunges 65m with a width of 2,780m. Its geological formation dates back to approximately 150 million years.

The Iguaçú River is 1,200 wide upstream from the Falls and downstream it narrows down to a 65m channel. The total width of the Fall in the Brazilian territory is around 800m and 1,900m on the Argentinean side. Depending on the river flow, the number of waterfalls ranges from 150 to 300 and the height of said waterfalls ranges from 40 to 82m, accounting for a 2,700m semicircular shape. The average water flow of the river is around 1,500m3, ranging from 500m3/s during the draught season to 6,500m3/s during the flood season.

The individual waterfalls may range from 20 to 300 depending on the water volume. The large waterfalls are 19, three of them on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro and Benjamin Constant) while the remaining ones are on the Argentinean side. The position of the waterfalls, most of them on the Argentinean side and facing Brazil, provide a better view to those admiring the scenery from the Brazilian side.

After taking a wide turn and the rapids, the bulk of the falls plunges laterally into the deep erosion gorge, the Devil’s Gorge. This 85m high waterfall is the one most appreciated by tourists; its shape resembles a horseshoe.

Source: Cataratas

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1.jpg Autor: Alessandro é analista de sistemas e coordenador do English Experts, estudante autodidata, aprendeu inglês por conta própria via Internet. Atualmente trabalha na empresa Inovesys Technologies em projetos na área de comércio eletrônico. Outros textos do autor.

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