Iguazu Falls Explained

Iguazu Falls is a waterfall system on the Iguazu River. It divides the river into upper and lower sections.

The name comes from words meaning water and big. Guarani really valued straightforward naming conventions.

Numerous islands along the 2.7-kilometre edge divide the falls into separate waterfalls. About 900 m has no water.

About half the flow falls into the canyon 80 to 90 m wide and 70 to 80 m deep.

André Rebouças proposed preserving the falls in 1876. Yellowstone was still learning to walk.

A deity sliced a river in rage.

Its maximum recorded flow was 45,700 cubic metres per second on 9 June 2014. Niagara averages 2,400.

Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly saw Iguazu and exclaimed poor Niagara. Niagara has probably heard that before.