Travel

Where In The World Is ... Iguazu Falls?

It's one of the largest waterfalls in the world, and incredibly picturesque. Can you guess where it is?

Somewhere in the world, you can find a waterfall system that's nearly three times wider than Niagara Falls. Long ago, the locals gave it a name that translates to “big water,” and, if you’re standing there, hushed under the roar of so much moving water, you can’t really argue with their choice.

The falls consist of 275 individual drops arranged in a horseshoe shape, with heights ranging from 200 to 270 feet. The most dramatic section, which is named “Devil’s Throat,” handles about half of the river's flow through a narrow U-shaped gorge. During the rainy season, the volume can reach 1.7 million gallons per second, enough water to fill an Olympic swimming pool every three seconds.

Can you guess where this natural wonder is located?

These falls formed around 200,000 years ago, when volcanic activity created a stepped basalt plateau. A mighty river gradually carved through layers of rock, creating the terraced landscape we see today. And the process continues! In fact, the falls have been slowly migrating upstream at a rate of about 3 millimeters per year.

The site gained international attention after Eleanor Roosevelt visited in 1944. She reportedly said, "Poor Niagara," upon seeing the much larger cascade. This comment helped establish its reputation as one of the world's most impressive waterfalls, leading to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

OK, have you made your guess?

These are the Iguazu Falls, located on the border between Argentina and Brazil in South America. The falls are surrounded by subtropical rainforest that's home to over 2,000 plant species, 400 bird species, and numerous mammals, making it both a geological and biological treasure.

Would you like to visit Iguazu Falls? Let us know in the comments!