he greatest waterfalls in the world are definitely a superstar among turist attractions in South America. Even the most hardened of waterfall yawners will be taken away by the Iguasu Falls.

Iguasu is not just one waterfall. It is in fact 275 different waterfalls crashing 80m into the Iguasu river. The river creates the border between Argentina and Brazil. I spent one day on the argentinian side and one day on the brazilian side to see the spectacular site from different perspective.

 

On the very top of those waterfalls, is the awesome semicircular "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil´s Throat). When I was standing above this deep hole and was hearing the roar of the mass of the water I actually had goose-skin on my back. It was so impressive. The opther waterfalls were also beautiful and some of them had a nice rainbow across the bottom, from all the spraying water.

 

When I was watching the waterfalls from the argentinian side, I was able to come very close and get quite wet. From the brazilian side you cannot get so close, but you can see many waterfalls at the same time. They call it the Grand Overview. The Iguasu Falls were in deed the most impressive falls I have ever seen. What an unbelievable experience.

 

Did you know that on the very same river, just about 20 km up the stream there used to be even greater and more impressive falls there? They were called Sete Quedas and were on Paraguayan territory. Unfortunately the government decided to flood out the whole area, in order to create the biggest dam in the world. They did it and created Itaipu Dam, area: 1350 sq km, depth: 220 m, cost: 25 billion US dollars. When they flooded this area, they did not only destroyed a very special natural splendour, they also created a new habitat for Anopheles mosquitos, increasing malaria in the territory. I shall find out more about these nice blokes from Paraguay.