Higher than the Niagara Falls and double the width, the waterfall system consist of 275 falls over 3 kilometers along the Iguazu river.
Visitors never fail to find themselves intoxicated by the colors, the kinetic energy and the sheer beauty of the place. Straddling the Brazilian and Argentine boarders the waterfalls get their name from the Guarani words y (water) and ûasú (big). The most impressive of the waterfall's systems is the "Garganta del Diablo" (the devil's throat) system with around 1.5 million litres cascading to the depths below every second. Eleanor Roosevelt famously cried "Poor Niagara" when on a visit to the Iguaza Falls.
The Falls are protected by a national park in both Brazil and Argentina. Although around two thirds of the waterfalls lie in Argentina, the best views are to be had on the Brazilian side. Those who want to swim in the plunge pools may do so but it's advised watch out for parasites.
The best time to visit the Iguaza Falls is during the temperate Spring and Fall seasons. Extreme heat and humidity make a trip in Summer less enjoyable and in winter the Falls have less water. There are plenty of hotels and tourist facilities on both sides of the boarder. In 1986 the entire system became became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.