Iguazu Falls - Brazil side

After a relaxing morning we went to Lima International airport for the last time on the tour and boarded a direct flight to Iguazu Falls. We landed on the Brazil side and going thru immigration was VERY slow but with a group we kept our spirits high. We arrived about 8 pm local time to a luxurious Orient Express hotel - the only one located in the national park.

The following morning was a day of discovery of the wonders of nature...

The falls at dawn on Saturday,  May 5.

Hotel das Cataratas is  located a 1 minute walk from Iguazu falls

A walkway is along the cliff and provides many excellent viewing platforms along its 2Km path.

The falls lie on the boarder of Brazil & Argentina and both countries have created national parks around this natural marvel. The Iguazu river course runs over a volcanic plain or basalt plain. The falls are located where the the lava flow stopped and along the ridge there are rocks and hidden reefs that have divided the river into its many channels and created more than 275 waterfalls and covers an area larger than Niagara Falls in North America or Victoria Falls in Africa.

The large falls in the background is called Devil's Throat

- the most famous of the falls . It is the border between Brazil & Argentina. It has a drop of 82m.

Devils Throat - aptly named

This is a place that you have to experience to appreciate the grandeur and magnificence. It was proclaimed a world heritage area in 1984. More than a million litres a second flow over the falls.

The surrounding forests are bathed in either water spray, mist or high humidity and have an multitude of animals and plants - many species unique to the area. Preservation is the highest priority to preserve this natural wonder and its amazing ecosystem, natural habitats and endangered species.

In 1991 a massive hydroelectric scheme called Itaipu was completed up river - a joint project between Brazil & Paraguay and provides the majority of both countries electricity needs.  The size and capacity rank it amongst the world's largest annual generating capability. (Three gorges in China has 6 months with reduced generation due to the dry season..)