The Iguaçu Waterfalls (which means big waters in Tupi-Guarani, language spoken by the local indians) represent one of Brazils natural wonders.

The falls are formed by the Rio Iguaçu, which arises in the coastal mountains of the States of Paraná and Santa Catarina and snakes west for 600km (372mi) before arriving at the border with Argentina and Paraguay. Here it widens majestically and sweeps around a magnificent jungle stage, plunging and crashing in tiered falls.

At the falls, the river overcomes uneven ground by widening around a 3 km horseshoe-shaped ledge, and plunging into the canyon below. Most of the 150 to 275 (number varies with the waterlevels during the season) individual falls plunge in two stages, but in the center, the river falls into the "Devil's throat," some 235 feet below.

Iguassu Falls are higher than Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls (180 ft.), and to our point of view more beautiful than either. In terms of volume, Iguassu is one of the world's largest, pouring an average of 8,000 m3 of water per second over the falls during the rainy season. This compares with Niagara's 6,000 m3 per second.