Iguazu Falls is a breathtaking waterfall located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It’s a popular tourist destination, but also offers the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and culture of the region.
If the photos alone aren’t enough to convince you, here are seven facts that’ll make you want to pack your poncho, your selfie stick, and your Spanish-English dictionary and book your trip right now!
Sure, Iguazu Falls isn’t hard on the eyes:
1. When U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt first saw Iguazu Falls, she was reportedly so impressed that she remarked, “Poor Niagara.” And rightly so—Iguazu Falls is nearly three times as wide and twice as tall as Niagara Falls!
2. You can get a great view of the falls from both Argentina and Brazil. While they’re technically in Argentina, you can view them from across the nearby border in Brazil. (Just don’t forget your Portuguese-English dictionary!)
3. More than one million people visit Iguazu Falls each year. So it must be pretty awesome, right?
And, it’s GIGANTIC:
4. Iguazu Falls is made up of approximately 275 waterfalls or cataracts—the exact number varies depending on the season. (We don’t recommend it, but you can try to count them all…)
5. It’s over 1.5 miles wide. And the tallest waterfall, Devil’s Throat, is over 260 ft. tall!
But it’s also surrounded by lots of history and wildlife:
6. Iguazu Falls is part of a biodiverse, subtropical rainforest, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And if you love wildlife, you’ll be amazed by the tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and caimans that call the Iguazu National Park home.
7. Iguazu means “big water” in the native Guarani Indian language. Which makes a lot of sense.
Want to learn more about Argentina, Brazil, and other popular study abroad destinations for high schoolers? Check out the AFS-USA blog, where you’ll find posts on topics ranging from volunteer opportunities to taste tests to celebrity quotes about travel.
Or, if you’re ready to have the adventure of a lifetime, you can get started on your study abroad journey here.