When we visited both of the Iguazu falls National Parks (one in Argentina and the other in Brazil), the last weekend of February, what struck us most, besides the stunning nature and the beauty of the falls themselves, was how each National Park treated the subject of environmental preservation in that area. We were surprised to find that the Brazilian and Argentine National Parks had very different methods of raising awareness and that the results of their efforts were quite visible in the Parks themselves. For those of you who haven’t heard of the falls before (don’t worry, before we started planning our trip to Argentina I hadn’t heard of them either, even though they are incredibly beautiful and very famous around South-America - they are one of the new 7 word wonders!), here’s a brief over-view of facts and history of the falls and both National Parks: The waterfalls are located on the border of Argentina (Misiones) and Brazil (Paraná).

The falls originate from the Iguazu-river, have a total width of 2.7km and a height of 60-82m. Due to the tropical climate in the area the rainforest around the falls is home to more than 2000 plant species, 400 species of birds, countless insects (beware of the mosquitoes!) and many other animals. The Argentine National Park was created in 1934, with the purpose of preserving the waterfalls as well as the biodiversity around them. Approximately 900000 visitors come to the park each year. The Brazilian National Park was created 5 years later, it is home to many endangered species including the giant otter. Around 800000 tourists visit the park every year. On our first day, after arriving in Puerto Iguazu on Friday evening, we decided to visit the Argentine National Park, as it is larger than the Brazilian one and gives you many close-up views of the waterfalls and access to the famous ‘gargantas del diablo’ (Devil’s throat) long and narrow chasm. Entering the Park and walking towards the first tourist walkway, we saw various warning signs with information on the different animals and warnings not to feed them.    

We were told to especially watch out for Coaties (raccoon-like animals that are not afraid of humans and very eager to steal your food!) as they are likely to get aggressive around food and may attack you. There were also signs asking the visitors not to leave trash lying around, which seemed to be quite effective, as even the areas around the ‘food courts’ were considerably clean. Along the walkways (there are two walkways: upper and lower), many information boards had been installed that provided the visitors with historical facts about the area, information on various plants and animals specific to the jungle that surrounds the waterfalls and the ecological changes that the environment of the falls is undergoing. We were impressed with the effort that was made to create environmental awareness and advocate the preservation of the nature around the falls. The other feature of the Park that proves its dedication to protecting the environment is the ecological train, which transports the visitors from the starting point of the walkways to the point from which they can access the Devil’s throat chasm.  

The next day we visited the Brazilian National Park, which offers a complete view of the falls next to each other, which left us completely awestruck. But sadly we also noticed that the tourists here hadn’t been as considerate, as we saw empty soda and beer cans, plastic bags and wrappers, that had been carelessly left behind next to the trails, in the forest. Another thing that caught our attention was the heliport and the helicopter tours over the falls that the Park offers. In addition to that there is a large Hotel right next to the tourist paths inside the park. While these facilities create jobs for the locals of the area and boost the economy, they are a big strain on the fragile environment.  

The fact that the two parks treated the issue of preserving our natural environment so differently reminded us of the responsibility we have as tourists to make sure our behavior doesn’t harm our environment and that we should always try to create intercultural exchange with our host communities. Visiting the Iguazu falls was an incredible experience and I can only advise all of you to travel there while you are in Argentina, if you have the chance. Being in the presence of such natural beauty and force gave us a new sense of perspective in regard to our environment and the way we should be taking care of it.