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What Is Iguazu Falls? A Bit of History and Relevance
- Ramiro Rodriguez
What Is Iguazu Falls? History, Formation and Global Importance
Iguazu Falls is an extensive system of waterfalls formed by the Iguazu River on the international border between Argentina and Brazil. Surrounded by the Atlantic Forest, the falls are protected by two neighboring national parks and hold two different international distinctions: UNESCO World Heritage status and recognition as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.
The destination is important not only for its dramatic waterfalls, but also for its geological formation, Guaraní cultural heritage and exceptional biodiversity.
Where Is Iguazu Falls Located?
Iguazu Falls is located between Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina and the state of Paraná in southern Brazil.
The Iguazu River forms part of the international boundary between the two countries before flowing into the Paraná River downstream from the waterfalls. The closest tourism centers are:
- Puerto Iguazú in Argentina.
- Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil.
Paraguay is part of the nearby Triple Frontier region, but Iguazu Falls is not located in Paraguay. The waterfalls are shared exclusively by Argentina and Brazil.
Likewise, the nearby Itaipu hydroelectric complex belongs to Brazil and Paraguay, not Argentina. Itaipu is a binational project located on the Paraná River and is geographically and institutionally separate from Iguazu Falls.
Travelers who need more detailed geographic information can consult our guide explaining where Iguazu Falls is located on a map.
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How Was Iguazu Falls Formed?
The landscape of Iguazu Falls is the result of volcanic activity followed by a long process of erosion.
Ancient lava flows covered much of the Paraná Basin and eventually cooled into extensive layers of basalt. These successive layers did not all have the same resistance. Over time, the Iguazu River gradually eroded the weaker sections of rock while the harder basalt layers remained.
This differential erosion helped create the stepped profile visible throughout the waterfall system. Instead of falling from one continuous cliff, the river divides around rocky islands and drops over numerous separate edges.
The falls continue to change. Moving water, fractures in the basalt, variations in river flow and the gradual erosion of the rock all contribute to reshaping the landscape. This geological process is extremely slow from a human perspective, but it explains why Iguazu Falls should be understood as an evolving natural system rather than a static formation.
The most powerful section is Devil’s Throat, or Garganta del Diablo in Spanish and Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese. Here, several channels of the Iguazu River converge before descending into a deep, curved gorge, producing the characteristic roar and permanent clouds of mist associated with the falls.
The Guaraní History Behind Iguazu Falls
The history of Iguazu Falls did not begin with European exploration. Indigenous peoples lived in and traveled through this forest region long before European expeditions arrived.
Guaraní communities developed a profound cultural relationship with the rivers, forest and wildlife of the area. The name “Iguazú” is generally connected to the Guaraní words y, meaning water, and guasu, meaning large or great. It is therefore commonly translated as “Great Water.”
One of the best-known Guaraní traditions associated with the waterfalls tells the story of Naipí and Tarobá. Versions of the legend vary, but they generally describe two lovers who attempted to escape together along the river. A powerful supernatural being, angered by their flight, divided the earth and created the waterfalls, separating them forever.
The story should be presented as part of the region’s Indigenous oral tradition, not as a scientific account of the formation of the falls. Its importance lies in showing that Iguazu Falls already held cultural and spiritual meaning long before it became an international tourist attraction.
Guaraní communities remain part of the wider cultural landscape of Misiones and Paraná today. Their history should not be treated merely as a prelude to European arrival, but as an essential part of the destination’s identity.
European Documentation and Regional Development
During his 1541–1542 expedition through the region, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca became the first known European to document Iguazu Falls.
European documentation did not represent the discovery of an uninhabited place. Indigenous communities already knew the river and surrounding forest. Cabeza de Vaca’s account marked the beginning of the falls appearing in European written records.
During the following centuries, the broader region experienced Spanish and Portuguese colonial expansion, the development of Jesuit missions and changing territorial boundaries. The history of present-day Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay became closely connected in this part of South America.
By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the waterfalls were still difficult for outsiders to reach. Early expeditions, rudimentary roads and basic accommodations gradually opened the area to tourism.
On the Argentine side, Victoria Aguirre played an important role in this process by contributing funds for one of the first roads connecting the settlement of Puerto Iguazú with the waterfalls. Her name is still present on one of the city’s principal avenues.
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The Creation of Two National Parks
Argentina and Brazil eventually created separate national parks to protect their respective sides of the waterfalls and the surrounding forest.
Iguazú National Park in Argentina was created in 1934. It protects more than 67,000 hectares of the Selva Paranense and contains the largest network of visitor walkways around the waterfalls.
Iguaçu National Park in Brazil was created in 1939. It protects a substantially larger area of Atlantic Forest and provides the broad panoramic perspectives for which the Brazilian side is known.
The two parks are separate protected areas, administered by different countries. They have independent entrances, tickets, visitor regulations and infrastructure. Ecologically, however, they protect connected sections of the same river, forest and wildlife habitat.
For circuits, entrances and practical visitor information, see our complete Iguazu Falls National Park guide.
UNESCO World Heritage Recognition
UNESCO World Heritage status applies to the two national parks through two separate inscriptions.
The Argentine Iguazú National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. The Brazilian Iguaçu National Park received its own UNESCO inscription in 1986.
UNESCO recognized the parks for their exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity. Together, they preserve an important remnant of the Interior Atlantic Forest, one of South America’s richest and most threatened ecosystems.
The designation therefore protects more than the visible waterfalls. It recognizes the relationship between the river, basalt cliffs, permanent mist, forest vegetation and the many species that depend on this environment.
New7Wonders of Nature: A Different Recognition
In 2011, Iguazu Falls was announced as one of the New7Wonders of Nature following an international public-voting campaign organized by the New7Wonders Foundation.
This recognition is not a UNESCO designation.
The distinction is important:
- UNESCO World Heritage status results from an intergovernmental evaluation based on established cultural or natural heritage criteria.
- New7Wonders of Nature was an independent global campaign based on public participation and voting.
Both distinctions contributed to the international visibility of Iguazu Falls, but they were granted by different organizations through entirely different processes. They should never be described as if they were the same recognition.
Wildlife of the Atlantic Forest
The rainforest surrounding Iguazu Falls supports remarkable biological diversity. UNESCO identifies the parks as habitat for thousands of plant species and hundreds of bird species, as well as numerous mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Animals that visitors may observe around public areas include:
- Coatis.
- Toucans.
- Monkeys.
- Butterflies.
- Tegus.
- Turtles.
- Caimans.
- Great dusky swifts.
The great dusky swift is particularly associated with the waterfalls because it can fly through the heavy mist and use protected rock walls around or behind the falling water.
The wider forest is also home to tapirs, giant anteaters, ocelots and jaguars. These species are much more difficult to observe and generally avoid the busiest visitor areas.
Wild animals should never be touched or fed. Feeding coatis and monkeys alters their natural behavior, affects their health and can cause bites or other dangerous encounters.
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Why Conservation Is Essential
Although the national parks protect a large area, the ecosystem does not exist in isolation. Wildlife depends on connected forest habitats that extend beyond the main tourist circuits and, in some cases, beyond national borders.
Among the principal conservation challenges are:
- Deforestation and fragmentation outside protected areas.
- Illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.
- Agricultural expansion.
- Roads and urban development.
- Changes affecting water quality and river flow.
- Pressure caused by large numbers of visitors.
- Inappropriate interaction between tourists and wildlife.
- The spread of non-native species.
Cooperation between Argentina and Brazil is particularly important because rivers, forests and animals do not follow political boundaries. Conservation measures on one side can directly influence the health of the ecosystem on the other.
Responsible tourism can support conservation through park fees, environmental education and local employment. However, tourism must be carefully managed so that visitor infrastructure does not damage the natural environment people have traveled to experience.
Visitors can help by staying on authorized paths, following park instructions, carrying reusable items, disposing of waste correctly and maintaining a respectful distance from animals.
Why Iguazu Falls Matters Today
Iguazu Falls brings together geological history, Indigenous cultural heritage, cross-border cooperation and biodiversity conservation in one extraordinary landscape.
Its importance cannot be explained solely by its width, height or number of cascades. Iguazú is also significant because it protects a surviving area of Atlantic Forest, provides habitat for threatened wildlife and connects the histories of Argentina and Brazil.
After more than 25 years helping international travelers plan trips to Iguazu, we believe the destination becomes even more impressive when visitors understand what surrounds the waterfalls. The sound and scale of the water may create the first impression, but the forest, cultural history and conservation work give the destination its deeper meaning.
For travelers interested in its dimensions and other concise details, our separate article presents nine facts that make Iguazu Falls special.
Why Is Iguazu Falls Important?
Iguazu Falls is a must-see destination in South America and a highlight of any trip to Argentina, Brazil, or both countries. It can also be easily combined with other major destinations such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
Its international popularity makes tourism around Iguazu Falls particularly important to the local economies on both sides of the border. At the same time, the surrounding national parks play an essential role in protecting the natural environment and biodiversity of the region.
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