WHS#24

Iguacu is just a special place for me. I visited in April 2016, and I was lucky enough to experience the falls from land, water, and air. Early in the morning, I got on a helicopter for the first (and as of now, only) time in my life for a special view of the falls. From above, you can really appreciate the unique form of the falls. The falls start in the center of the river, where the famous Garganta del Diablo drops the waters of the mighty Iguacu River around 80 meters down with a thundering roar and spray of mist that can be seen kilometers away, eventually forming a jagged J-shape, littered with what seemed like a few hundred little islands. Probably my favorite part of the experience, however, was the Macaco Safari boat ride, which takes you up the river and into the falls. Prepare to get wet! This was really when I experienced the power of the falls first-hand, having it crashing into my face. No time to dry up, though, because it was time to go to the viewing decks, boardwalks on the waterfall itself! On the way, you pass viewpoints of the falls on the side of the gorge. It's a short walk in the jungle, made more interesting by the native wildlife, especially the coati, which I've never seen anywhere else. As you walk on, the roar of the falls gets louder until the mist starts blowing into you. I finally reached the boardwalk, and it was just magical. A wall of water towered above on one side, spraying water so strongly I could barely see with my glasses on. On the other side, the water fell into an abyss. No other waterfalls experience could have possibly prepared me for Iguacu.

Now to be objective: Yes, I know Iguacu isn't in any single dimension the greatest waterfall, let alone natural wonder, in the world. Angel Falls In Canaima NP is the tallest, and is an outstanding WHS in its own right. Waterfalls with stronger flows include those on the Congo and Mekong Rivers, and even Niagara, according to some sources. The widest single sheet of water is in Victoria Falls, which is also much taller than Iguacu. But I would dare to say Iguacu is the most powerful. A combination of being tall, wide, and strong, but so much more. I don't think any other waterfall has blessed its surroundings better than Iguacu. It's not just one of the most, if not the most, impressive waterfalls in the world, but it's also the last Interior Atlantic Forest. Despite not exactly facing the Atlantic, it's one of the richest pockets of rainforest this far south in the continent, thanks to a constant spray of mist from the falls. It has allowed for an extremely rich and unique ecosystem to flourish all around it. And when so much of it has been chopped down and replaced by farms and cities and reservoirs (RIP Guaira Falls), even we humans have chosen to preserve the forests that crown this world wonder. It's just that special a place. That being said, every WHS has its issues, and Iguacu is no different. Yes, I did see how commercial the park has become. It's no utter wilderness with its smoothly paved roads and tour buses and hotels. And of course, there's the fact that it's basically half a site. Iguacu was inscribed a long time ago in 1986. Only problem, the other half of it, Iguazu NP in Argentina, was inscribed 2 years earlier. And God only knows why the Brazilian side wasn't simply made an extension. Instead, we have 2 WHS with the exact same OUV. I guess I'll just take it as motivation to see the falls from the other side someday. I didn't get to cross into Argentina because Filipino passport holders need to apply for a visa beforehand, and my family and I hadn't, but that's an adventure for another day. Issues aside, I think Iguacu/Iguazu is a great enough site that even its halves can stand on their own and make an impact on any traveller. In my opinion, this is the greatest waterfall and one of the most awe-inspiring and impacting natural wonders in the world. And it's probably my most enjoyable 1-day WHS visit ever. I'd be back in a heartbeat.