Monday 14 February 2011

Iguazu Falls

Having recently visited Santiago and Asuncion I have noticed one or two differences between the two capital cities, maybe you can spot these in the pictures below;

Santiago

Asuncion

Santiago


Asuncion - Nice eh?


From Ascuncion I took a six hour bus ride to the opposite side of the country to see Iguazu Falls – one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. These are located just outside of Paraguay on the Brazilian/Argentinian boarder, I first went to Brazil to see the falls from their side; impressive but limited views so I looked forwards to going to Argentina for what I was told was a much closer and involved tour of the falls.

Iguazu Falls

Me posing at Iguazu Falls


First though, whilst still in Brazil I went to Itapu Dam, a massive structure full of facts and figures. It was apparently the biggest dam in the world until China’s Three Gorges dam was constructed (or will be constructed - not sure if its finished yet). Itapu dam was built jointly by Brazil and Paraguay – what is most amazing is that both were equal investors in its construction. It now provides 90% of Paraguays electricity and 20% of Brazils. Paraguays share of the dam actually produces double what the country needs so it sells the excess back to Brazil, corruption and shady dealing prevents Paraguay from making a fortune from all this free energy.

Massive concrete wall

Ituapu dam from the top down


Nearby the Brazilian side of the falls is a fairly low key but very nice bird park, there are the usual large cages in which you can view the birds but as usual these are quite dull, what is far more interesting are the huge walk through aviaries, these contain an impressive range of birds and butterflies; parrots, humming birds, toucans, flamingos, the list goes on. These are used to human contact and so were not disturbed in the least as I walked through, I’m fairly sure the toucans were posing for the picture.


Finishing my very brief stay in Brazil I made the quick boarder crossing to Puerto Iguazu on the Argentinian side of the falls. What I had been told was true, the views and experience on this side was far above what Brazil had to offer. Walkways lead right into the base of some of the falls where the spray soaks you, these then lead to the tops of the falls where the scale of the whole park can be appreciated.






Thats it for now - more later.