Through the hot and humid rainforest, I could hear the roar of Devil’s Throat.
I moved forward to the edge of the footbridge. Looking over, I could see the giant waterfall. Mist from the water rose into the air. Soon, I was soaking wet.
The mighty Iguazú River fell over the rocky cliff. It was breathtaking.
Great Water
Iguazú Falls got its name from the Guaraní people. Its name means “great water.” The amount of water the river carries over the falls is great.
The Iguazú River flows at a rapid rate. It is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. It spans the border of Argentina and Brazil. During the rainy season, up to
275 different waterfalls can form.
Iguazú Falls
Atlantic
Ocean
Pacific
Ocean
Brazil
Paraguay
Argentina
South
America
Most of the falls are on the Argentina side of the river. I crossed the border into Brazil. I raced up the river in a speedboat. The boat slowed at the foot of several waterfalls. That gave me great view.
It’s hard to appreciate the falls until you see them yourself. One U.S. first lady thought they were better than Niagara Falls in the United States!
Seen from the air, Devil’s Throat divides Argentina and Brazil.
trail to Devil’s Throat
Argentina
Brazil
Devil’s Throat
Legend of the Falls
Legend tells how the falls came to be. Long ago, the serpent god M’Boi lived in the Iguazú River. He was an angry god. Each year, the people made a sacrifice to quiet him. They threw a young woman into the water.
One year, the tribe chose Naipi. Naipi was in love with the warrior, Tarobá. She and Tarobá tried to escape in a canoe.
But, M’Boi saw them. He split the earth, creating a rocky gorge. It became Devil’s Throat. He threw Naipi to one side of the gorge and changed her into a rock. Tarobá tried to help her. But, M’Boi pulled his hands into the earth. There, his fingers turned into roots. His body became a tree. And so, Naipi and Tarobá can meet only over a rainbow.
A rainbow bridges the falls.