July 22, 2002 |
July 22, 2002 |
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Today's ECHO activities brought to you by
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Waking early in Foz do Iguazu, Brazil (Guarani for fountain of the big water), the sun rose bright teasing us with a sunny day. We crossed the Tancredo Nevez Bridge high over the deep green (verde) Iguazu jungle river as the sky darkened and threatened rain. A journey through South America just wouldn't be complete without venturing into Argentina to see The Parque Nacional Iguazu where much of the famous Iguazu falls are located. The experience was well worth the hassles of crossing into Argentina from Brazil (we are still not sure what they plan to do with the confiscated eye drops!). Entering the park only cost us $2.80 American-what a delightful bargain!
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| As we stepped onto these grounds we realize that this region is the homeland of the Guarani Indians. These indigenous folks are commonly seen selling their crafts to those passing through. |
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| Since 1934, the Patrimonio Natural De La Humanidad has sought to restore the subtropical rainforest habitat, located in the Misiones Province where only 1% of the Argentinean population resides. Well maintained foot paths, small trains and a tour guide led us through an awesome jungle forest of giant bamboo and towering trees only 70 years old that were covered with thick vegetation. We learned from our guide that the Parque holds the most biodiversity in Argentina, hosting 2,000 species of plants and 450 species of birds, as well as various mammals like the jaguar, which is the largest protected predator in South America. The Parque is also home to snakes, the broad-snouted caiman as well as a bountiful amount of insects. We saw vividly colored butterflies, with patterns and color variations unseen in North America. |
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It was a mystical and wondrous day for us as we approached our first
destination, The Devil's Throat (Gargantua del Diablo) with mist rising
in the distance, we could hear the roaring sound of the rushing waters.
On metal catwalks we stood over the slow moving river in awe as it cascaded
hundreds of meters below us. Our second walk took us by train and foot to a lower view of the falls
so we could witness its magnitude from another level and location. The
sun broke free of the clouds, creating dancing rainbows that arced over
the vastness of the waters. What a rush! For more natural history info (in Spanish) you might want to check out this site Argentina-Natural History Handbooks www.contactosilvestre.com.ar |
