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Iguaçu Falls


Iguaçu Falls
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-02
Categories: River
Camera: Nikon D70, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/4, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-11-30 7:29
Viewed: 5439
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Last Monday I saw in the series Planeth Earth the Iguaçu Falls on TV. That reminds me on my visit in 2007. It was very impressive and unforgettable. I’ve posted some photos short after my holiday there. But I went to my archive and found this new photo. Just a memory.

Iguaçu Falls (Iguaçu Falls; Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu are spectacular waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, around the coordinates 25°41′S, 54°26′W. They divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu.

The name Iguazu comes from the Guarani or Tupi words y (water) and guasú (big). Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

The first European to find the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541, after whom one of the falls in the Argentine side is named. The falls were rediscovered by Boselli at the end of the nineteenth century, and one of the Argentinian falls is named after him.

Geography
The waterfall system consists of about 270 falls along 2.7 kilometres of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 metres in height, though the majority are about 64 metres. The Garganta del Diablo or Devil's Throat (Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese), a U-shaped 150-metre-wide and 700-metre-long cliff, is the most impressive of all, and marks the border between Argentina and Brazil. Most of the falls are within Argentine territory. About 900 metres of the 2.7-kilometre length does not have water flowing over it. The edge of the basalt cap recedes only 3 mm per year.
The water of the lower Iguazu collects in a canyon that drains into the Rio Parana.

Access
The falls are easily reached from the two main towns on either side of the falls: Foz do Iguaçu in the Brazilian state of Paraná, and Puerto Iguazú in the Argentine province of Misiones as well as from Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) on the other side of the Parana river from Foz do Iguaçu . The falls are shared by the Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil). These parks were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.
Upon seeing Iguaçu, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!" Vastly larger than North America's Niagara Falls, Iguaçu is rivalled only by Southern Africa's Victoria Falls which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe (this is excluding extremely large rapid-like falls such as the Boyoma Falls). Whilst Iguazu is wider because it is split into about 270 discrete falls and large islands, Victoria is the largest curtain of water in the world, at over a mile wide and over 108 meters in height (in low flow Victoria is split into five by islands; in high flow it can be uninterrupted).

The water falling over Iguazu in peak flow has a surface area of about 400,000 square metres whilst Victoria in peak flow has a surface area of over 550,000 square metres . By comparison, Niagara has a surface area of under 183,000 square metres.
Victoria's annual peak flow is also greater than Iguazu's annual peak—9.1 million litres per second versus 6.5 million—though in times of extreme flood the two have recorded very similar maximum water discharge (well in excess of 12 million litres per second). Niagara's annual peak flow is about 2.8 million litres per second, although an all-time peak of 6.8 million has been recorded. Iguazu and Victoria fluctuate more greatly in their flow rate. Mist rises between 30 and 150 metres from Iguazu's Garganta do Diabo, and over 300 metres above Victoria (sometimes over 600 metres).

Iguazu, however, affords better views and walkways and its shape allows for spectacular vistas. At one point a person can stand and be surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls. The Garganta do Diabo has water pouring into it from three sides, which makes for an exceptional sight. Likewise, because Iguazu is split into many relatively small falls, one can view these a portion at a time. Victoria does not allow this, as it is essentially one waterfall that falls into a canyon and is too immense to appreciate at once (except from the air). Iguazu and Victoria are generally regarded as the world's most spectacular waterfalls, with people divided as to which is the more impressive.
marius-secan, maaciejka, PaulLees, joska, kapildk, bungbing, Jakkals, anel, jlinaresp, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
tijd verschileuroblinkie 1 11-30 07:39
To euroblinkie: VerbindingPeterZ 1 11-30 07:37
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2011-11-30 7:32]

Hi Peter,you were lucky to be in a place like that! Fantastic trip i think....and beautiful pic,a great memory of your fantastic adventure,i like it!Have a nice evening and thanks,LUCIANO

Hallo Peter super gaaf deze opname
mooie scherpte zo helder
veel details en de kleuren zijn weer prachtig
groetjes lou

ps Ik heb ruim een uur helemaal geen verbinding met TN gehad

Ciao Peter, fascinating view of fantastic waterfalls, wonderful show by nature, splendid light and colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Hello Peter,
Breathtaking landscape and waterfalls. What a splendid photo with exceptional details and absolutely amazing sharpness.
The light and exposure are perfect.
Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Marius.

Just spectacular! Fantastic photo!
regards yiannis

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2011-11-30 10:45]

Hello Peter.
Wonderful nature. Power of nature. Amazing dynamic landscape. Best regard Siggi

  • Great 
  • ana974 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 48 N: 968] (4857)
  • [2011-11-30 10:46]

Hello Peter!
I went to Igauçu too! In 2006. It is really fenomenal ! Your pic is beautiful!
Thanks to bring me so good memories!
Regards from,
aNa

Hi Peter,
no words. Beautiful place, amazing photo. Great point of view. Perfect composition.
Congratulations!!!
Maciek

Ciao Peter. Best compliments for this magnificent dynamic taken. The power od the water with brillinat colours. Very well done.

Roberto

Hi Peter,

Awesome depth in this landscape, fabulous cascades in this powerful and torrent waterfall Wow!, excellent detailed sharpness, fantastic play of lighting with beautiful natural colours, terrific work here Peter and very well done,
Best Regards,

Pauly.

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 488 W: 0 N: 566] (4423)
  • [2011-11-30 12:51]

Olá Peter,
Linda paisagem com cores e nitidez muito atraente, bela composição meus parabéns por esta imagem magnífica.
Nilson

Impressive scenery and great photo Peter! Excellent composition and wonderful colours
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hi Peter,
Fantastic place, great river and woods, thanks for sharing!
regards, Joska

Hi Peter,
Fantastic picture of this waterfall taken from a nice POV.
It is flowing in full flow with clean water. One of the coolest place on earth!
Well done & TFS.
Kapil

Hello Peter,
A beautiful scenery, very good sharpness, excellent point of view and beautiful natural colours, very well taken,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice afternoon,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

Hi Peter,
excellent POV of Iguaçu falls, nice ambience
TFS, Ferran

Hello Peter,
What a superb exposure!! Excellent clarity, from the water drops nearest to the mist, detail and depth!! Just beautiful.
Best regards,
Carl

Hello Peter,
Impressive waterfalls captured in a beautiful composition with nice colours. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

Hi Peter

Great shot of these magnificient falls, I'll get there one day. Great composition and note

Chris

great place, your fine composition and the great performance!
regards, Naasos

Hello Peter,
A deviation from the excellent photo's of your main theme and what an awesome view! One can hear the water and feel the spray. Excellently exposed in every way. Very well done. Best wishes and enjoy what is left of the weekend.
Neels

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2011-12-03 4:53]

Hello Peter,
Impressive view on the Iguaçu Falls! Would like to see them one day too. Very well chosen point of view showing the different levels of the falls.
Interesting note too, love the legend of the origin of the name.
Have a nice weekend
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Peter,
Impressice way to show us this nice place MF!... And grea note also!... Regards
TFS
Jesús

Hi Peter,

Beautiful place and capture.POV,framing,lighting and composition are wonderful.Excellent work!
Jurek

Hi Peter, this is a beautiful shot of the falls. Outstanding job. Bill

Hi Peter,
Als ik dan een landschap foto tussen de vogels zie staan, dan moet ik die wel openen. Dit moet een super ervaring zijn geweest om zo dicht bij deze zeer bekende waterval te hebben mogen staan. Natuurlijk heb je ook een vogel paradijs aangetroffen. Je compositie is erg strek, met de rand van de waterval als een soort brug die je de foto verder inneemt.
Groeten,
Niek

Hello Peter,
Beautiful waterfall with strong visual impact. Love your framing capturing the rush in good depth and details.
Thanks and kind regards,
Jusni

Hello Peter

Excellent landscape photo of these falls,
fine POV and wide angle framing,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

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