IGUAZÚ NATIONAL PARK, Argentina — Few times in my life have I felt the enormity and power of nature. One of them was on the edge of Iguazu Falls, on the border between Brazil and Argentina.
Iguazú is not just a towering waterfall, but a complex of waterfalls stretching over a mile across both countries. A rainy October in Brazil sent near-record volumes of water over its towering cliffs. Scientists are linking the incessant rains to this year’s Super El Niño, causing extreme weather events across the world.
But what a spectacular force of nature for the below-average number of tourists who braved the deluge this month. The roar of the Iguazú River beneath your feet penetrates your body; your eyes strain to keep pace as the rusty swells disappear over the craggy precipice.
One day during my recent visit, authorities recorded nearly 12 million liters (more than 3 million gallons) of water per second pouring over the falls. This is 10 times the normal flow. As the red, muddy waters of the Iguazú River moved furiously toward the edge of the falls, they licked the bottom of the narrow metal walkways that typically hover a few feet above the falls during years of normal rain.
Authorities closed the dramatic footbridges as river levels continued to rise. When asked why access had been closed, the national park director simply replied: “It’s still raining.”
That’s an understatement. I’m still drying out.
Gn world
