Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil – One of the Largest Waterfalls in the World

Foz do Iguaçu is among the most visited cities in Brazil, just behind Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Home to one of the largest waterfalls in the world, it has amazing sights and incredible places to visit. The city is located in the State of Paraná, in the south region of Brazil. Foz do Iguaçu borders Paraguai and Argentina. Therefore, that makes the city a great vacation destination if you want to visit three countries on a single trip.

The Iguaçu Falls might be the main attraction of Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. However, there are other amazing things to do and see in the city.

Iguaçu Falls

The Iguaçu Falls is a natural border between Argentina and Brazil — part of the waterfalls is located in Brazil and the other half belongs to the Argentinian territory.

Iguaçu Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world, extending over 2,700 meters. During the rainy season, the Iguaçu Falls become the 3rd largest in the world in terms of water volume. In fact, the flow capacity of the Iguaçu Falls is equal to three times that of Niagara Falls in the United States.

The Iguaçu National Park is an amazing place surrounded by the Atlantic Rainforest, with a total area of more than 185,000 hectares. It is home to rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and is now a protected area in Brazil. The park usually receives over a million visitors every year.

Visit the park’s official website.

Bird Park

Around 20 minutes away from the Iguaçu Falls is Parque das Aves, a privately owned bird park in Foz do Iguaçu. It features a collection of wild birds and a small city zoo.

The park offers an interactive visit, where you can enter bird enclosures, take pictures with snakes and macaws, and meet the birds up close.

Itaipu Dam

The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant is the largest generator of hydroelectric power in the world. It is also the only bi-national one, run both by Brazil and Paraguay. A guided visit allows you to see several lookout points, the interior of the power plant, including the command room, and also the exterior area of the company, which is like a park of its own.

This power plant has 20 turbines — each one is responsible for generating 700 megawatts. That is enough power for a 2.5 million inhabitants city. It supplies about 17% of the energy consumed throughout Brazil and 75% of the energy consumed throughout Paraguay.

It is a nice and interesting visit. Everyone loves the tour!

Three Borders Landmark

Foz do Iguaçu is located at the triple borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Two bridges connect the countries — Ponte Internacional da Amizade (the ‘International Bridge of Friendship’) connects Brazil and Paraguay, and Ponte Internacional da Fraternidade (the ‘International Bridge of Brotherhood’) connects Brazil and Argentina.

The Three Borders Landmark is an obelisk and tourist spot located in the cities of Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, and Presidente Franco. It refers to the territorial boundary between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay respectively. Over there, it’s possible to observe the river that crosses the three countries.

If you ever come to Brazil, consider visiting Foz do Iguaçu. It is possible to enjoy its main attractions and nature on a three-day trip. While in the city, you should also visit a few other attractions, such as the Dreamland Wax Museum, the Ecomuseum, the Chen Tien Buddhist temple, and the Omar Ibn Al-Khatab Mosque.

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