Foz do Iguaçu is one of the major cities in the state of Paraná, Brazil.  The word Iguaçu carries the meaning of “large water”, in Tupi-Guarani etymology.  Thanks to its geographical location, it provides a gateway to both Paraguay and Argentina, and also the residence of the famous Iguaçu Falls.  The Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu has gone through a period of significant growth during the 18 years in which Itaipu Dam was under construction (completed in 1982), when the population has increased more than fivefold.  Coupled with the cities of Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) and Puerto Iguazu (Argentina), it comprises the largest cultural tourism poles in South America. (photos by Deni Williams)

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: Avenida das Cataratas avenue.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: Avenida das Cataratas avenue, in front of Iguassu Express Hotel. Looking to Downtown direction.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: Iguassu Express Hotel at Avenida das Cataratas avenue.

FOZ DO IGUASSU – PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 24, 2013: Tourists at Iguassu Falls near of the main waterfall. This is one of the world’s great natural wonders.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: An overview of Itaipu Dam Complex. The dam is a undertaking run by Brazil and Paraguay at the border between the two countries.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: East side of Itaupu Dam on Paraguayan side.

FOZ DO IGUAÇU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 26, 2013: Tourists at Visitors Center of Itaipu Dam complex.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA – BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 24, 2013: A Toco toucan over a wood handrail at Bird’s Park.

FOZ DO IGUASSU, PARANA – BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 24, 2013: A couple of Blue and Gold Macaws standing on a branch at Bird’s Park.

FOZ DO IGUAÇU, PARANA / BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 23, 2013: TAM Airlines Airbus A320 parked beside the Azul Brazilian Airlines Embraer E190 at Foz do Iguacu/Cataratas International Airport.

View from airplane window. Wing of an airplane flying above the clouds over Foz do Iguassu – Brazil

Useful Reference

Foz Do Iguazu – The Tropical Argentina
By Mariel Lizana

In Misiones province, located at the northeast of Argentina, there is one of the most wonderful attractions of the country, the worldly famous Iguazu Waterfalls. This natural wonders are located inside Iguazu National Park and many tourist from the entire world come to visit them every year.

The waterfalls are called “Iguazu” by a guarani word, which means “Big Water”. This is exactly the best name for this amazing natural monument, considered like one of the wonders of the world. The incredible waterfalls are created at the end of Iguazú River to the Paraná river in a spectacular jump of 80 meters and 4 kilometers width.

Foz do Iguazu has 275 waterfalls and the most impressive of them is Garganta del Diablo waterfall, with 80 meters of height, that the visitors can watch in a wood footbridge at just 50 meters away from it.

There are many routes to discover this wonderful waterfalls. One of them is through stairways created in the same stone to descend to the Iguazu river shores. There you can watch the falling of the waterfalls and also navigate through the river to San Martin island. Another interesting attraction is to visit and enjoy the natural swimming pool created by the fall of the Dos Hermanas waterfall.

The visitors can also walk through the superior wood footbridges, to watch the fall of the waterfalls from the height. This is the most impressive view of Iguazu where the visitors will see the huge Bossetti and El Chico waterfalls, and of course the amazing Garganta del Diablo, where is the frontier of Argentina with Brazil.

To protect this fabulous natural area, which was named Patrimony of Mankind by UNESCO, Argentina created Iguazu National Park, with 67 hectares of rivers and jungles. Here the visitors will find viewpoints and islands created by the rivers delta and also get in touch with tropical vegetation like ceibos, the natural flower of Argentina, palms, laurels and other species.

In Iguazu National Park there is also fauna like coatis, toucans, eagles and small lizards and even animals in extinction danger such as yaguarete, yacare, anteaters and others that find in this park a protected natural environment.

This national park is located at just 17 kilometers of Puerto Iguazu city, a town full equipped for tourism, with international hotels, banks, casinos, stores and all the services and amenities that its guests may need during their stay. There are also recreation places at the shores of Iguazu river like a golf court, restaurants, artisan fairs with elements of brazilian, paraguayan and Argentinean cultures and others.

Puerto Iguazu has also many theme museums related to the tropical environment of the zone like the Jungle Images Museum, the Mbororé Museum and others.

This town is also the triple frontier between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, so it offers many alternatives for adventurous tourism. It is also the perfect place to enjoy of wonderful holidays in a tropical and magical paradise. For all of this, Foz do Iguazu and Misiones are a must during your trip to the amazing Argentina

Mariel Lizana authors several articles about Iguazu hotels [http://www.exploreargentina.com/eng/iguazu-northeast/iguazu-port-national-park/hotels.htm] and about Iguazu tours. Visit my website at [http://www.exploreargentina.com], for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mariel_Lizana/142706
http://EzineArticles.com/?Foz-Do-Iguazu—The-Tropical-Argentina&id=1890462

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