Iguaçu National Park

Lore & Background

The park owes its name to the Iguazu River, with the Iguaçu Falls extending about 2.7 kilometers in width. It is the most important park of the Prata Basin. The first proposal for a Brazilian national park at this location was made by engineer André Rebouças in 1876, who advocated for preserving the Iguaçu Falls as a pristine environment for future generations.

Reader's Guide

Iguaçu National Park is significant as one of the largest forest preservation areas in South America and a UNESCO Natural Heritage of Humanity site since 1986. It protects rare and endangered species such as the giant otter and giant anteater, and its lush vegetation is supported by spray from the waterfalls. The park's area open to visitation accounts for approximately 0.3% of its total area, with the Iguaçu Falls as the main attraction, forming a 2,700-meter-wide semicircle with water falling from a height of 72 meters. The park received 1,550,700 visitors in 2014 and is part of the proposed Trinational Biodiversity Corridor connecting conservation units in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

Did You Know?

• The park comprises a total area of 185,262.5 hectares.
• It was created by federal decree nr. 1035 of 10 January 1939.
• The number of waterfalls ranges from 150 to 300 depending on the Iguazu River flow.

A Vision Born in 1876

In 1876, Brazilian engineer André Rebouças penned a passage in his book *Provinces of Paraná, Railways to Mato Grosso and Bolivia* that would ignite a preservation movement decades before the park's official founding. He spoke of the Iguaçu waterfalls as a landscape to be handed to "future generations" untouched, endowed with "all possible preservation, from the beautiful to the sublime." At the time, Yellowstone National Park was only four years old, making Rebouças's call for protection remarkably forward-thinking. Decades later, on January 10, 1939, federal decree number 1035 finally established Iguaçu National Park in Paraná State. The park's foundational mission, as Rebouças had envisioned, centers on preserving ecologically and scenically vital ecosystems while enabling scientific research, environmental education, and ecological tourism. In 1986, during a UNESCO conference in Paris, the park was inscribed as a Natural Heritage of Humanity, cementing its status as one of South America's most significant forest preservation areas.

A Vast Borderland Landscape

Iguaçu National Park stretches across 185,262.5 hectares in the westernmost corner of Paraná State, with a total length of approximately 420 kilometers. Remarkably, about 300 of those kilometers trace natural water boundaries, and when combined with Argentina's Iguazú National Park—established in 1934—the two nations jointly encompass roughly 260,000 hectares of protected forest. The Iguaçu River, whose source lies near the Serra do Mar range close to Curitiba, runs 18 kilometers through Paraná before its estuary meets the Paraná River just 18 kilometers downstream from the falls. That confluence creates the unique triple border of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The park touches ten municipalities, including Foz do Iguaçu, Medianeira, and Capanema, and sits just 17 kilometers from downtown Foz do Iguaçu. It is also linked to Lake Itaipu's protected shores and Ilha Grande National Park through the Santa Maria Ecological Corridor, and it forms part of the proposed Trinational Biodiversity Corridor spanning the Upper Paraná ecoregion.

The Falls and the Living Ecosystem

The Iguaçu Falls form a breathtaking semicircle spanning roughly 2,700 meters, with water plunging 72 meters from the cliff edge. Depending on the river's flow, the cascade system splits into anywhere between 150 and 300 individual waterfalls, making it one of the largest on Earth. The constant clouds of spray generated by the falls create a microclimate that nurtures exceptionally lush vegetation in the surrounding area. Beyond the water, the park shelters a remarkable genetic reservoir of rare and endangered species, including the giant otter and the giant anteater. As the most important park of the Prata Basin, it was the first in Brazil to receive a formal Management Plan, underscoring its role as a haven for both animal and plant biodiversity. The park is currently stewarded by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), which oversees conservation efforts across the entire protected area.

Tourism Within a Protected Wilderness

Despite its enormous footprint, only about 0.3 percent of the park's total area is opened for public visitation, with concession zones managed by Cataratas do Iguaçú S/A. This deliberate restriction ensures that the vast majority of the landscape remains undisturbed wilderness. In 2014, the park welcomed 1,550,700 visitors, drawn by the falls, the Poço Preto (Black Well), the Macuco Waterfall, and the rich fauna on display. Among the cultural landmarks is the Santos Dumont Statue, a tribute erected by the now-defunct airline VASP to honor the "Father of Aviation," who used his considerable prestige to champion the cause of turning the falls region into a national park. The park's management philosophy balances recreation and ecological tourism with strict conservation, a principle Rebouças articulated over a century ago. Fishing regulations published in October 2008 further reinforce the protection of the Paraná River basin's conservation areas and buffer zones.

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