“My poor Niagara…” That’s what Eleanor Roosevelt said upon seeing the Iguaçu Falls.
The Iguaçu Falls consist of two national parks, one in Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and the other in Puerto Iguazú (Argentina). The curious thing is that, although the falls are seen as the main attraction, the park spans 252,982 hectares (67,720 on the Argentine side and 185,262 on the Brazilian side).
These falls in Argentina and Brazil attracted so much attention that they were declared National Parks almost simultaneously (1934 in Argentina and 1939 in Brazil). And after some years and millions of visitors fascinated by the landscape and the sound of this natural attraction, UNESCO declared them World Heritage Sites in 1984, and reaffirmed them as of Exceptional Universal Value (their culture and nature are so important that their conservation must be of worldwide interest) in 2013.
Why are they so famous? Just looking at photos and videos is enough to be impressed by their beauty. But it’s not just tourism: Iguaçu National Park is home to many species of animals and flora that create an important natural ecosystem connected throughout Latin America.
History of the Iguaçu Falls
Iguaçu National Park, shared between Brazil and Argentina, is one of the main attractions, not only tourist-wise but also ecological and natural.
But before this place became what we know today, it had a curious history.
The origin of the name Iguaçu comes from the Mbyá-Guaraní indigenous people, which in translation to our Spanish would be “Big Water.” The reason for the name is self-explanatory.
The first person to discover the Iguaçu Falls was the Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, who during a journey from what we now know as Asunción (Paraguay) came across the falls, which he called “Saltos del Santa Mary.”
Later, the first Jesuit missions arrived (today their ruins are an interesting tourist attraction), which comprised more than 30 villages distributed in southern Paraguay, Brazil, and the entire province of Misiones. After that, in 1768, the Jesuits were expelled by the Spanish Crown, and the place was forgotten.
Some time later, Gregorio Lezama, an Argentine businessman and politician, sold the land because he considered it low-value. At the auction, it appeared as “a block of jungle bordering several waterfalls.”
These lands were acquired by Domingo Ayarragaray in 1907, who discovered the site’s tourist potential, installing the first hotel and some roads for people to access the falls.
It’s interesting to mention that in 1901, the first tourist excursion to the area arrived, but without positive results because it was difficult to traverse the place. One of the participants in that group was Victoria Aguirre, whose donation along with Gibaja and Nuñez enabled the construction of the first highway from Puerto Iguazú (Misiones, Argentina) to the Iguaçu Falls.
And in 1934, Law 12,103 allowed the creation of the “Iguaçu National Park.” Giving legal entity—especially—to this natural spectacle.
In 1984, UNESCO declared Iguaçu National Park a “World Heritage Site.” In 2011, the New Seven Wonders Foundation declared it a “New Wonder of the World.” And finally, in 2013, UNESCO again declared Iguaçu National Park of “Exceptional Universal Value,” due to the cultural and natural importance of this area.
Wildlife at the Iguaçu Falls
The Iguaçu Falls are home to a great variety of wildlife not found anywhere else.
During your visit to both national parks, it’s very easy to spot coatis, small four-legged animals with long tails that roam the area in search of food that visitors usually give them (for safety reasons, you are asked NOT to feed them).
Another animal you’ll easily see is the toucan. It’s generally easier to spot them in some trees along the Devil’s Throat circuit.
Besides the toucan, there are many bird species you can see along the trail. If you’re interested in bird 
watching and want to do it during your visit, don’t hesitate to check out our Birdwatching tour in Iguazu.
Although a bit more difficult, another animal you might see is the caí monkey, small animals that roam the park in groups. Likewise, they approach tourists in hopes of getting a snack, but you shouldn’t feed them.
Other animals present in the area but hard to spot in the park include the yaguareté, a feline currently endangered. Naturally, it’s hard to see them in the park as they always flee from people.
The tapir is another animal that can also be seen in this area. This animal is one of the largest mammals in Latin America, although it’s quite difficult to locate. If you’re interested, there’s a tour to see tapirs at night in the Uruguay-i provincial park.
If you’re interested in seeing these animals and other species up close and in detail, you can visit zoos like the Bird Park in Foz do Iguaçu or Güirá Oga in Puerto Iguazú. The mission of these two places is to rehabilitate animals injured on roads or rescued from animal trafficking, heal them, and then reintroduce them to their habitat. The animals you can see in these places are those that can no longer return to their habitat.
Source: iguazufalls.com