Iguazu National Park: An Overview

Created on October 9, 1934 to preserve the biological diversity of the subtropical rainforest and the dazzling scenery surrounding the Falls, today considered one of the seven wonders of the world, Iguazu National Park currently has an area of 66,148 hectares that were declared Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1984.

To preserve the Falls and the subtropical rainforest surrounding them, two National Parks were created: "Parque Nacional Iguazu" in Argentina, and "Parque Nacional do Iguaçu" in Brazil.

Situated in the far northeast of the province of Misiones, Argentina, this nature reserve has regular rainfall and mild temperatures, creating a dampness-laden, almost windless environment, due to the luxuriant canopy of vegetation.

The soil of Iguazu National Park is red and the vegetation is very dense. The relief undulates up to 30 meters either way, and some banks of the Iguazu reach 60 meters above sea level.

Iguazu National Park is part of the Misiones subtropical rainforest formation, with trees whose heights range between 15 and 40 meters; a large part of it, however, has suffered deforestation as civilization has advanced.

It harbors more than 400 species of birds, around 2,000 species of plants and an immeasurable world of insects, which makes this one of the richest natural environments in Argentina.The Park's climate is warm with average temperatures of 15º C in winter and 26º C in January, and a relative humidity ranging between 75% and 90%. The rains, with an annual average of 2,000 mm, are caused by winds from the Atlantic.

The steadily high temperatures and humidity make this area an immense greenhouse with all the essential conditions for the growth of exuberant vegetation. Six plainly identifiable strata between the soil and the tops of the tallest trees characterize this sector of the rainforest.

1.- The Giant or Emerging Trees Stratum. Among these are the white guatambú, the black laurel and the cancharana, as well as some representatives of the leguminosae family, such as incienso, ivirá pitá and rabo molle, the last more than 30 meters in height.

2.- Large Tree Stratum and 3. Middle Stratum. One of the most spectacular members of these strata is the timbó or pacará (black ear), of great height and thickness, and one of the most startling is the guapoy. This wraps itself round another tree, strangling it as it supports it and lives from it parasitically; in the end, the remains of the original tree remain inside the guapoy, which then reaches heights of more than 20 meters with a huge canopy. Other smaller trees, but mixed into the emerging stratum, are the pindo palm-tree, the aguay, the yellow laurel and, to a lesser extent, the petribí.

4.- Intermediate Stratum. This is basically made up of the trees belonging to the higher strata: the arborescent ferns - typical of tropical regions - and the smaller fleshy fruit trees.

5.- Bushy Stratum and 6. Herbaceous Stratum. These two develop in the environment of the shade created by the higher strata, with a great quantity of ferns and bushes, especially the ortiga brava (stinging nettle), with very large leaves that sting on touch. Also scattered around all the area are immense, impenetrable cane thickets, 20 to 30 meters tall, with such species as the tacuarembó and the tacuaruzú.

LIMITS
Iguazu National Park borders on the east with the Andresito colony, the Yacuy Provincial Park, Caburé-í and the Urugua-í Provincial Parks; on the south with the Establecimiento San Jorge of Pérez Companc S.A.; on the southwest with the Establecimiento Puerto Península of the Argentine Army, and on the west with the Municipality of Puerto Iguazu.