Recently, the Iguazu Falls, spanning the border between the Brazilian state of Parana and Argentina, has experienced an extraordinary surge in water flow due to the influence of the strong El Niño phenomenon and continuous heavy rainfall across the basin, presenting a truly awe-inspiring natural spectacle. However, for safety reasons, local authorities temporarily suspended visitor access to witness this phenomenon.
According to media reports, on Monday (October 12th), the actual water flow of the Iguazu River surged to over 12,000 cubic meters per second, more than six times the historical average of about 1,500 cubic meters per second. Due to ongoing heavy rain and erosion in the upstream areas, a significant amount of sediment was carried into the river, resulting in the falls appearing muddy and turbid.
In response to this, the management of the Brazilian Iguazu National Park took preventive safety measures on Sunday morning (October 11th), urgently closing pedestrian bridges, portions of flooded paths like the Banana Forest Trail and the Bosque Preto Trail, while other sections and viewpoints of the national park remained open to the public.
Concerned about potential further flooding and ongoing discharge from upstream dams, the Iguazu National Park on the Argentine side announced the temporary closure of the park on Monday, limiting access to personnel.
As the floodwaters recede and the water level gradually returns to normal, following safety assessments by Argentine and Brazilian authorities, the park reopened to visitors on Tuesday (October 13th) in a phased manner.
Despite the disruption of the usually clear views by the muddy waters, the powerful and majestic torrents created a breathtaking natural spectacle during this period, attracting many visitors to witness the spectacle firsthand.
Located at the border of Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu Falls are jointly owned by both countries and constitute the widest waterfall system globally, consisting of approximately 275 cascades forming a horseshoe-shaped waterfall complex with a total width of 2,700 meters. Alongside the Victoria Falls and the Niagara Falls, the Iguazu Falls are known as the Three Major Waterfalls of the world and were selected as one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” in 2011, establishing it as one of the most renowned travel destinations in South America.