Standing in the face of the thundering falls, the immensity of the Parana River plunging over a sheer drop a mere 50 feet in front of me. Brown water curving over the lip above and slowing, falling, expanding, turning white against the cerulean sky. Crashing into the rocks, the river below boiling, violent whirls.
Hearing… no, feeling the thunder, the booming pressure of the falling water through my whole being. Tasting the relentless cooling spray, clean and sweet. Soaking me, bathing me, stealing my breath until I turn away.
Turning to scan the faces of the cascade; curtains and ribbons of falling water interlaced with spires of black, wet rock and softened by
mats of wet moss, receding in regal formation into the white mist. The immense power and noise of Iguazu Falls is impossible to imagine. Higher and many times broader (more than 2 km from shore to shore) than Niagara Falls, they interrupt the broad Parana River in the tropical rainforest where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet.
Islands and rock outcroppings split the face of the falls into hundreds of individual cataracts. Sunshine and mist decorate the chasm below with permanent rainbows.
Creative engineers have constructed solid steel walkways that carry you along the lip of the falls and in one spectacular triumph of design, let you stand and get soaked within kissing distance of the face of falling water.
In a gentle counter-balance to the raw power of the water, the sun and mist also create a perfect environment for butterflies - a confetti of gently fluttering colour challenging the photographer to capture their patterns when they land briefly on hats, arms and pathways.
In a gentle counter-balance to the raw power of the water, the sun and mist also create a perfect environment for butterflies - a confetti of gently fluttering colour challenging the photographer to capture their patterns when they land briefly on hats, arms and pathways.
Iguazu is magic in the warm heart of South America.
(Butterfly photos by Dad)- 30 -
