Cataratas del Iguazu: basalt cliffs and a horseshoe of water
Published on 08/19/2026 at 07:21 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Cataratas del Iguazu is a wide arc of waterfalls on the Iguazu River, straddling the border between northern Argentina and southern Brazil near Puerto Iguazu. The falls form the dramatic centrepiece of Iguazu National Park, a protected area of Atlantic Forest in Misiones Province recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the heart of the system, a horseshoe-shaped chasm known as Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat, concentrates much of the river’s flow into a single thunderous drop.
A waterfall system spread across a basalt plateau
The Iguazu River rises hundreds of kilometres to the east and flows across a vast basalt plateau before reaching the edge of the Paraná valley. At Cataratas del Iguazu the river breaks into numerous cataracts that stretch for several kilometres along the rim of the plateau, creating one of the largest continuous waterfall systems on the continentbasalt plateau. The main line of the falls follows a semicircular course, where water plunges off dark volcanic rock into the lower valley.
The central semicircular cataract reaches a height of around 80 m (262 ft) and spans roughly 2,700 m (8,858 ft) along the basalt edge80 m and 2,700 m. Within this length, some sections lie in Argentina and others in Brazil, with viewpoints on both sides of the border. Visitors approaching from Puerto Iguazu encounter the Argentine side of Iguazu National Park, where trails and walkways lead out across the upper river and along the cliff edge.
Devil’s Throat: the horseshoe at the centre of the falls
Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat, is the most concentrated single drop within Cataratas del Iguazu. Here the river funnels into a U-shaped chasm, receiving around half of the Iguazu’s flow and sending it straight down into a narrow gorgeU-shaped chasm. The drop at this point is about 82 m (269 ft), and the canyon extends several hundred metres, with spray rising high above the cliff line.
On the Argentine side, a narrow-gauge railway known as the Rainforest Ecological Train carries visitors through forest towards a station close to the head of Devil’s ThroatRainforest Ecological Train. From there, elevated metal walkways cross the calm upper reaches of the Iguazu River, leading to viewing platforms positioned above the horseshoe. Standing on these platforms, the contrast between the smooth river surface upstream and the sudden drop into the gorge becomes a defining experience of Cataratas del Iguazu.
Forest, wildlife and cross-border landscapes
Cataratas del Iguazu lies within dense subtropical forest, part of the wider Atlantic Forest region shared by Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Iguazu National Park protects both the waterfall system and surrounding habitats, including mixed broadleaf forest, riverine vegetation and basalt outcropsAtlantic Forest region. The protected area adjoins Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park, forming a transboundary conservation zone across the river.
Visitors on the Argentine side encounter viewpoints over multiple cascades, walkways at different levels and glimpses of forest wildlife. Trails connect upper and lower viewing areas, with bridges and platforms bringing the water into close view without requiring technical hiking. The nearby city of Puerto Iguazu sits close to the confluence of the Iguazu and Paraná rivers, where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, and functions as the main base for exploring the falls from the Argentine sidePuerto Iguazu.
Visiting Cataratas del Iguazu: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Cataratas del Iguazu lies in Misiones Province in the far north-east of Argentina, near Puerto Iguazu and opposite the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu.
- Approaches on the Argentine side use established trails, boardwalks and stairways; some sections involve long walkways over the river and extended periods on foot.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Cataratas del Iguazu
Where are Cataratas del Iguazu located?
Cataratas del Iguazu are on the Iguazu River at the border between Misiones Province in Argentina and the Brazilian state of Paraná, near Puerto Iguazu.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors can expect extensive networks of walkways and viewpoints over multiple waterfalls, with routes at different levels through subtropical forest and above the river.
What makes Cataratas del Iguazu distinctive?
The combination of a long semicircular cliff line, the concentrated drop at Devil’s Throat and the surrounding Atlantic Forest makes Cataratas del Iguazu a distinctive waterfall landscape.
