Do you think Niagara Falls is spectacular? Deep in the heart of South America, there is a waterfall that makes the mighty Niagara look like a mere trickle of water in comparison.

Iguazu Fals is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. According to Wikipedia, an ancient native legend says that the falls were formed by a jealous god who wanted to marry a human woman.  The problem? She was already in love, so she and her lover fled down the river in a canoe. To cut off the pair’s escape, the god sliced the river into pieces, creating the waterfalls.

How much bigger is Iguazu Falls than Niagara Falls? Here are some statistics:

The peak surface area of the water flowing over  Iguazu Falls is 1.3 million square feet. The peak surface area of the water flowing over Niagara is 600,000 square feet.  At peak flow, water gushes over Niagara Falls at a rate of 2,800 cubic feet per second. However, when Iguazu Falls is at peak flow, water roars over the falls at a rate of 6,500 cubic feet per second.

When you compare the two, it is not hard to understand why Eleanor Roosevelt supposedly greeted the sight of Iguazu Falls by exclaiming “Poor Niagara!”

To get to the Argentinian side of the falls, all you need is your passport. However, if you want to see the Brazilian side, as well, you’ll need to get a Brazilian tourist visa.  Brazil’s visa system can be complicated and tough to navigate, even tourists. To get you started, here’s a list of what you’ll need: (more…)