Iguaçu Falls

Iguaçu Falls or Iguassú Falls (both: ēgwəsū'), in the Iguaçu River, on the Argentina-Brazil border near the Paraguay line. Iguaçu Falls has two main sections that are composed of hundreds of waterfalls separated from each other by rocky islands along a 3-mi (4.8-km) escarpment. The highest fall is 210 ft (64 m) high; most of the falls are from 100 to 130 ft (30-40 m) high. Argentina and Brazil maintain national parks on each side of the falls. The surroundings, in the midst of beautiful scenery, abound in begonias, orchids, brilliant-hued birds, and myriads of butterflies. The Asunción-Paranaguá highway passes near the falls. Their potential as a source of hydroelectric power is considerable.