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The Iguazú Falls:
the Iguazú FallsThe Iguazú Falls, measuring 2,700 metres in length, are the widest in the world. Their average volume of flow is of 1,750 cubic metres per second, a volume which can easily exceed 10,000 cubic metres per second after abundant rainfall.
The excellent infrastructure at the Iguazú National Park offers easy access to the falls. There are three main circuits from where visitors enjoy spectacular panoramic views of nearly all the falls, and from various angles.
The Upper Circuit: it is 800m long and consists of trails and walkways that link up different islands and offer views from above the falls where the waters tumble off 70m precipices.
The Lower Circuit: Here we have views from the bottom of the falls. The circuit follows the course of a long ramp. The careful layout of its 1,200m long snaking walkways offers beautiful panoramic views of the manifold waterfalls, and allows the visitor to get so close to some of them that a good soak from the spray is unavoidable. Iguazú Falls Panoramic View
From this circuit the visitor can gain access to the boats that cross over to the San Martín island. It requires a steep climb but is worth the effort.
Access to the Devil's Throat is gained via a noisy but attractive little train driven by gas. The train trip takes about twenty minutes. The Devil's Throat is the fall with the greatest volume of flow, therefore its name. From the point where the visitor steps off the train, a walkway, 1,800m long, snakes across the river and offers unique vistas, taking the visitor across islands and a number of river branches until it reaches the Devil's Throat, an astonishing sight.

The Falls and its Birds:
The Iguazú Falls are a great tourist attraction and are visited by people from all over the world, with nearly a million visitors annually. Yet we must not forget that within the Iguazú National Park, a jungle environment predominates, whereby the falls an immense delta with a large number of islands are in reality like a magnificent wetland area.
What better combination to find birds as are water and jungle!
Black-fronted Piping-guanAnd there is more. Some bird species can only be found near the waterfalls. The magnificent Black-fronted Piping guan, without doubt the most handsome of guans of the Neotropics, frequents the falls area. Large trees, or rocks amidst the waters, are good spots to find this bird.
Great Dusky SwiftsNeither must we forget the incredible numbers of Great Dusky Swifts, with their spectacular diving flights, their nests hidden behind the walls of falling waters, and who have rightfully become the symbol of the Iguazú National Park and can be found on the Park's badge. On checking these flocks closely and carefully, the White-collared Swift can sometimes be found among them, but it is present in small numbers only.
Various swallow species can be observed near the falls, the Black-collared Swallow being the most searched after by birdwatchers.
Chestnut-eared AraçaríAmong the aquatic vegetation you might discover the beautiful Yellow-billed Cardinal, the elusive Yellow-chinned Spinetail, and the modest Sooty Tyrannulet.
Toucans, such as the Toco Toucan, or Chestnut-eared Araçarí, are quite common near the falls. With luck, even the elusive Saffron Toucanet can be seen here.
Herons, among them Striated Heron and Rufescent Tiger-heron, hunt and fish among the rocks, as well as cormorants and anhingas, diving for their food. Somewhat rarer though is the Great Muscovy Duck, unmistakable in flight with its obvious white wing spots.Great Egret
In summer, high among the tree crowns, Swallow Tanagers amaze us with their intense blue and their notorious black mask, although the female in its green feather dress is no less attractive.
The Greater Ani in its dark blue luminous dress is another summer visitor.
In the early mornings we find parrots and parakeets perching and well visible in all their detailed dress, seemingly enjoying the spray produced by the falling waters.
A few small raptors are also abundantly present, such as Snail Kite, which we see watching the waters intently, looking for their habitual prey, or the Yellow-headed Caracara. Less common is the Bat Falcon which can be seen catching large dragonflies but around dusk goes hunting for its preferred prey, the smaller bats. From time to time, an Osprey will also show itself.
Violet-capped WoodnymphOther birds associated with water and the falls are three species of kingfisher. Further surprises are the Green Ibis with its curious and guttural song, limpkins with their mechanical flight, and the Brazilian Duck, among many others.
There are, of course, many more bird species, but we will leave those for you to discover directly.

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