IGUAZU NATIONAL PARK

Created on October 9, 1934 to preserve the biological diversity of the subtropical rainforest and the dazzling scenery surrounding the Falls, today it is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Iguazu National Park now has an area of 66,148 ha and has been declared Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1984.

To preserve the Falls and the subtropical rainforest surrounding them, two National Parks were created at the same time: "Parque Nacional Iguazu" in Argentina, and "Parque Nacional do Iguaçu" in Brazil.

Located in the far northeast of Misiones, Argentina, this natural reserve has regular rainfall and mild temperatures, creating a dampness-laden, almost windless environment, with its luxuriant canopy of vegetation.

The soil of Iguazu National Park is deep red and the vegetation very dense; its relief undulates up to 30 m either way, and some banks of the Iguazu reach 60 m.a.s.l.

Iguazu National Park is part of the Misiones subtropical rainforest, with trees whose heights range between 15 and 40 m; a large part of it, however, has suffered deforestation as civilization has advanced.

It harbors more than 400 species of birds, around 2,000 species of plants and an immeasurable world of insects, which makes this one of the richest natural environments in Argentina. The Park's weather is warm, with average temperatures of 15º C in winter and 26º C in January. The relative humidity ranges between 75% and 90%. The rains, which have an annual average of 2,000 mm, are caused by winds blowing from the Atlantic.

The steadily high temperatures and humidity make this area an immense greenhouse with every possible condition for the growth of exuberant vegetation. Six plainly identifiable strata between the soil and the top of the tallest trees characterize this part of the rainforest:

1. The Giant or Emerging Trees Stratum. The white guatambú, the black laurel and the cancharana grow there as well as some representatives of the leguminosae family, such as incienso, ivirá pitá and rabo molle, the last more than 30 m high.
   
   
2. Large Tree Stratum and 3. Middle Stratum. One of the most spectacular inhabitants of these strata is the timbó or pacará (black ear), of great height and thickness, and one of the most amazing is the guapoy. The latter one wraps itself round another tree, strangling it as it supports it and lives from it parasitically; in the end, the remains of the original tree remain inside the guapoy, which then reaches heights of more than 20 m with a huge canopy. Other smaller trees that grow mixed into the emerging stratum, are the pindo palm-tree, the aguay, the yellow laurel and, to a lesser extent, the petribí.
   
   
3. Intermediate Stratum. This is basically made up of the trees belonging to the higher strata: the arborescent ferns, typical of tropical regions, and the smaller fleshy fruit trees.
   
   
4. Bushy Stratum and 6. Herbaceous Stratum. These two grow under the protection of the shade created by the higher strata, with a great quantity of ferns and bushes, especially the ortiga brava (stinging nettle), with very large leaves that sting on touch. Scattered around all the area are immense, impenetrable cane thickets, 20 to 30 m tall, with such species as the tacuarembó and the tacuaruzú.

LIMITS
Iguazu National Park borders on the east with the Andresito colony, the Yacuy Provincial Park, Caburé-í and the Urugua-í Provincial Parks; on the south with the Establecimiento San Jorge of Pérez Compan; on the southwest with the Establecimiento Puerto Península of the Argentine Army, and on the west with Puerto Iguazu.