Sunday, July 20, 2008

New 7 Wonders/Nature vote #7 of 7

And, finally we come to the final vote. My 7th choice after a week of wandering the world. I have seen, in real life #1, #4, #5 and one of the places in #7. These choices were by no means in any preferential order. I'm not that decisive. I simply decided to start at the farthest location (New Zealand) and make my way back to Canada.







"Poor Niagara"


But didn't stay here long because there is an even more impressive sight to see.

check out the size of the falls compared to the boat in each of these pictures!

Iguassu Falls scroll down on this link to see a panorama of the falls from Brazil. My download lost way too much of the immensity of the view. Don't be too lazy to read up on the legend and accessibility and comparisons (to Niagara and Victoria).


Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. These matter of fact details do nothing to describe the grandeur of the falls, the tremendous amount of water (an average of 553 cubic feet per second) thundering down 269 feet, the tropical location and the sheer beauty that led Eleanor Roosevelt to say "Poor Niagara". Four times the width of Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls are divided by various islands into separate waterfalls. Iguazú Falls, called Foz do Iguaçu in Portuguese, and Cataratas del Iguazú in Spanish, lie on the Argentina - Brazil border and are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The falls are part of a singular practically virgin jungle ecosystem protected by Argentine and Brazilian national parks on either side of the cascades. Two thirds of the falls are on the Argentinian side of the river where you can also tour Iguazú National Park where there are jungle trails and bird hikes. The view from the Brazilian side is the most panoramic and there are helicopter rides out over the falls from Foz do Iguaçu. The light is best in the morning for photographs.

Iguassu Falls Waterfall
ARGENTINA/BRAZIL Iguassu Falls lies on the Iguassu River and consists of a spectacular series of several hundred cataracts, separated by rocks and tree-covered islands. Together they form a horseshoe some 21/2 miles (4 km) long. The vast hydroelectric power potential of the falls is undeveloped. National parks have been established here by both Argentina and Brazil.
Current rank: 18

And here we go, another link to someone else's travel photos!

8 comments:

  1. I am playing catchup again on your 7 Natural Wonders posts. All great choices. Haven't been to any of your last 4 choices. Not even Bay of Fundy.

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  2. Very impressive. Coming to your blog is more informative than visiting Wikepedia!!

    CJ xx

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  3. It's a beautiful word, isn't it?

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  4. I have loved all your choices - it has really reminded me an awesome place this world is.

    MA

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  5. Love the Natural Wonders posts - there are so many fantastic places to see in the world, and you've made some great choices.

    This looks like the ideal place for 'extreme-kayaking'...any volunteers?

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  6. Thanks for travelling with me.
    Yes, it is an awesome (in the true sense of the word) world out there.

    and, erm, no thanks to the extreme kayaking!

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  7. I'm going to miss these posts. There are so many beautiful places that I never knew existed.

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  8. Whim:, I think I'll miss doing them. It was great fun. And I did go through a lot of sites looking for photos, information ... and yes, even hotel rates and plane fares!!

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