Devil's Throat: The Heart of Iguazu Falls

Devil's Throat, or *Garganta del Diablo* as it's known in Spanish and Portuguese, is the undisputed star of Iguazu Falls. Situated on the Iguazu River, it marks the border between Argentina and Brazil and is a highlight of both the Argentine Iguazú National Park and the Brazilian Iguaçu National Park. The falls are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Formed by millions of years of erosion, Devil's Throat is a gigantic, 82-meter-high (269 ft) U-shaped chasm that stretches 150 meters (492 ft) wide and 700 meters (2,297 ft) long. Approximately half of the Iguazu River's flow plunges over this precipice, resulting in an immense volume of water cascading down with tremendous force. The average flow is around 1,800 cubic meters per second, enough to fill 36 Olympic swimming pools in a minute. The force of the water generates a mist that can be seen from over 7 kilometers away. Visitors can experience the Devil's Throat up close via a series of walkways that lead to a viewing platform directly overlooking the falls. The sensation of being surrounded by the deafening roar and powerful spray is both humbling and exhilarating. Eleanor Roosevelt, upon seeing Iguazu Falls, reportedly exclaimed, "Poor Niagara!". The name “Iguazu” comes from the Tupi-Guarani language, meaning “big water”. Legend has it that the falls were created when a god, Mboi, in a fit of rage, split the river, condemning a chief's daughter, Naipi, and her lover, Tarobá, to fall into the abyss for eternity. Naipi was transformed into the central rock of the Falls, and Tarobá into a palm tree at the edge.