Devil's Throat: The Heart of Iguazu Falls

Devil's Throat is not just a waterfall; it's an experience. As the Iguazu River funnels into a horseshoe-shaped chasm, the sheer volume of water creates a mist that can be seen from over 7 kilometers away. The falls have a flow of approximately 1,500 cubic meters per second, enough to fill 36 Olympic-sized swimming pools in a single minute. To reach this natural wonder from the Argentinian side, visitors board the Ecological Jungle Train to Garganta del Diablo Station. A 2,200-meter walkway then leads to the main viewing platform, offering an unforgettable, up-close perspective. The steel walkway replaced a wooden one that was destroyed in a 1992 flood. The constant mist and the deafening roar create an immersive experience, leaving visitors drenched and in awe of the raw power of nature. The falls were formed by the erosion of the Iguazu River over millions of years. The river flows over a plateau of basalt rock, with a layer of softer sandstone. Over time, the river eroded the sandstone, undercutting the basalt and creating the dramatic cliffs and falls. The first European to discover the falls was the Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. Indigenous tribes, the Caingangue and Tupi-Guarani, had inhabited the region long before, with the name "Iguazu" deriving from their language, meaning "big water". According to legend, a deity created the falls in a rage, forever condemning two lovers to an eternal fall.