Tag: Argentina

And the wildlife …

… treated me very kindly.

The South American Coati, Nasua nasua, is quite common at Iguaçu. It is a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). They are about 30 cm tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 2 and 8 kg. Males are much bigger than females and once mature live a solitary life except in the mating season. Females and young tend to travel in bands with their tails raised. They are equipped with powerful claws and sharp teeth, the long tail is not prehensile. Their snout is capable of quite a range of movement.

 

The Black Capuchin is less intrusive in its habits. It is a primate, of course.

One of the rarest and most spectacular birds that I saw on the trip was the Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Aburria jacutinga, crippling views …

 

Cataratas del Iguazú …

Argentinians speak Spanish with a marked accent. I studied Spanish with a teacher of Argentine origin. Some years ago I met some tourists from Barcelona who thought my Spanish was so awful because I was Argentinian. On my recent day trip to Argentina I met some locals who thought my Spanish was so awful because I was Brazilian. There is a consensus on my Spanish.

The trip from Iguaçu to Iguazú was relatively painless, recent changes mean that there are no formalities at the Brazilian border post but there is still a delay on the Argentinian side. The journey takes you in sight of the confluence of the Iguazu river with the Paraná. You can see Argentina on one side, Brazil on the other and Paraguay in between. Poor Paraguay, history has not been kind to her.

From the car park it’s a short walk and a train ride out towards the falls. From the end of the line there are a number of paths that lead to spectacular views. The most spectacular of all is to a platform on the very tonsil of the Devil’s Throat, la Garganta del Diablo. If you want a photo from here take a waterproof camera and a very wide-angle lens. Here you are conscious of the sheer power of the falls.

Other walks trade power for panorama.

It’s easy to see why Eleanor Roosevelt on seeing Iguazu  exclaimed “Poor Niagara!”