Puerto Iguazú
Encyclopedia
Puerto Iguazú is a frontier city in the province
of Misiones
, Argentina
. With a population of 82.227 ,
it is the fifth largest city in the Province
, after Posadas
, Oberá
, Eldorado
and San Vicente.
The world-renowned Iguazu Falls
are only 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) away from the city, and as a result the city has developed its infrastructure around tourism.
was the first European to discover what is now called Iguazu Falls
. He was drawn by the noise of the water, which can be heard at a distance of several kilometers. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the Guarani Indians were the principal inhabitants of the area.
Despite its early exploration, the area remained occupied only by the Guarani until 1880. In 1881, the province of Corrientes, which at that time included what is now Misiones, sold 50 square leagues (13000 square kilometres (5,019.3 sq mi)) at the current site of Puerto Iguazú near the falls. The land changed hands three times in the course of just two years, and ended up as the property of Gregorio Lezama. At that time Misiones separated from Corrientes. Lezama funded a scientific expedition to explore the territory, enlisting Carlos Bosetti and Jordan Hummel for that purpose. Those two explorers later organized the first tourist trip to the falls. In 1888 Lezama also sold the land, this time to Martín Errecaborde and Company.
(Cfa according to Köppen climate classification
). Temperatures are warm in winter and hot in summer. There is no dry season and rainfall is abundant with every month receiving over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain and the wettest month, November, receiving over 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain on average. Precipitation
falls mostly during convective storms. Due to abundant rainfall, rainforests surrounds Puerto Iguazú.
The hot season lasts for up to 6 months or more, with temperatures reaching between 30°C (86F) and 35°C (95F) on most days, and dropping to 18°C (64F) to 24°C (75F) at night. Thunderstorms with heavy rains bring relief when the heat becomes too intense.
The cool season runs from late April to mid September, with daily highs reaching an average of 21°C (70F) and a low of 11°C (52F) in June. These averages are reached through an alternating weather pattern, with several days with northerly winds and temperatures of around 28°C (82F) or higher and warm nights over 15°C (59F) giving way, in a very sudden manner, to cool, rainy weather and temperatures between 10°C and 15°C (50F to 59F) for a few days, then to dry, sunny weather and colder nights (around 5°C, or 41F, and sometimes much lower) and pleasant days in the 15°C to 20°C (59F to 68F) range, and a gradual increase in temperatures as winds rotate to the north again.
Frost is rare but does occur on some winters, and temperatures within a few degrees of freezing occur every winter. The record low is -4.9°C (23.1F), a surprisingly low value given the latitude, the vegetation and the low elevation of the area.
Temperatures above 40°C (104°F) have been recorded in the summer
The economy is centered around tourism, given that the city's many hotels provide the principal source of jobs for its inhabitants. Many international hotels have been and are being constructed along the banks of the Iguazú River.
Other of the city's tourist attractions include Three Frontiers, where the Argentine, Paraguayan and Brazilian borders meet. Puerto Iguazú is home to an active community of artisans, the La Aripuca resort, the Museum of Images of the Jungle (a collection of woodcarvings), the Mbororé
Museum, the Luis Honorio Rolón Municipal Nature Park, the Güira Oga Center for Bird Rehabilitation, the Hotel Esturión, the Iguazú Grand Hotel and Casino, and south of Puerto Iguazú, the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa
.
The nearby Wanda Mines also attract gemstone
and geode
collectors. Operating since the 1950s, the mines are the site of some of Argentina's best agate
, amethyst
, quartz
and topaz
lodes.
links Puerto Iguazú with the Brazil
ian border town of Foz do Iguaçu
, where the Argentine National Route 12
becomes the Brazilian BR-469. From the main bus station one can take taxis, or the municipal bus, one of whose routes run from the Three Frontiers to Iguazú National Park
(Parque Nacional de las Cataratas).
The city is served by its own international airport, Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport
, as well as by Foz do Iguaçu International Airport
on the Brazilian side of the border.
s and a variety of freshwater fish, including knifefish
(gymnotus) and catfish
, inhabit. The canals drain into the Paraná River.
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Misiones
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. With a population of 82.227 ,
it is the fifth largest city in the Province
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
, after Posadas
Posadas, Misiones
Posadas is the capital city of the Argentine province of Misiones, located at the south of the province, on the left-hand shore of the Paraná River, opposite Encarnación, Paraguay. The city has an area of 965 km² and a population of 323,739 ....
, Oberá
Oberá
Oberá is a city in the interfluvial province of Misiones, Argentina, and the head town of the Oberá Department. It is located 96 km east of the provincial capital Posadas, on National Route 14, and about 1,150 km north of Buenos Aires...
, Eldorado
Eldorado, Misiones
Eldorado is a city in the center-northeast of the province of Misiones, Argentina. It has 54,189 inhabitants as per the , making it the third most populated city in the province, and is the head town of the Eldorado Department...
and San Vicente.
The world-renowned Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
are only 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) away from the city, and as a result the city has developed its infrastructure around tourism.
History
In 1551, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de VacaÁlvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer of the New World, one of four survivors of the Narváez expedition...
was the first European to discover what is now called Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
. He was drawn by the noise of the water, which can be heard at a distance of several kilometers. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the Guarani Indians were the principal inhabitants of the area.
Despite its early exploration, the area remained occupied only by the Guarani until 1880. In 1881, the province of Corrientes, which at that time included what is now Misiones, sold 50 square leagues (13000 square kilometres (5,019.3 sq mi)) at the current site of Puerto Iguazú near the falls. The land changed hands three times in the course of just two years, and ended up as the property of Gregorio Lezama. At that time Misiones separated from Corrientes. Lezama funded a scientific expedition to explore the territory, enlisting Carlos Bosetti and Jordan Hummel for that purpose. Those two explorers later organized the first tourist trip to the falls. In 1888 Lezama also sold the land, this time to Martín Errecaborde and Company.
Climate
Puerto Iguazú has a Humid Subtropical climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
(Cfa according to Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
). Temperatures are warm in winter and hot in summer. There is no dry season and rainfall is abundant with every month receiving over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain and the wettest month, November, receiving over 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain on average. Precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
falls mostly during convective storms. Due to abundant rainfall, rainforests surrounds Puerto Iguazú.
The hot season lasts for up to 6 months or more, with temperatures reaching between 30°C (86F) and 35°C (95F) on most days, and dropping to 18°C (64F) to 24°C (75F) at night. Thunderstorms with heavy rains bring relief when the heat becomes too intense.
The cool season runs from late April to mid September, with daily highs reaching an average of 21°C (70F) and a low of 11°C (52F) in June. These averages are reached through an alternating weather pattern, with several days with northerly winds and temperatures of around 28°C (82F) or higher and warm nights over 15°C (59F) giving way, in a very sudden manner, to cool, rainy weather and temperatures between 10°C and 15°C (50F to 59F) for a few days, then to dry, sunny weather and colder nights (around 5°C, or 41F, and sometimes much lower) and pleasant days in the 15°C to 20°C (59F to 68F) range, and a gradual increase in temperatures as winds rotate to the north again.
Frost is rare but does occur on some winters, and temperatures within a few degrees of freezing occur every winter. The record low is -4.9°C (23.1F), a surprisingly low value given the latitude, the vegetation and the low elevation of the area.
Temperatures above 40°C (104°F) have been recorded in the summer
Economy
Other of the city's tourist attractions include Three Frontiers, where the Argentine, Paraguayan and Brazilian borders meet. Puerto Iguazú is home to an active community of artisans, the La Aripuca resort, the Museum of Images of the Jungle (a collection of woodcarvings), the Mbororé
Battle of Mbororé
The Battle of Mbororé was a battle between the Guaraní living in the Jesuit Missions and the bandeirantes, explorers and adventurers based in São Paulo...
Museum, the Luis Honorio Rolón Municipal Nature Park, the Güira Oga Center for Bird Rehabilitation, the Hotel Esturión, the Iguazú Grand Hotel and Casino, and south of Puerto Iguazú, the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa
Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa
The Sheraton Iguazu Resort is a five star establishment overlooking the landmark Iguazu Falls, in Misiones Province, Argentina.-Overview:The Sheraton Iguazú Resort is located inside the Iguazú National Park, less than one mile from Devil's Gorge. The Park is an ecological reserve offering various...
.
The nearby Wanda Mines also attract gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
and geode
Geode
Geodes are geological secondary sedimentary structures which occur in sedimentary and certain volcanic rocks. Geodes are essentially spherical masses of mineral matter that were deposited sygenetically within the rock formations they are found in. Geodes have a Chalcedony shell containing...
collectors. Operating since the 1950s, the mines are the site of some of Argentina's best agate
Agate
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, chiefly chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.-Etymology...
, amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
, quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
and topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
lodes.
Transport
The Tancredo Neves International BridgeFraternity Bridge
The Tancredo Neves Bridge, better known as Fraternity Bridge connects the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu with the Argentine Puerto Iguazú, crossing over the Iguassu River....
links Puerto Iguazú with the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian border town of Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu is the 7th largest city in Paraná state, Brazil, with a population of 255,900 inhabitants. It is located approximately 650 km west of Curitiba, Parana's capital city, being the westernmost city in that state...
, where the Argentine National Route 12
National Route 12 (Argentina)
National Route 12 is a road in Argentina, connecting the northeast section to the rest of the country. It runs through the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires....
becomes the Brazilian BR-469. From the main bus station one can take taxis, or the municipal bus, one of whose routes run from the Three Frontiers to Iguazú National Park
Iguazú National Park
The Iguazú National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Iguazú Department, in the north of the province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia. It has an area of . -History:...
(Parque Nacional de las Cataratas).
The city is served by its own international airport, Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport
Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport
Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport , also known as Mayor Carlos Eduardo Krause Airport, is an airport in Misiones Province, Argentina serving the city of Puerto Iguazú and providing access to the nearby Iguazú Falls ....
, as well as by Foz do Iguaçu International Airport
Foz do Iguaçu International Airport
Foz do Iguaçu/Cataratas International Airport , is the airport serving Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. It is named after the Iguazu Falls .It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
on the Brazilian side of the border.
Ecology
One of the last remnants of the Atlantic Forest remains in and around the Iguazu Falls. This is a subtropical forest with native bamboos and a rich diversity of birds including toucans and hummingbirds. Coatis are accustomed to begging for food from park visitors. Most of the streets of Puerto Iguazu are unmetalled, red dirt, with gutters on either side (canalitos) that have grassy banks in which eelEel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s and a variety of freshwater fish, including knifefish
Knifefish
Knifefish may refer to several knife-shaped fishes:* The Neotropical or weakly electric knifefishes, order Gymnotiformes, containing five families:** Family Gymnotidae ** Family Rhamphichthyidae...
(gymnotus) and catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, inhabit. The canals drain into the Paraná River.
See also
- Iguazu FallsIguazu FallsIguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
- Iguazú National ParkIguazú National ParkThe Iguazú National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Iguazú Department, in the north of the province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia. It has an area of . -History:...
- Three FrontiersTriple FrontierThe Triple Frontier is a tri-border area along the junction of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil, where the Iguazú and Paraná rivers converge. Near the convergence are the cities of Ciudad del Este, Alto Paraná; Puerto Iguazú, Misiones and Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná...
- Fraternity BridgeFraternity BridgeThe Tancredo Neves Bridge, better known as Fraternity Bridge connects the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu with the Argentine Puerto Iguazú, crossing over the Iguassu River....