What does the Iguazu Falls look like? There are as many shapes as there are eyes willing to see

 

Not easy to photograph the 275-cataract-strong Iguassu Falls
 Click on all photos to enlarge

What shape is this by the way? Iguaçu National Park Photo

"It is misleading to say that the Iguaçu Falls have the shape of an inverted "U" with a left leg much shorter than the right one. The left side of this "U" corresponds to  what is conventionally called the Brazilian Side or Brazilian Falls.  Some say the format is an inverted "J". In fact, if you have the chance to take a closer look, preferably aboard a helicopter you will see that the figure is much more complex than a simple "U" letter. It might be a "U" with many internal ramifications. Likewise, it has little to do with the inverted "J" figure" (Transcript of a paragraph of my book being translated to or rewritten in English. Portuguese name: 7 Arcos 3 Degraus - Tudo que você ainda não sabe sobre as Cataratas do Iguaçu. Kindle Edition)

The photos below were taken from a boat that take tourists way up the Iguassu River Canyon all the way to Cascading waterfalls. They show that seen from "inside" the falls, there a multiple ways to see the Falls's structure and "design". Design?    



From this point in the "Iguaszu Canal", on the Argentinean side, both Brazilian and Agentinean boats take a break before pointing their nose into the canyon for a "waterfall shower". Having "San Martin Island right ahead, you have the impression that the falls runs a straight line behind the Island, sort of, spanning the whole length of the Falls from Devil's Throat getting out of sight of those on the boat on its way to the Upper Trails lookout points.   



Another slightly different look. A rainbow seems to block the way into the canyon. Thera three boats in the picture. The two close to the Island are Argentinean and have the right to get close to the San Martin Island. The one waiting "at bay" is Brazilian. This part of the subtle ways and rules of a border area 



Before boarding tje boat, visitors ride an eletric safari vehicle through Iguassu National Park's Attlantic Forests. In this picture, myself and Foz do Iguaçu-based journalist Katya Santos have just enjoying hugging this precious Timbaúba tree (Enterolobium contortisiliquumtree) or pacara earpod tree also known as "timbó" in Guarani and timbó colorado in Spanish. This tree produces a fruit that looks like an ear. And it's called Orelha-de-Negro, Oreja-de-Negro or Blackman's Ear.    

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