- Iguazú National Park
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Iguazú National Park
State Party = ARG
Type = Natural
Criteria = vii, x
ID = 303
Region = Latin America and the Caribbean NICK
Year = 1984
Session = 8th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/303Infobox_protected_area | name = Iguazú National Park
iucn_category = II
caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location =Misiones Province ,Argentina
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 25
lat_minutes = 37
lat_seconds = 00
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 54
long_minutes = 20
long_seconds = 00
long_direction = W
area = convert|550|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
established = 1934
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =Administración de Parques Nacionales The Iguazú National Park is a
national park ofArgentina , located in the Iguazú Department, in the north of the province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia. It has an area of convert|550|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on.History
The park was created in 1934 and it contains one of the greatest natural beauties of Argentina, the
Iguazu Falls , surrounded by the subtropical jungle. Across theIguazu River lies itsBrazil ian counterpart (Iguaçu National Park ). Both sites were declaredWorld Heritage Site s byUNESCO , in 1984 and 1986.The area of the park was inhabited 10,000 years ago by the hunter-gatherers of the "Eldoradense" culture. They were displaced around 1,000 CE by the
Guaraní , who brought new agricultural technologies, and were displaced in turn by the Spanish and Portugueseconquistador es in the 16th century, though their legacy is still alive in this area (the name of the park and the river is Guaraní "y guasu", "large water"). The first European to visit the zone wasÁlvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca , in 1542; Jesuit missions followed in 1609.Flora and fauna
The fauna of the park includes several
endangered species :jaguar ,jaguarundi ,tapir ,ocelot , tirica,anteater , "pavas de monte", the jungle eagle, and theYacare Caiman . One can also find birds like the vencejo de cascada and largetoucan s,mammal s like the coatí, and a diversity of butterflies. The -breasted parrot, named for its wine-colored plumage, is found in this park.The Iguazú River ends in the
Paraná River 23 km beyond the falls, after a 1320 km course. Inside the park it becomes up to 1,500 m wide and turns first south, then north, forming a large U-shape. Its banks are densely populated by trees, including the "ceibo" (Cockspurcoral tree ), whose flower is Argentina's national flower. The flora of the park also features "lapacho negro" and "lapacho amarillo" (familyBignoniaceae ), as well as "palmito" trees and the 40-metre-high "palo rosa" (familyApocynaceae ).Recreation
Admission for non-Argentine residents is ARS $40 (around USD $13), and ARS $20 the following day if one gets their ticket stamped before leaving the park on the first day, the admission includes transport on the
Rainforest Ecological Train which permits visitors access to different walkways. The park only accepts Argentine pesos for entrance.Park hours are 8.00 to 18.00 between April and September, and 7.30 to 18.30 between October and March.To get from Puerto Iguazu, Argentina to Iguazu Falls National Park, one can utilize the El Practico bus sevice which departs from the main bus terminal in Puerto Iguazu and runs service approximately every 30 minutes between 7.15 and 19.15. Each way ticket is ARS $5 as of August 2008. Bus tickets can be purchased at the bus terminal, or on the bus. Exact change is not necessary.ee also
Rainforest Ecological Train External links
* [http://www.iguazuargentina.com/ Official web site]
* [http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar/i/03_ap/15_iguazu_PN/15_iguazu_PN.htm Administración de Parques Nacionales] - National Parks Administration of Argentina (in Spanish and English)
* [http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/iguazu.html World Heritage Site]
* [http://www.moon.com/planner/argentina/mustsee/pn_iguazu.html Parks location and Information]
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