Guaíra Falls

Infobox Waterfall
name = Guaíra Falls


caption =
location = Border between Paraguayflagicon|Paraguay and Brazilflagicon|Brazil
coordinates =
watercourse = Parana River
type = block
height = convert|375|ft
height_longest =
number_drops = 18 total, 7 primary
average_flow = convert|1750000|cuft per second
world_rank =

The Guaíra Falls ( _es. Saltos del Guaíra, _pt. Salto de Sete Quedas) was a waterfall located on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. With an estimated volume of convert|1750000|cuft per second, the falls were, at least in terms of total volume, the largest waterfall on earth.cite web|url=http://internationalrivers.org/en/blog/glenn-switkes/farewell-seven-falls|title=Farewell, Seven Falls|first=Glenn|last=Switkes|date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2008-06-25] The falls were flooded in 1982 by the reservoir impounded behind the Itaipu dam.

Characteristics

The falls were formed at a point where the Parana River was forced through a narrow canyon downstream from the Maracaju Mountains in Brazil. At the head of the falls, the river was constricted from a width of about convert|1250|ft to convert|200|ft.Cite encyclopedia|title=Guaíra Falls|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=2008-06-25] The falls were actually a series of 18 individual cataracts, with the seven primary falls lending its name in Portuguese. The largest individual cataract had a height of convert|130|ft.

References

ources

Brazil, Lonely Planet Guide, 4th Edition, c. 1998 Lonely Planet Publications, PO Box 617, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia