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Upon seeing Iguazu, the United States' First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!"[1] Iguazu is also often compared
with Southern Africa's Victoria Falls which separates Zambia and
Zimbabwe. Iguazu is wider, but because it is split into about 270
discrete falls and large islands, Victoria is the largest curtain of
water in the world, at over 1,600 m (5,249 ft) wide and over 100 m (328
ft) in height (in low flow Victoria is split into five by islands; in
high flow it can be uninterrupted). The only wider falls are extremely
large rapid-like falls such as the Boyoma Falls). With the flooding of
the Guaíra Falls in 1982, Iguazu currently has the greatest average
annual flow of any waterfall in the world.
The water falling over Iguazu in peak flow has a surface area of about
40 Ha (1.3 million ft²) whilst Victoria in peak flow has a surface area
of over 55 ha (1.8 million ft²). By comparison, Niagara has a surface
area of under 18.3 ha (600,000 ft²). Victoria's annual peak flow is also
greater than Iguazu's annual peak—9,100 m³/s versus 6,500—though in
times of extreme flood the two have recorded very similar maximum water
discharge (well in excess of 12,000 m³/s). Niagara's annual peak flow is
about 2,800 m³/s, although an all-time peak of 6,800 has been recorded.
Iguazu and Victoria fluctuate more greatly in their flow rate. Mist
rises between 30 metres (98 ft) and 150 m (492 ft) from Iguazu's Devil's
Throat, and over 300 m (984 ft) above Victoria.
Iguazu, however, affords better views and walkways and its shape allows
for spectacular vistas. At one point a person can stand and be
surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls. The Devil's Throat has water
pouring into it from three sides. Likewise, because Iguazu is split into
many relatively small falls, one can view these a portion at a time.
Victoria does not allow this, as it is essentially one waterfall that
falls into a canyon and is too immense to appreciate at once (except
from the air). |
