Flood-driven surges pushed Iguazú Falls to about 10 times its historical flow in Brazil this month, closing catwalk access as El Niño-related flooding displaced thousands across three South American countries.
The park’s tourism concessionaire, Urbia+Cataratas, reported a flow of about 16 million liters per second at Parque Nacional do Iguaçu on Oct. 14. The historical average is 1.5 million liters per second. The concessionaire suspended access to a catwalk as a safety measure and removed its railings to let water pass; the main trail and viewing areas remained open.
Argentina’s Administración de Parques Nacionales (APN) said it dismantled the walkways on the Devil’s Throat route in August as a precaution. The river later rose above the walkways’ former level four times, while visitor activity continued, APN said.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 16 that El Niño-related rain swelled rivers in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, displacing thousands of people from their homes.
