Day 2: Critters of Iguaçu

23 February 2012

In an attempt to break up the large quantity of photos I took on this trip, I decided to make a separate entry for the animals I saw at Iguaçu Falls.

First, the butterflies.  There were many more types - these were just the ones I was able to photograph.

Love the long green tongue on this one!

 My friend was able to coax it into spreading its wings for the camera. 

 The below red and black butterfly was several meters away and this was the best pic I got. 

 

A large raptor - many of them were wheeling around the sky around the Falls. I was told that it is an urubu, which in English is a new world vulture, not sure which type.

 The overlook point of the falls had a kind of metal grill landing and beneath it this fellow was sleeping.  No one was certain what animal it was, so please comment if you know.  It was about half a meter long and had dark gray fur tipped in a light brown.  It is not a capybara but could be another large rodent.

 Now, for the not real animals... wooden toucans in the gift shop.

Parts of Brazil are famous for precious and semi-precious gems.  These incredibly lifelike bird carvings are all done in semiprecious stones.  Mom, I wish I had enough money to buy you one of them.

 There was a stone lizard too.  Good choice of stone for this guy.

Back to real animals, my first view of a quati (coati).  These were quite fearless - this one was going back and forth between the trees and the food court. They are kind of like anteaters, but obviously they like other food too (people food).

And if the one wasn't cool enough, along came a whole family!  The baby quatis were super cute.

 This guy stuck his nose right into an anthill and was rooting around in it for a tasty snack.

 One of the little ones climbed up a tree where it appeared to be eating the fruit or seed pods.

Day 2 - Iguaçu Falls - Devil's Throat

23 February 2012

Continuing on, we came to the walkway which goes right out over the river for a direct view of Garganta do Diablo (Devil's Throat).  I can't even describe the noise from here, it was like a constant pressure on the whole body.

It was really wet out here - I am wiping water out of my eyes because I can't see.  Notice how much water was on the camera lens.

 Looking downstream from the bridge - this shows how the falls on this side have two "steps" and the bridge is on the step, so we didn't really experience the full height from the river level to the top of the falls.

 Yay, another rainbow!

 Looking upstream into the Devil's Throat from the end of the walkway.

The other side (Argentina).

Here is a video taken from the end of the bridge.

 Now we are soaking wet.

These folks came prepared.

 At the left hand side of the falls grew this lovely morning-glory.

A video taken from here.

 At the side is an elevator which takes people up to a platform to view the falls from above.

To illustrate the scale, the Devil's Throat extends off to the left from here.

 Looking straight down at the lower level.

The falls from above.

Here is a video of the same view.

 Keroppi!

From here we could walk to the parking lot, where we had lunch in the food and shopping area.  It is at the level of the upper part of the river.  Boat ride above the falls, anyone?  The tiny ants in the distance are tourists on the Argentina side.

 A zoomed in view of the Argentinian side.  There was not much wind and I waited forever for that flag to pick up enough to see it!

Day 2: Iguaçu Falls - downstream

23 February 2012

Today we went to one of the most amazing places in the world, Iguaçu Falls.  This entry is more difficult, because even after culling out the lousy pictures, there are still well over a hundred, and I must narrow it down to a manageable selection to post here.  To make it more manageable for those who don't have strong internet connections, I will split this into two parts - the downstream part of the falls and the main body of the falls.

This was my first view of the falls at the trailhead.  I was so overwhelmed by the amazing size, sound and beauty of it that I wept in the presence of God (and all the tourists surrounding me).  Little did I know that this is downstream from the falls, just the "little" stuff.  The trail winds down the hillside and along the cliffs going upstream (left) from here and eventually reaches the main concentration of the falls. 

I managed to pull myself together to take the obligatory photo standing in front of it.

 We walked down the trail a bit and here is the next viewpoint.

Everyone was waiting their turn to cram into this tiny little overlook to take a photo.

 Including me.

First rainbow of the day!  It was cloudy off and on that day, which was good for avoiding sunburn, but perhaps not as good for photography.  When the sun peeked out it was always amazing.

This overlook had the first view upstream to the main part of the falls called Garganta do Diablo (Devil's Throat).

 Looking straight across from here.

Just this "small" downstream part was pretty spectacular on its own.

Getting closer... here we got the first glimpse of the walkway that goes out over the river.

 Falling rocks, oh noooooooo!!!!

 And closer....