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Brasil 2 - Foz De Iguazu & Itaipu Dam |
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Casapagina |
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Where Florianopolis held some of the most beautiful beaches we�ve ever been to, heading inland to the borders of Brasil, Argentina and Paraguay we found some of the most impressive natural and man-made wonders of South America. Foz De Iguazu is located about 8 hours inland and is about 15 Degrees hotter and a hundred times more humid than the coast. We had some time to kill before heading to our luxurious accomodations on the Argentinain side of the Iguazu river so we headed to the Itaupu Dam. It was begun in 1974 as a joint project of the Brazilian & Paraguayan governments and 10 years later it began generating power. It�s installed capacity is 12,600 MW making it the biggest in the world (Guri in Venezuela is second with 10,200MW), it�s spillway can handle over 62,200 cubic metres per second and it�s 18 turbines provide power used by 90% of Paraguay and 25% of Brazil. It will soon be usurped by the 3 gorges project in China which is currently damning the Yangtzee. Itaipu�s not very pleased about this and makes sure you know where they will still be superior (check it out... www.itaipu.gov.br). They can take solace in the fact that only 1 million peasants in China were displaced where Itaipu�s reservoir was able to displace over 4 Million! Congratulations! That�s the beauty of a partnership between two dictators in the 1970�s, plus they had the added advantage of being bankrolled by the U.S. Enough political rants, regardless of the statistical comparison it was the biggest freakin� thing I�ve ever seen!
After the diversion of the dam, we went to the real jewel of the confluence of the Rio Parana and Iguazu, Iguazu Falls. Located just up river from where the two rivers meet, Brasil and Argentina both share excellent views of the falls (Paraguay got the proverbial shaft), it ranks right up their with Victoria falls Africa, Niagara back home and Angel falls in Venezuela, having only seen Niagara and Iguazu I would have to concur with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: `Poor Niagara Falls`. Set in the rain forest and traversed by catwalks it�s hundreds of waterfalls are an amazing spectacle, add to this the power of the Garganta Del Diablo (Devil�s Throat) and the thrilling boat trips right up the rapids and into the falls and it puts Niagara to shame (and makes the Maid of the Mist look like and old lady). Anyhoo, the pics are better than my pathetic illiterations so here you go! |
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The spillway at Itaipu
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The closeup of the spillway. |
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A rather sinister looking shot of the turbines...the Dam�s name was pinched from the island in front, it is named Itaipu which in the native tongue means `Rock that Sings` for the sound the water made hitting the rock in pre-dam days. |
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Happy times at the Devil�s Throat, the catwalk hangs right over the edge! As usual, we look superimposed. |
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The view up the Devil�s Throat...basically everything on the left is Brasil and the right is Argentina. The catwalk where the last shot was taken in obscured by the mist on the right.
Note the boats heading right for the Devil�s Tonsils! |
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A slight pan 45 degrees to the right reveals the second set of `Cataratas` equally impressive. |
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We got really wet under that one. |
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The view from the boat heading into the Devil�s Throat - it was all very professional, they handed you a life vest and a plastic shopping bag for your camera and then proceeded to douse you under hundreds of gallons of water in torrential rapids (we actually went under that first one on the right). Poor Maid of the Mist. |
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The long-armed self-take with our friends (right to left) Adam (CAN) and Jorge (U.S.of F�n A.). |
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This was taken on the Brasilian side looking straight down about 50m.
Q: Where�s Pat�s other foot?
A: About 4 feet behind him. |
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There is also lots of wildlife on the trail...this guy is an official bird man, check out his credentials. |
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These little fellas love the tourists (of which there are literally thousands). |
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Darryl and I doing a little dance before leaving our beautiful accomodations. |
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Let�s See Brasil 1 Again |
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Let�s See Brasil 3 (Under Construction) |
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Back to the Casapagina |
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