Sights in Puerto Iguazú
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Parque Nacional Iguazú
Without being unkind to Puerto Iguazú, the national park, and the indescribably arresting falls that form its centerpiece, is the reason people flock to the area. Lush, humid, teeming with endemic flora and fauna, this is the South American rainforest as you've always imagined it.
The national park (67,620ha/167,092 acres) was established in 1934, securing Unesco World Heritage status in 1984. Home to more than 2000 species of plant (including orchids, ferns and bromeliads), 450 species of bird, and rare mammals such as the jaguar, its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity can't be overstated.
Its unquestioned highlight is the falls, created where the Iguazú River br…
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Güirá Oga Center for the Recuperation of Birds
Unfortunately, injured and orphaned wildlife seems to be an inevitable consequence of human proximity to the Argentine rainforest. Here, threatened native birds are given a chance to recover and return to the wild. Species in care at any one time might include macaws, toucans, maracanas and many different species of parrot and eagle endemic to the area.
As the name suggests, Güirá Oga is a haven for native birds. It takes in the wounded, sick, abandoned and threatened, and houses and attempts to recuperate them. Not only is its work worthy, it gives visitors the chance to get close to species they might otherwise not see in the wild. Animals hurt by illegal hunting and t…
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La Aripuca de Iguazú
Rainforests throughout the world are under threat from human activity, and Argentina's are no exception. This unique place aims to both preserve threatened native tree species, and expand visitors' appreciation of the local ecology.
Designed to 'capture the conscience of man' (an aripuca is a trap used by the Guaraní to catch small animals) this interesting structure is made entirely from the timber of 29 different endangered native tree species. While this might sound contradictory, the timber is all salvaged, and the trap itself is a work of art, looking remarkably like a 10m-high (32ft) beaver's lodge. Tours of the site are designed to raise awareness of forest conserv…
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GüiráOga
Five kilometers out of town on the way to the Iguazú National Park, GüiráOga is an animal hospital and center for rehabilitation of injured wildlife. It also carries out valuable research into the Iguazú forest environment, and has a breeding program for endangered species. You get driven around the park by one of the biologists and get to meet the creatures in a natural state. The visit takes about 80 minutes and is recommended.
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Hito Argentino
Hito Argentino, a kilometer west of the center, is a small obelisk at the impressive confluence of the Ríos Paraná and Iguazú. From here you can see Brazil and Paraguay, with similar markers on their sides. A fairly desultory artesanía market is also here.
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