Waterfalls with flow 2.6× average: what to expect

The flow of the Iguaçu River at the Falls reached 3,975 m³/s, which equals 2.6 times the historic average of 1,500 m³/s (or 1.5 million liters per second). This amount corresponds to about 1.6 Olympic-size swimming pools crashing every second, or 398 water-tanker trucks per second, and in roughly 11 s it surpasses the daily water consumption of the entire population of Foz do Iguaçu (285 thousand inhabitants).

With the water so high, the mist on the walkways becomes denser and the spectacle of the drops more impressive. The park usually keeps the viewpoints open, but the final section of the walkway can be temporarily closed for safety, as has happened during extreme floods (for example, 24,000 m³/s in October 2023). Therefore, before you go, check the walkway status on the official Falls website.

The brown water seen on the drops is not dirt but sediment carried by rain in the river basin. The flood is not related to the Itaipu dam, which is on the Paraná River and does not control the Iguaçu’s volume.

What this means for you:

• Be prepared for a lot of mist and possibly slippery trails; wear appropriate shoes and a rain cover.
• Check the final walkway closure on the Falls website before leaving home.
• Bring sunscreen, a mask or a scarf for the mist, and enjoy the view from the viewpoints that remain open for spectacular photos.
• If you want to avoid lines, arrive early and consider using the “cataratas-online” ticket to guarantee fast entry.

Source: Marco Três – official Iguaçu River flow data.

Read also: Why visit the Iguaçu Falls?