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12-684: The Iguazu originates in the Serra do Mar coastal mountains of the Brazilian state of Paraná and close to Curitiba . For 1,205 kilometres (749 mi), to its confluence with the San Antonio River , the Iguazu flows west through Paraná State, Brazil. Downriver from the confluence, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Brazil and Argentina 's Misiones Province . Continuing west,

24-399: Is a major geological formation that runs along much of the eastern coast of Brazil south of the city of Salvador . The escarpment runs along the central and south Atlantic coasts of Brazil, rising sharply and separating the highland plateau from the coast. The escarpment rises steeply from the coastal plain to as much as 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in height. The top of the escarpment forms

36-663: Is among the highest points in Serra do Mar. Geologically, the range belongs to the massive crystalline rock platform that forms Eastern South America , and tectonically it is very stable. Most of the elevations of Serra do Mar were formed about 60 million years ago. At the time of the European discovery of Brazil (1500), the Serra do Mar supported a rich and highly diversified ecosystem, composed mainly of lush tropical rain forest , called Atlantic Forest ( Mata Atlântica ). Due to urbanization and deforestation , however, most of

48-642: Is part of the Great Escarpment that runs along much of the eastern coast of Brazil south from the city of Salvador, Bahia . The mountain ranges are discontinuous in several places and are given individual names such as Serra de Bocaina , Serra de Paranapiacaba, Serra Negra , Serra dos Órgãos , Serra do Indaiá, etc. The range also extends to some large islands near the coastline, such as Ilhabela and Ilha Anchieta. With an altitude of 2,255 metres (7,398 ft), Pico da Caledônia in Nova Friburgo

60-567: The Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina , although some literature includes the Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case the range would extend to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul . The main escarpment forms the boundary between the sea-level littoral and the inland plateau ( planalto ), which has a mean altitude of 500 to 1,300 metres (1,600 to 4,300 ft). This escarpment

72-626: The Iguazu River Basin. In July 2000 more than 4,000,000 litres (1,100,000 US gal) of crude oil spilled into the river from a state-run oil refinery in the municipality of Araucária near Curitiba . Serra do Mar The Serra do Mar ( Portuguese: [ˈsɛʁɐ du ˈmaʁ] ; Portuguese for 'Sea Ridge') is a 1,500 km (930 mi) long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil . The Serra do Mar runs parallel to

84-445: The Iguazu River, and several undescribed species are known. Most fish species in the river are catfish , characiforms and cichlids . About 70% are endemic , which to a large extent is linked to the falls, serving both as a home for rheophilic species and isolating species above and below. This also means that, except for the threatened Steindachneridion melanodermatum in the lower part, large migratory fish known from much of

96-612: The Paraná River Basin are naturally absent from Iguazu. Almost 30 introduced species are found in the river where about one-third originate from other continents (such as carp , largemouth bass , tilapia and African sharptooth catfish ) and the remaining from elsewhere in South America (such as dorado , Cichla kelberi , pacu , Brycon hilarii , Prochilodus lineatus and Odontesthes bonariensis ). The unusual Aegla crustacean are locally common in

108-446: The annual variations in temperature are relatively limited, the water in the subtropical Iguazu River varies significantly depending on season. At two sites, one located just above and another just below the falls, the water at both varied from about 15.5 to 29 °C (60–84 °F), and average was just below 22 °C (72 °F). The pH is typically near-neutral, ranging from 5.9 to 8.7. About 100 fish species are native to

120-525: The areas around cities. Several large metropolises, such as Vale do Itajaí , Curitiba , São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are near the Serra do Mar . Reforestation and recuperation of biological diversity are notoriously difficult to bring about in destroyed rainforest habitats. 26°00′23″S 48°57′38″W  /  26.00639°S 48.96056°W  / -26.00639; -48.96056 Great Escarpment, Brazil The Great Escarpment in Brazil

132-517: The forest cover has been destroyed and what little cover remains is almost exclusively on the steep escarpments facing the sea. A chain of national and state parks , ecological stations and biological reserves now protect the Mata Atlântica and its biological heritage, but acid rain , pollution , poachers , clandestine loggers , forest fires and encroachment by urban areas and farms are still causing active destruction, particularly in

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144-628: The river drops off a plateau, forming Iguazu Falls , which are accessible via the Rainforest Ecological Train . The falls are within national parks in both Brazil, Iguaçu National Park , and Argentina, Iguazú National Park . It empties into the Paraná River at the point where the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay join, an area known as the Triple Frontier . Unlike tropical South American rivers, where

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