THE LARGEST CATARACT IN THE WORLD
The largest cataract in the world is that of Iguazu, in South America, It is said by geographical experts to be infinitely greater than Niagara or the Victoria Falls over the Zambesi river in Africa. In the last seventy miles of its course the Iguazu river is the boundary between Brazil and Argentina, just as is the Niagara between the United States and Canada. The Iguazu’s channel twists and winds through a lofty, hilly and broken country. Twelve miles above its junction with the Parana river the Iguazu. flowing with incredible swiftness, abruptly turns at right angles, and at this bend are the falls. The precipice over which the cataract plunges is 210 feet high; that of Niagara is 167 feet. The falls of Iguazu are 13,123 feet wide, and two and one-half times as wide as Niagara. It is estimated that 100,000,000 tons of water per hour roar and foam over Niagara; a likj estimate gives the falls of Iguazu 140,000,000 tons. At any time of the year Iguazu is the greatest cataract in the world, but the sight of it in the rainy season is said greatly to surpass in sublimity and grandeur its appearance during the rest of the year. During the rains the river above the falls rises from six to ten feet over a width of 30,000 feet. Then the islands in the river disappear, and the falls assume an indescribable magnitude.
The largest cataract in the world is that of Iguazu, in South America, It is said by geographical experts to be infinitely greater than Niagara or the Victoria Falls over the Zambesi river in Africa. In the last seventy miles of its course the Iguazu river is the boundary between Brazil and Argentina, just as is the Niagara between the United States and Canada. The Iguazu’s channel twists and winds through a lofty, hilly and broken country. Twelve miles above its junction with the Parana river the Iguazu. flowing with incredible swiftness, abruptly turns at right angles, and at this bend are the falls. The precipice over which the cataract plunges is 210 feet high; that of Niagara is 167 feet. The falls of Iguazu are 13,123 feet wide, and two and one-half times as wide as Niagara. It is estimated that 100,000,000 tons of water per hour roar and foam over Niagara; a likj estimate gives the falls of Iguazu 140,000,000 tons. At any time of the year Iguazu is the greatest cataract in the world, but the sight of it in the rainy season is said greatly to surpass in sublimity and grandeur its appearance during the rest of the year. During the rains the river above the falls rises from six to ten feet over a width of 30,000 feet. Then the islands in the river disappear, and the falls assume an indescribable magnitude.
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