Iguazú National Park

The Iguazú National Park is located in northern Argentina and protects the part of the Iguazu Falls on the Argentinean side as well as surrounding areas of Atlantic rain forests. It was established in 1934 and covers an area of ​​555 square kilometers. In 1984 he was declared together with the lying on the Brazilian side Iguazu National Park a World Heritage Site.

Location

The park is located in northeast Argentina on the border with Brazil. The northern border of the park is formed by the Iguazú River. The nearest town is Puerto Iguazú, located about 17 km from the National Park boundary. The National Park itself covers an area of ​​492 square kilometers, including an approximately 63 -square-mile National Reserve comes. The total area of the protected area is thus 555 square kilometers. The Iguaçu National Park, which is adjacent to the Brazilian side, about 1700 square kilometers. There is hardly larger surveys and the whole park area is located at about 150 to 170 m above sea level.

Climate and vegetation

The climate is subtropical and warm and humid with average annual temperatures of about 20 ° C, which are relatively little below in the winter. The average annual precipitation is about 1,800 mm, where rain occurs throughout the year. However, the rainfall from January to March are more productive. During this time, the Iguazú carries more water. The vegetation consists of forests, where three predominant types can be distinguished. First, wet, subtropical, deciduous forests, secondly humid subtropical rainforests and thirdly haze forests in the area of the falls.

Fauna

The national park is home to numerous endangered mammals such as the jaguar, the largest cat in South America. The jaguar population of the Atlantic forests at the upper Río Paraná is highly fragmented and continues to fall. This is primarily due to poaching, which reduces the prey of the jaguar. A census that was conducted in 2004-2006 in the National Park, revealed a population density of about one to two adult jaguars per 100 square kilometers. Accordingly, the stocks since the 1990s fell by two to seven times. The total number of jaguars in the border area between Brazil and Argentina is estimated to be 25-53 adult animals. Other large mammal species of the protected area are South American tapir, White-lipped Peccary, Capybara, Brown Howler Monkey, Capuchin Gehaubter, Southern Aardvark, giant anteater, ocelot, tiger cat, jaguarundi, bush dog, coati, raccoon crab, giant otters, South American otters. Also in the park is native to the thick tail possum. Overall, the Iguazú National Park is home to at least 68 species of mammals, 422 bird species, more than 40 species of reptiles, 18 species of amphibians and 250 species of butterflies. Thus, about 44 % of all bird species in the Argentine National Park occur. Together with the lying on the Brazilian side, Iguacu National Park, it is home to 83 species that are endemic to the Mata Atlântica.

Toco Toucan in the National Park