A sharp rise in the Iguazu River prompted preventive closures as authorities monitor exceptionally high flows linked to heavy rainfall.
The main walkway at Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side was closed Friday after the Iguazu River’s flow rose above 8.4 million liters per second, with authorities warning it could reach 9 million liters later in the day.
RELATED: Iguazu Falls: A Key Tourist and Geographical Destination in South America
The closure took effect at 1 p.m. as a preventive safety measure under protocols established for the protected area. The river’s flow had reached 8 million liters per second, more than five times its historical average of 1.5 million liters.
Despite the closure, the rest of the park remains open to visitors, offering views of waterfalls flowing at far higher volumes than usual.
On the Argentine side, visitors can continue to access the Upper and Lower circuits, the Macuco and Verde trails, and the Jungle Train. The authorities said the surge does not affect the operation of those attractions or put visitors at risk in areas that remain open.
La pasarela de las Cataratas del Iguazú fue cerrada preventivamente este viernes por el aumento del caudal del río Iguazú, que alcanzó 8.4 millones de litros de agua por segundo y continuará aumentando.
Según el monitoreo, el volumen podría superar los 9 millones de litros por… pic.twitter.com/pp3feqQWp8
— Nacho Lemus (@LemusteleSUR) September 11, 2026
Text Reads: The walkway at Iguazú Falls was closed preventively this Friday due to the increased flow of the Iguazú River, which reached 8.4 million liters of water per second and will continue to rise. According to monitoring, the volume could exceed 9 million liters per second this afternoon, while the historical average for the falls is around 1.5 million liters per second.
The rise follows intense rainfall in recent days across the upper Iguazu River basin in Brazil’s Paraná state. Specialists have linked the weather pattern to the influence of the El Niño climate phenomenon.
Technicians from concessionaire Urbia+Cataratas and Brazil’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) are continuously monitoring the river.
The closed walkway will reopen only after water levels fall to safe levels and experts rule out the possibility of another sudden increase in the river’s flow.
40-day closure of Devil’s Throat
The latest closure comes amid broader preparations on the Argentine side for extreme river flows forecast for the coming months.
For the first time in its history, Iguazu National Park announced a preventive 40-day closure of the iconic Devil’s Throat circuit beginning Aug. 3, 2026. The measure was agreed upon by National Parks authorities and concessionaire Iguazú Argentina S.A. in anticipation of climate forecasts warning of extraordinary flooding associated with El Niño.
Rather than simply withdrawing the railings, as authorities did during the October 2023 flooding, the current plan calls for completely dismantling the circuit’s metal floors and railings to protect them from the force of the river.
In October 2023, a flow of 24,000 cubic meters per second destroyed about one-third of the walkways and forced the attraction to remain closed for nine months.
Hydrological monitoring companies in the Brazilian portion of the basin have forecast intense rainfall during the spring and summer, with river flows expected to rise far above normal levels. Preventive measures also include coordination over the opening of gates at dams in the basin.
The risk has prompted Misiones Governor Hugo Passalacqua to establish an interinstitutional cabinet. Park manager José María Hervas said the Upper and Lower circuits, trails and ecological train would continue operating normally as preventive measures are implemented.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.