Argentina temporarily closes Iguazu Falls after El Niño-fuelled surge in water levels
Summary
Argentina temporarily closed the Iguazu Falls to tourists due to heavy rain from a strong El Niño weather pattern, which caused river water levels to rise quickly. The park reopened after water levels began to drop.Key Facts
- Iguazu Falls is a large waterfall on the border between Argentina and Brazil.
- Heavy rain caused water flow in the Iguazu River to rise to over 12,000 cubic meters per second, more than six times normal.
- Authorities closed the falls on the Argentinian side for safety reasons but reopened it after the river flow decreased.
- The heavy rain was caused by a strong El Niño event, a natural weather pattern that changes winds and rainfall.
- El Niño usually starts in the Pacific Ocean and peaks in December, but its effects can last into the next year.
- Scientists say global warming is making El Niño events more intense.
- Similar closures happened in 2023 and 2024 due to flooding from earlier El Niño activity.
- Argentina’s coastal region had unusually high rainfall recently, linked to the current El Niño.
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