Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-30

number of the monthly magazine OF
the Pan American Union this talented
writer and lecturer contributes an ar
ticle descriptive of this South Ameri-
can beauty spot. Mrs Adams writes:
.'Buenos Aires, Argentina's dazzling
metropolis, is the starting point for the
tropical wilderness where the Iguazu
river makes it's daring leap over vine
hung cliffs on its way to join the ma :
jestic Parana. Mother of the Sea-
Before the building of the railroad
which now links La Plata river ports
with Asuncio, capital of Paraguay, the
journey from Buenos Aires to the
falls was made altogether by river
steamer, a month being required for
the round trip. The journey can now
be accomplished in about fortnight
and when railway and steamer lines
make better connections, travellers Wis
ting Montevideo and Buenos Aires
will be able to complete the side trip to
the falls in week.
in Jesuit records of over $50 years
ago, We find the first authentic account
of the Falls of the Iguazu. After the
expulsion of the Jesuits the falls re-
verted to oblivion, and it is only in the
-
ing known. Each year travellers are at :
tracted here in greater numbers, and
within your lifetime and mine Iguazu
will come into it's own.
Let us look at 1t first after sunset
as it CLEANS through the deep twilight
woods, a tall palm, like sentinel, in
the foreground, a crescent moon in the
sky. And Aaw again at sunrise, when
rainbow tints CLINT it's magic waters
and hundreds of parrots like string
of emeralds, circle around and around
in its wreath of mist But all this is
from afar. The iguazu is a siren who
lures US on
"A broken trail leads down to near
er view. 1t is the time of low water in
the Southland. and the semi circular
falls arc broken into 275 distinct cas-
cades. separated by maze of verdure
They make double leaps to the gorge
below excepting the largest, which
unites Argentine and Brazilian terri
tory and has a sheer drop of 213 feet
In width the distance around the en-
tire circle, from the beginning of the
Brazilian to the farther edge of the
Argentine Falls, is 5000 feet; but meas
uring around the broken contour OF
the cliffs, it is nearly 10000 feet. In
rainy season. when the river is swoll-
en-. all the small islands are submerg-
ed, and. with the exception of large
central island. the waters form one
huge roaring cataract.
Niagara height varies from 15s
to 169 feet. its width in greatest con-
tour. including Goat Island, being 477e
70 haf ic irha
and wider than its North American
fellow. if less daring in its leap. The
estimated flow over Niagara is $4,000,
600 cubic feet per minute. The volume
of Iguazu has not as yet been very
carefully calculated.
1T is difficult to compare the two
mammoth falls of the Americas. Mag
ara is most impressive as King OF
Winter with a sparkling background
of iee-coated pines. IguaZu .personifies
summer in a fascinating forest gown
The one is cyclopean in its united pow
er and stupendous drop. The other, in
spite of greater dimensions, is so soft
ened by tropical garb as to captivatt
rather than awe. Now and then, or
the way through life, we meet a mar
or a woman with an individuality
which grips: and now and then on the
trail around the earth, we find scene
of dominant personality. So it is witt
the Falls of sguazu. Forever they will
allure US. The Iguazu is feminine
lovely and elusive. The Niagara is
masculine. vital and virile. Niagara is
Hercules, chained to the will OF man
giant in a gigantic civilization
Iguazu is Hebe, unfettered and untam-
ed, a goddess in a god-like wilderness
But the day is coming when carefret
Iguazu must leave her play to fill heI
destined place among the Amazons OF
the world. We prophesy the time wher
these falls will enact an important
role in the development of two great
republics. colossal Brazil and progress
sive Argentina. Here on the verge OF
the prehistoric Pampean Sea, wher,
savage man hunted the monstrous
fauna of his day, civilized man. with
mentality evolved through countless
ages. will inaugurate a new industrial
era for men who are to be"