Brief historical review

The word Iguazú comes from the Guaraní language and means big water. Iguazú is a city in the province of Misiones, in the northeast of Argentina. This town is located 21 km from the Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Tourism, centered on these falls, is its main economic driver, although international trade is also highlighted by being linked to the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu through the Tancredo Neves international bridge, which connects National Route 12 and BR – 469.

Iguazú is part of the area known as the Triple Frontier, where Argentine sovereignty meets Brazilian sovereignty — Foz do Iguaçu — and Paraguayan sovereignty — Ciudad del Este and Presidente Franco. The story of how the Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca discovered the Iguazú Falls to Europeans in 1541, intrigued by the deafening noise that could be heard from miles away, is well known. At the time of the Spanish arrival in the area, in the 16th century, the Guaraní were expanding their territory. These natives were characterized, among other things, by their diverse crops. Despite its early discovery, the area remained populated only by natives until 1880, even though the Jesuit mission of Santa María del Iguazú survived for more than a century in the current location of Foz do Iguaçu. In 1881, the province of Corrientes — which at that time had annexed Misiones — sold 50 square leagues where Iguazú is located today. The land changed hands three times in just two years, ending up in the hands of José Gregorio de Lezama, during which time Misiones was also separated from Corrientes. Lezama paid for a trip by the navy that took a scientific expedition to explore these lands; the explorer Carlos Bosetti and Jordan Hummel participated in this trip, who later organized the first tourist trip to the Falls. In 1888, Lezama also sold the lands, which were acquired by Martín Errecaborde and Co. In 1882, the governor of Misiones, Rudecindo Roca, took one of his first measures to divide the provincial territory into five departments, naming the most northern of them Iguazú, the river and its thunderous falls being an inevitable reference for these parts. This department had a short life, since in 1898 the province was again subdivided reaching 14 departments, calling Frontera the one that included Iguazú (in addition to the current San Pedro, General Manuel Belgrano and Eldorado). A small town had already been established there, so in 1897 Alberto Mugica was appointed Justice of the Peace. That same year Hummel undertook the first trip to the Falls with Gibaja and Núñez, although the tangled jungle prevented him from doing it on the Argentine side, so he had to go around it through Brazil. Nevertheless, with this trip, Hummel managed to get the authorities to focus on this area. In 1901 Governor Lanusse traveled to Buenos Aires to interest the Mihanovich shipping company in making a tourist trip along the Paraná River that would arrive at Iguazú. The first boat trip did not fulfill its objective, since due to the lack of a road between the village and the falls, the pioneer tourists were unable to see the aforementioned waterfalls.

Among these tourists was Victoria Aguirre, who became a sort of protector of the town when she decided to donate a significant sum for the opening of the road on August 12, 1901; this sum was added to a donation from Gibaja and Núñez. The act was considered so important that it was taken as a symbolic date of foundation. In 1902 the National Government reserved the lands that would later form one of the first two Argentine national parks: the Iguazú National Park.

In 1907, the lands of Iguazú were auctioned off, leaving the north in the hands of Domingo Arrayagaray and the south in the hands of Errecaborde. Gibaja and Núñez came back into the scene by installing the first hotel in that same year. This happened even before the appearance of the first school, police station and sub-prefecture post, which occurred in 1913. As stated in the creation of the Civil Registry in 1916, the town was then called Puerto Aguirre. In 1928, the first post office arrived.

In 1928, vital events took place for the future development of the town: the nation bought the land from Arrayagaray for use as a national park and military zone, the Iguazú National Park was created and finally the urban area of ​​Puerto Aguirre and the park itself were delimited. In 1943, the place regained its original name. However, it was stripped of its name in 1951 to rename it Eva Perón; finally, the military government that overthrew Juan Domingo Perón restored the name that remains to this day (at the beginning of the 20th century, there was a proposal to rename it as the City of Iguazú Falls, which did not prosper). The first underground airport was already operating in 1948. In 1951, the first Development Commission was created, while in 1978 the Municipality was named first-class.

When land sales in the urban area began for the first time in 1948, an explosive population increase began that was only stopped in the 1990s by the Convertibility Law, which made the opposite shore of Foz de Iguazú much more attractive.

Tourism is the main economic activity, since hotels and commerce are the main sources of employment. In addition, a large number of international hotels (in addition to those already existing) have arrived in the city and are constructing their buildings on the banks of the Iguazú River, next to a golf course, a youth hostel and cabins for tourists (all under construction). This area covers about 600 ha, and is located east of the Tancredo Neves International Bridge.

Shield

An equilateral triangle with an upper base outlined by three left forearms whose hand grasps the framing landscape with a rising golden sun with seven straight rays, three black birds flying to the right, on a silver tapestry, below a sky blue waterfall, green banks and a leafy tree with a green trunk to the left that invades the upper tapestry. With the hands intertwined symbolizing the coexistence of the three countries that make up this region that is an inseparable part of its idiosyncrasy, a fundamental basis for the progress and development of this tripartite point. In addition, the typical pindó stands out, as an essential symbol of the Iguazu landscape, reflecting the legend of the Cainguengue Tribe Indians: Naipí and Tarubá.

Puerto Iguazu – 120 years

Iguazú and the region have an ancient history with many actors, in which it is possible to distinguish different moments and intensities, from the expansion of warrior peoples such as the Guaraní, the advance of Western civilization to the encounter, the conflict, the miscegenation, the fight for territory and natural resources.

A story that finds us today investigating and recognizing its protagonists, with the aim of making possible the confluence of living memories and the memories acquired by other generations, in deep relationship with the memory of our people; a living, dialectical and fruitful relationship.

The Ancient Settlement

The settlement of our region dates back to 10,000 years before Christ with the Umbú, Altoparanaense and Eldoradense traditions. Then the Guaraní arrived through the Uruguay and Paraná rivers. Their expansion from the Amazon to the south began in 300 BC and reached its maximum expression around 1700 AD. They settled in agricultural villages that ranged from 300 to 1000 inhabitants. They had local leaders called mburuvicha, with very marked social hierarchies.

A story that finds us today investigating and recognizing its protagonists, with the aim of making possible the confluence of living memories and the memories acquired by other generations, in deep relationship with the memory of our people; a living, dialectical and fruitful relationship.

First contacts with Europeans and Santa Maria del Yguazu

The first contact between Europeans and the Guaraní was in 1542, when Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, on his journey to Asunción, came across the falls. Between 1626 and 1633, the Jesuit priests Diego de Boroa and Claudio Ruyer established the Jesuit reduction of Santa María del Iguazú, a few kilometers above the Iguazú Falls, which was the first European settlement in our region. The experience was short-lived, since due to the attacks of the bandeiras paulistas who were looking for Guaraní prisoners to sell in the slave markets, they had to migrate to the south of Misiones, settling in what is now Santa María la Mayor.

Explorations and extractive front

When the Argentine State sought to strengthen its presence on the borders and build a national identity, the Iguazú region was explored by travelers and scientists such as Juan Bautista Ambrosetti, Holmberg, Burmeister, Gallardo, Niederlein, Basaldúa, Queirel and others. During this period, aspects of the geography, population, and the possibilities of exploiting the natural resources of the area, such as yerba mate, ley wood and the flow of the Iguazú waterfalls, were recorded. It was the era of the mills. To extract wood and yerba mate, deep cuts and numerous ports on the Iguazú River were opened. Núñez and Gibaja – Arrayagaray exploited the resources of these lands until they were exhausted in 1925.

Tourism

Towards the end of the 19th century, Governor Lanusse tried to promote tourism in the Iguazú Falls and the development of works in the region. In 1901, the Compañía Argentina de Navegación Limitada carried out the first tourist excursion to the Iguazú Falls, with the participation of Victoria Aguirre and Carlos Bosetti. Aguirre donated 5,000 pesos for the construction of an access road to the falls, to which was added the contribution of 15,000 pesos donated by the businessmen Nuñez and Gibaja to build the road from Puerto Iguazú to the falls. The latter later built the first hotel in the area, which was a precarious construction made of wood. Arrechea, for his part, built a hotel-restaurant-business in the town. In 1915, the first post office and telegraph building was built.

The Cataratas Hotel

In 1920, Olaf Hansen, partner and administrator of the Ayarragaray Estate, began a plan of improvements and amenities in the Cataratas area. The Cataratas Hotel was built, which was inaugurated in 1922 and had 40 rooms, a dining room, a game room, and a bar. In order to provide tourist services, people settled in the Cataratas area. A neighborhood was formed with farms, ranches, and houses. In 1945, the national border school No. 158 Ferraz de Campos Salles was inaugurated. That same year, Vasco de la Carretilla settled in Cataratas and built his house out of tin near the Dos Hermanas waterfall.

The Carlos Thays City Project

Carlos Thays arrived in our region at the beginning of the 20th century, sent by the national government to carry out a land survey and urbanization plan. He planned a radial city with different service areas, farms, a racetrack, a stadium, an aerodrome, a railway line, among others. This project was never realized. In 1940, a wooden chapel was built and construction began on School No. 235, the Customs guard and the Police Station, in an alleged colonial missionary style. The population of Puerto Aguirre at that time amounted to 431 inhabitants.

Iguazu National Park: Regulated Population

In 1934, Law 12103 was passed, creating the National Parks Directorate and the Iguazú National Park, with two main objectives: the economic development of the areas included in the parks, from the perspective of their contribution to the nation's wealth, and their integration into the national territory. The National Parks Department was responsible for the first surveys and the construction of streets, public buildings, water and electricity networks. It applied a regulated settlement policy, lending, renting or selling land under certain conditions and with deadlines and procedures for construction. This policy was maintained until the land was transferred to the Province of Misiones for the formation of the Municipality of Puerto Iguazú in 1971.

The Municipality of Puerto Iguazú

The provincialization of Misiones took place in 1953 and the creation of the Municipality of Puerto Iguazú in 1971. There was a progressive transfer of the political and legal organization of the territory by the National Parks Administration to the province and the municipality. The Infrastructure of the City.

The City's Infrastructure: Key Works

In 1942, the department of Iguazú was created. In 1943, the President of the Nation decreed the restoration of the name “Iguazú” to the port and the area where the falls are located. In 1945, construction of the Hospital began, which was inaugurated in October 1946. An experimental farm was also put into operation to reduce costs and improve the quality of food in the area. The construction of housing for employees, road workers and park rangers was promoted, a brick factory was established and docks were built. In 1947, Dr. Marta Schwarz arrived in Puerto Iguazú. Her action was decisive in local health policies, due to her work, dedication and commitment to the community. The opening of National Route 12 caused an increase in the influx of tourists to the Falls. With wooden bodies and capacity for 12 passengers, the first “Flecha de Oro” buses arrived in 1949, from the cities of Eldorado and Posadas.

The commercial and tourist boom

The cycles (1970-1980) During the 70s and 80s there was an accelerated boom in trade with its subsequent depression in the 90s. During this period there was a great movement of people who came from different parts of the country. In 1977 the ENET No. 1 building was inaugurated.

World Heritage Waterfalls

The last 35 years have seen Puerto Iguazú grow like never before, with a sustained integration between the town, which became a city, and the National Park, which promoted and accompanied this growth. Communication via National Route 12 and by air generated an increase in tourist and commercial activity. In 1972, LRA 19 Radio Nacional began broadcasting from the Post Office and Telecommunications building. The following year, the Yacimiento Petrolíferos Fiscales company was established in Puerto Iguazú and the Bus Terminal was inaugurated. Between 1976 and 1978, the Iguazú International Airport and the International Hotel, currently the Meliá Hotel, were built. In 1986, the Diocese of Iguazú was founded and the following year, Santa María del Iguazú was proclaimed the patron saint of the diocese. The declaration of the Iguazú National Park as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 and the inauguration of the Tancredo Neves International Bridge in 1985 led to a process of sustained growth in tourism activity in the region. In 2011, the destination was declared one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Iguazu Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world

On November 11, 2011, Iguazu Falls was chosen as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world in the New7Wonders of Nature contest. With the technological boom, new connectivity and public-private investment, the Iguazu National Park continues to grow in terms of visitors, reaching more than 1,650,000 in 2019.

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