Heavy rainfall driven by a potent El Niño weather pattern temporarily led Argentinian authorities to close tourist access to the renowned Iguazu Falls. The closure occurred due to concerns that rising water levels might cause the river to overflow its banks.
On Monday, national park officials implemented this precautionary measure as the Iguazu River's flow surpassed 12,000 cubic meters per second, more than six times its normal rate. They announced that the area would reopen to tourists on Tuesday, citing a "gradual decline" in the river's flow.
José María Hervás, director of the Iguazu National Park, stated that the closure was due to continuous rainfall and the sustained volume of water released from upstream dams on the Iguazu River, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.
The Iguazu Falls, recognized by UNESCO as one of the world's largest and most spectacular waterfalls, is located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, spanning approximately 2,700 meters.
In 2023 and 2024, officials closed the park on the Argentinian side of the border due to flooding caused by a previous El Niño cycle.
Meteorologists predict that the 2026-2027 El Niño will be the most significant on record, causing global changes in wind patterns and rainfall, along with erratic weather conditions. Scientists now believe that human-induced global warming is intensifying El Niño events.
El Niño begins in the equatorial Pacific, where shifts in winds allow large amounts of ocean heat to transfer to the atmosphere. It intensifies during the northern hemisphere autumn and peaks in December, with effects lasting into the following year.
Last month, Argentina’s coastal region experienced above-average rainfall, similar to that observed during strong El Niño events, according to the national meteorological service.
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