After being chosen by more than 600 billion people from all over the planet, in a contest organised by New7Wonders, the Iguazú Falls will celebrate, with #CataratasDay, 11 years since being voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The celebration will consist of scheduled activities in Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil).
November 11th marks the anniversary of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and as a celebration, Visit7Wonders invites everyone to upload their photo along the hashtag #CataratasDay.
11 years have passed since that exciting November 11, 2011, in which the Iguazú Falls were voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
That is why this Friday there is a great reason to celebrate with several activities, in the destination shared between Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil).
Activities in Puerto Iguazú
- Tourists are welcomed at the city access, on November 11
On Friday, November 11, the Iturem in Puerto Iguazú will have a promotional stand at the city access, near the roundabout adjacent to the rest area and the sign where visitors usually take photos. The team will be there to receive tourists with gifts, music, reviro, chipitas, and mate cocido (traditional dishes and drinks from the region). The cities of Iguazú, Wanda, Puerto Libertad, Puerto Esperanza and Andresito will also be promoted on the occasion.
The president of Iturem Leopoldo Lucas further stated that “people will be invited to post their photos with the hashtag #CataratasDay and we are going to encourage celebrities who have also been to the Iguazú Falls to join this campaign with their pictures.”
Among those who post that day using the hashtag #CataratasDay, a prize will be raffled, which will consist of 3 nights for two people in a jungle hotel in Puerto Iguazú.
- Election of the ambassador for the Misiones’ Design Route, November 11
Among the activities in honour of the 11th anniversary of #CataratasDay, there will be a gala where the ambassador of the Misiones’ Design Route will be chosen. 17 finalists will participate, presenting a capsule with 4 designs each.
The grand gala will have Benito Fernández, the internationally renowned designer, as a special guest. It will take place on Friday, November 11, at 9:30 p.m., at the Amerian Portal del Iguazú Convention Center.
It should be remembered that, from the Misiones’ Design Incubator, at the beginning of the year, a call for designers was made throughout the province. Several pre-selections and training were then carried out, after which 17 designers were selected. They will be the last to participate in the great gala of the Design Route, in which the next Ambassador for Misiones’ Design will be chosen. The winner will receive the sceptre from the hands of the current ambassador, Luciana Villalba.
- Free entrance to Iguazú National Park
Furthermore, they announced that those who purchase flights to Puerto Iguazú on November 11 will have free entry to the Iguazú National Park from November to May 2023.
The announcement was made by Misiones’ Minister of Tourism, José María Arrúa, who stated “we have made agreements with the airlines and the Iguazú National Park. The only promotion is the hashtag #CataratasDay, a part of every digital platform among the three most important airlines in Argentina today (Aerolineas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSmart)”.
- Photography masterclass
A photography masterclass will be held in the Iguazú National Park by renowned photographer Efran Dávila. There will be three meetings aimed at different audiences
- Presenting the destination in Buenos Aires
That same day, Misiones will present the Iguazú Falls at the GEA Group Convention held at the Buenos Aires Convention Center. More than 600 national travel agencies will be present.
Activities in Foz do Iguaçu- Brazil
- Free transportation and admission, November 6
To kick off the #CataratasDay celebrations with the community, the Foz do Iguaçu’s Municipality provided free transportation for residents to visit the Falls on Sunday, November 6.
Free admission is available for those who have made the reservation in advance on the Municipality’s website, with boarding in the neighbourhoods and the centre of Foz do Iguaçu. Registration for this activity sold out on October 30. More information at: www.destino.foz.br/cataratasday.
Residents who arrive at the Visitor Centre without having registered with the town hall will not be able to access this benefit. On this day, the service will be exclusively for residents registered on the buses of Foz. Access will be through the Park gate with buses from Foz do Iguaçu’s Municipality.
- #CataratasDay, November 11
As in previous editions of #CataratasDay, residents of the 14 cities surrounding the Park, which are part of the Community Pass, will have free access on November 11. Entry will be released upon presentation of proof of residency and photo ID.
All residents are invited to visit and celebrate the consecration of the Falls as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature on November 11, either by car, motorcycle, bicycle or public transport, with free parking and tickets. A tent will be set up in the park’s Visitor Centre for the exclusive #CataratasDay service.
The municipalities taken into account are: Foz do Iguaçu, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, São Miguel do Iguaçu, Matelândia, Medianeira, Ramilândia, Santa Lúcia, Serranópolis do Iguaçu, Vera Cruz do Oeste, Capanema, Capitão Leonidas Marques, Céu Azul, Lindoeste y Santa Tereza del Oeste.
The New 7 Wonders of Nature
In addition to the Iguazú Falls, on November 11, 2011, 6 other destinations, located in different parts of the planet, were also chosen as the New 7 Wonders of Nature. These are:
- Table Mountain (Located in Cape Town, South Africa): Providing an iconic backdrop for Cape Town, Table Mountain and its adjoining peaks create one of the most easily recognizable landscapes in the world. The flat-topped mountain is by far one of the most popular tourist attractions, not just in Cape Town, but on the entire African continent.
- The Amazon (Located throughout nine South American countries): It covers about 5.5 million square kilometres, which makes it the largest extension of jungle in the world. The rainforest has been defined as the lungs of the planet for its production of more than 20% of the Earth’s oxygen reserves. The Amazon Rainforest is the most biodiverse region in the world and as such this part of the earth is immediately recognizable as one of the most culturally, historically, environmentally and ecologically important areas on the planet.
- Jeju Island: Located in the Korea Strait, Jejudo (or Jeju Island) is the largest island off the coast of mainland South Korea, which is also home to over half a million residents. Formed entirely as a result of volcanic activity several million years ago, Jeju Island boasts Hallasan, the dominating, though dormant, volcano that sits just under 2,000 metres above sea level, which makes it the highest mountain in South Korea. Surrounded by several smaller volcanoes, this distinct volcanic structure is a truly epic sight to behold.
- Ha Long Bay (Located in Vietnam): Ha Long Bay, which in the local vernacular translates to “descending dragon bay”, presumably for the area’s likeness to the scaly back of a dragon. Ha Long Bay is characterised by thousands of small isles of countless incredible shapes and sizes that seem to rise magically out of the sea. Anyone who’s ever witnessed this magnificent bay with their own eyes would certainly attest to this UNESCO World Heritage Site being deemed a natural wonder of the world.
- Puerto Princesa Underground River (Palawan, Filipinas): The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines, is part of a larger park that is protected by the Philippine government and features an astonishing array of impressive caves and rock formations. Boasting a few hundred avian, mammalian and reptilian species, visitors to the underground river will enjoy manifold opportunities for wildlife viewing.
- Komodo Island (Ubicada en Indonesia): Though a relatively small island with a human population of only about 2,000 individuals, Komodo has made the cut due to it being home to the world’s largest living lizard species: the scarily named Komodo Dragon. These ferocious reptiles can grow to some 3 metres in length and weigh up to 70 kilograms. Visitors can also enjoy great diving, stunning volcanic structures and a gorgeous selection of picturesque sandy beaches on Komodo Island
