In addition to coins, the cleaning day in the Iguazú National Park collected other objects; this initiative reinforces the need for visitors to be aware of the environment.
The Iguazú National Park carried out this Wednesday, April 15, another day of cleaning in the vicinity of the Iguazú Falls – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world – with the aim of removing the coins accumulated in the bed of the Iguazú River.
The day was held with the participation of the Urbia+Cataratas team and the support of volunteers, who collected approximately 383 kilos of coins, as well as personal belongings of visitors, such as glasses, bottles and lids.
The coins will be classified, but, considering the cleaning days already carried out, much of the collected material shows signs of corrosion due to the long time it remained submerged in the water. “Throwing coins at the Iguazu Falls, although it is a popular belief to make a wish, is prohibited in the park and represents a risk to the environment. The metals they contain can contaminate the water and affect aquatic fauna,” explains André Franzini, sustainability manager of Urbia+Cataratas.
The coins in better condition will be used to support the environmental actions developed by the park. The cleaning operation can only be carried out if the level of the Iguazú River remains stable, an essential condition to guarantee the safety of the equipment involved and the effectiveness of the work. The removal of coins and other metal waste is considered essential for the preservation of this place that is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Natural Heritage of Humanity and to maintain the environmental balance of the Iguazu Falls.