SAO PAULO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- A walkway at Iguazu Falls, a major tourist attraction on the Brazil-Argentina border, was closed as a precaution Sunday after heavy rain caused exceptionally high water levels in the Iguazu River, local authorities said.
The walkway was closed when the flow reached 8.8 million liters per second, about six times its historical average, to ensure visitor safety. Iguazu National Park remains open to the public.
The concessionaire responsible for tourism operations, Urbia+Cataratas, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, which manages the park, are continuing to monitor river conditions.
The closure follows similar disruptions earlier this year caused by heavy rainfall in the southern Brazilian state of Parana.
In September, the walkway on the Brazilian side remained closed for four days after water flow exceeded 10 million liters per second. It was also closed in July when the flow surpassed 9 million liters per second.
Iguazu Falls comprises about 275 individual falls surrounded by subtropical rainforest. Iguazu National Park welcomed more than 2 million visitors in 2025, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism. ■
