Iguazu Falls Walkway Reopens After 20-Day Closure Due to River Flooding - 03/11/2026 - Brazil - Folha de S.Paulo

The Iguazu Falls walkway in Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná) reopened on Saturday (31) after being closed for 20 days due to flooding of the Iguazu River. The structure leads to the Devil's Throat viewpoint, the main waterfall on the Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park.

Access had been closed on October 11, when the river reached a flow rate of 8.5 million liters per second. The historical average at the site is about 1.5 million. On Monday (26), the flow reached 17.7 million liters per second, 11 times the average. During that period, Urbia+Cataratas, the concessionaire that manages the park, even removed the walkway's railings to allow water to flow freely.

On Saturday, the flow dropped back to 6.7 million liters per second, allowing the walkway to reopen. "In addition to the flow rate, which is one of our criteria, we are conducting a rigorous technical assessment, inspecting the entire walkway and checking whether the infrastructure is ready to receive visitors safely," explained the park's Occupational Health and Safety Manager, André Vieira, before the reopening. The level considered safe is between 7.5 million and 8 million liters per second, depending on a technical assessment.

The increase in flow is linked to rainfall in the Iguazu River basin. Southern Brazil has recorded high levels of precipitation since the onset of El Niño. The walkway had already been closed on September 11 and July 23. The concessionaire estimates that nearly 50% of Foz do Iguaçu's economy is linked to tourism and visits to the park.