The Iguassu National Park, which shelters the Iguassu Falls complex, is a protected five-thousand-hectare forestal reserve. It is located in extreme west of the State of Parana, but its territory includes part of the Missiones region in Argentina. The reserve is the last large concentration of semi-tropical rainforest remaining in Southern Brazil. Protected within its boundaries are macaws, parrots, toucans, macucas, panthers, pumas, jaguars, alligators, tapirs, pacas, deer and the mascot of Foz, the racoon-like coati.
In the year 1916, the vastness of the forest and the beauty of Iguassu Falls, deeply moved a renowned Brazilian visitor, the inventor of the airplane, Alberto Santos-Dumont. Enchanted by the natural beauty, which at that time belonged to one person, Santos-Dumont convinced the Brazilian government to turn the land around the falls into public property.
The reserve was created soon afterwards with only 1,000 hectares and was enlarged to 3,300 hectares in 1930. In 1939, the Iguassu National Park was created, and, in 1942, it was consolidated within its current boundaries. In 1986, UNESCO named the Park a Natural World Heritage Site definitively safeguarding the immense reserve that shelters Iguassu Falls.
a protected five-thousand-hectare forestal reserve. It is located in extreme west of the State of Parana, but its territory includes part of the Missiones region in Argentina. The reserve is the last large concentration of semi-tropical rainforest remaining in Southern Brazil. Protected within its boundaries are macaws, parrots, toucans, macucas, panthers, pumas, jaguars, alligators, tapirs, pacas, deer and the mascot of Foz, the racoon-like coati.
In the year 1916, the vastness of the forest and the beauty of Iguassu Falls, deeply moved a renowned Brazilian visitor, the inventor of the airplane, Alberto Santos-Dumont. Enchanted by the natural beauty, which at that time belonged to one person, Santos-Dumont convinced the Brazilian government to turn the land around the falls into public property. 
