Iguaçu Falls, 2 May 2014. Photo: RPCTV

FOZ DO IGUAÇU, Brazil – This was the scene on Friday when water coursing over the world-famous Iguaçu (Iguazu) Falls in southwest Brazil/northeast Argentina topped 4 million litres per second after heavy rains in the surrounding area.

The stunning falls – between 150 and 300 of them, depending on water levels – straddle the border between Paraná state, Brazil, and Misiones province, Argentina.

They feature on many tourists’ itineraries when visiting southern Brazil or the northern extreme of Argentina, and for good reason.

To compare, this is how they looked when I visited them in 2011, when water levels were already above average:

Iguaçu Falls, Brazil. January 2011. Photo by Ben Tavener

Iguaçu Falls, Brazil. January 2011. Photo by Ben Tavener