Brazil's Geological Wonders and Iguaçu Waterfalls

From the http://www.VideoSource.com Global Village Travel Guide and DVD, "Brazil". Stock footage available from http://videosource.com/search.html
Transcript:
THE SOUTHLAND WAS CONGENIAL TO THESE
SETTLERS FROM EUROPE. IT IS THE ON
REGION OF BRAZIL WITH FOUR DISTINCT SEASONS,
LOOKING EVERY BIT LIKE THE EUROPEAN COUNTRYSIDE.......
......EXCEPT FOR THE PALM TREES.
THE TOWN OF GRAMADO LOOKS
VERY GERMAN, WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING
BECAUSE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS SETTLED HERE
IN 1824, AND DEVELOPED A PROSPEROUS
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY.
IN FACT, THIS PART OF BRAZIL RETAINS
A EUROPEAN WAY OF LIFE
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ALMOST
DISAPPEARED IN EUROPE ........
IN THE 1870S ITALIANS ALSO CAME,
BRINGING THEIR OWN CULTURE
AND THEIR GRAPES AND
PRODUCING VERY GOOD WINE
IN THESE RICH SOUTHERN SOILS.
BUT THE SOUTHERN REGION ISN'T ONLY A LAND OF
AGRICULTURE. IT IS A REGION OF NATURAL WONDERS
AS WELL.
THESE WIND SCULPTED SPIRES
OF RED SANDSTONE RESEMBLE THE RUINS
OF SOME ANCIENT CIVILIZATION,
ITS GREATNESS REDUCED BY TIME, AND
THE NAME GIVEN TO THESE NATURAL MONUMENTS,
VILA VELHA, MEANS JUST THAT --
ANCIENT CITY.
ITAIMBEZINHO CANYON IS A DRAMATIC
FIVE MILE WIDE FAULT--
CLEAVED BY GEOLOGICAL MOVEMENT.
FEATHERY WATERFALLS DESCEND
TO A PRIVATE EDEN BETWEEN THESE
FERN COVERED WALLS.
GEOLOGY HAS GIVEN THE SOUTHERN REGION ANOTHER
CURIOUSITY. THE FURNAS -- CAVITIES
IN THE EARTH CREATED WHEN THE CEILINGS OF
SUBTERREANEAN RIVERS COLLAPSED.
TO RIDE DOWN THIS ELEVATOR IS TO
FALL INTO A FAIRYTALE WORLD OF
DEEP GREEN POOLS AT THE BOTTOM OF
A GIANT WELL.
NOTHING, HOWEVER, CAN PREPARE
ANYONE FOR WHAT IS TO COME.
FIRST THERE IS THE THUNDER.
THEN THE SHAKING EARTH.
HIDDEN BY VAST FORESTS, ON THE
BORDER OF ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY,
IGUASSU FALLS OVERWHELMS ALL EXPECTATIONS.
TO BE PRESENT AT THESE FALLS
IS TO HAVE THE SENSATION OF
BEING PRESENT ON ONE OF THE
DAYS OF CREATION.
THERE IS A PRIMAL URGENCY
TO THE RUSHING FORCE OF THESE
WATERS.
THE WATER CRASHES ONTO BASALT ROCKS
AND SHATTERS TO FORM A CONSTANT HIGH CLOUD OF MIST
WHICH IN TURN BREAKS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN
INTO ELUSIVE RAINBOWS
AND AGAINST THIS BACKDROP,
TOO GRAND TO BE COMPREHENDED,
ARE THE MINUTE DELIGHTS OF
ORCHIDS, EXOTIC BIRDS
AND BUTTERFLIES --
THERE ARE MORE THAN 275 SEPARATE FALLS
EACH HIGHER THAN NIAGARA HERE.
AND VISITORS CAN CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF VANTAGE POINTS




OR FLY ABOVE IN A HELICOPTER
THE ARGENTINE SIDE OFFERS A TANTALIZINGLY PRECARIOUS VIEW FROM THE VERY EDGE OF THIS IMMENSE CREVASSE.
TRY AIRIAL
WET AND WILD!
ON THE BRAZIL SIDE, THERE ARE A SERIES
OF PLATFORMS, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT
VIEW , AND ALL EASILY ACCESABLE BY FOOT FROM THE
NEARBY TROPICAL HOTEL.
IT 'S GOOD TO EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS,
BUT TO BE ABLE TO BRING CIVILIZATION ALONG
IS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
THE HISTORIC HOTEL TROPICALE PROVIDES
JUST THAT, AN OASIS OF ELEGENCE AND
COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF THE WILDS.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Brazil
• Adventure Travel
• Latin America
• South America
• Destination
• Vacation
• Brazilian Culture
• Documentary
• Stock Footage
• Travel Guide
• Southland
• European Influence
• Immigration
• German Influence
• Architecture
• Traditional Farming
• Agriculture
• Waterfalls
• Geological Rock Formations
• Vila Velha
• Itaimbezinho Canyon
• Fernas
• Natural Wells
• Iguassu Falls
• Iguazzu Falls