Summary:
Foz do Iguacu is the 4th largest city of Parana state, Brazil and the 11th largest of the Brazil's Southern region, with a population of 309,000 habitants . It is located approximately 650 km (400 mi) west of Curitiba, Parana's capital city.
History:
In 1549, a Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, found the falls while trailing down the river. Very impressed, he named them "Quedas de Santa Maria". But later the name changed to Quedas del Iguazu, this name is a native name from the Guarani Indians who once lived there. Until 1860, it was in Paraguayan territory, but given its defeat in the War of the Triple Alliance, and big loses of territory to the winners, the falls passed to Brazilian control in the north side and Argentinean control in the south side.
Foz do Iguacu is the 4th largest city of Parana state, Brazil and the 11th largest of the Brazil's Southern region, with a population of 309,000 habitants . It is located approximately 650 km (400 mi) west of Curitiba, Parana's capital city.
History:
In 1549, a Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, found the falls while trailing down the river. Very impressed, he named them "Quedas de Santa Maria". But later the name changed to Quedas del Iguazu, this name is a native name from the Guarani Indians who once lived there. Until 1860, it was in Paraguayan territory, but given its defeat in the War of the Triple Alliance, and big loses of territory to the winners, the falls passed to Brazilian control in the north side and Argentinean control in the south side.
In 1916, Alberto Santos-Dumont visited the region and, impressed with the beauties of the region, suggested more attention of the government to the area and asked for the appropriation of the land where currently is the Parque do Iguaçu (Iguazu Park). Until 1917, this region had an owner, Jezus Val. The state appropriated the land in the next year, and, in 1939, the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu was created.
In 1945, an agreement between the Brazilian Academy of Letters and the Academy of Lisbon changed the city name to Foz do Iguaçu. The city experienced a big economical boom in the 1960s to the late 1980s, first with the construction of the Friendship Bridge, concluded in 1965, and the Itaipu Dam, finished in the beginning of the 1990s. However, the city suffered with the world economy's recession, that resulted in fewer tourists and fewer consumers of Ciudad del Este's imported goods.
In 2004, the city's economy started again to grow up, after a long time of recession.
On October 19, 2005, was considered changing the city name to Foz do Iguassu. The proposal was approved in first debate and then denied in second debate, at the Town Hall (Camara Municipal), by four votes for and eight against, a billPSDB's city councillor Djalma Pastorello was the author of the proposal. The purpose of changing the city name is to make the city's spelling return to the original, when the city was founded in 1914 by the name Foz do Iguassu, but in 1945 Brazilian Portuguese passed through an orthography reform, but proper names didn't have to change. Another reason for the change is that 146 of the 198 countries homologated by ONU don't have the "ç" character in the alphabet, this way would make easier the search for the city in search engines, since Foz do Iguaçu is world wide known by its falls, which by the way is commercially divulgated as Iguassu Falls. This change, according to Djalma Pastorello, will improve the city's tourism, however, he estimates that 70% of the city's population were against the name change because the local midia antecipated the change showing this in a distorted way, making population unable to see the advance that this will make to all.
Clime:
The climate of Foz do Iguaçu is sub-tropical, with two distinctive seasons; one humid and hot in the summer and another, dry and cool, in the winter. The city's annual average temperature is 74.8°F, but can be as high as 117°F in the summer (highest) or as low as 23°F in the winter (lowest). The average in the summer is 79.7°F and in the winter 59.6°F.
The climate of the city is generally hot or warm throughout the year, due to the relatively low altitude (standing only 173 m, 567 ft, above sea level).
Generally, the city is sunny during the year, but rain is fairly common during the spring and in the summer. The weather of the city, however, changes very constantly, because the region where the city stands is the zone where frequently three fronts meet. As consequence, it is not uncommon to see temperatures as high as 95°F and in the summer as low as 46°F in the city, and commonly, thunderstorms.
Avenida Brasil (Brazil Avenue):
Since Foz do Iguaçu's foundation, Brazil Avenue is the city's main road. While during its early years the street was primarily the military headquarters' location (now they are just in the right beginning of the Avenue), nowadays the street is a very active place where many retail stores are located. It is located at the downtown of the city and it is 5 km (3 mi) long (of which 3 km, 2 mi, is arterial road).
As of 2004, the prefecture of the city decided that a major revitalization of "Avenida Brasil" (Brazil Avenue) was needed. Attracting many consumers from many different areas of the city and even from its neighbours Ciudad del Este and Puerto Iguazú, the avenue, wide enough only to support two cars side-by-side, is frequently used during business days, and even more in important holidays (Christmas, Children's day, Easter, Mother's day, with many cars competing for a space for park.
The revitalization proposals asks for removal of parking space, giving major attention to pedestrians. Also, the avenue would be wide enough only to support one car side-by-side. The project started at the end of 2004, and by 2006 was concluded. The avenue does not have a bus route, by municipal order.