Puerto Iguazu history

Foundation and First Mentions

Although Europeans, represented by the Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, discovered the famous waterfalls back in 1541, a permanent urban settlement appeared here much later. For a long time, these lands remained the domain of the Guarani Indians and Jesuit missions located to the south.

The official founding date of the modern city is considered to be **September 10, 1901**. On this day, the first organized tourist expedition to the waterfalls took place by ship. One of the participants was the philanthropist Victoria Aguirre, who donated a large sum for the construction of the first road from the river port to the waterfalls. In her honour, the settlement bore the name Puerto Aguirre for a long time before being renamed **Puerto Iguazu**.

Key Development Factors

The development of the city was inextricably linked to its unique location and natural wealth. Historians highlight the following growth factors:

• Geography and Navigation: The city emerged at a strategic point where the Iguazu and Parana rivers meet. The river port was vital for connection with the "mainland," as land routes through the jungle were extremely difficult.
• Tourism Potential: Unlike many other cities in the region that emerged as agricultural centres, Puerto Iguazu developed with a focus on tourism from the very beginning.
• State Nature Protection: A powerful impulse for development was given by the creation of the Iguazu National Park in 1934, which attracted state investment in the region's infrastructure.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the early 20th century, the settlement's economy rested on two pillars: nascent tourism and the extraction of natural resources. Valuable timber and yerba mate gathered in the forests of the Misiones province were actively exported through the local port.

The cultural environment was formed in conditions of close contact with neighbouring Brazil and Paraguay. Isolation from the capital and proximity to borders contributed to the creation of a special way of life, where the traditions of the Guarani, Argentine colonists, and immigrants arriving to develop these picturesque but wild lands at that time mixed together.

Major Historical Milestones

• 1541 — Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca became the first European to discover the Iguazu Falls during an expedition along the Parana River.
• 1901 — Official date of the settlement's founding (September 10), which initially received the name Puerto Aguirre in honour of the philanthropist Victoria Aguirre.
• 1902 — Landscape architect Carlos Thays developed the first detailed project for creating a national park around the waterfalls.
• 1934 — A federal law on the creation of the Iguazu National Park was adopted, laying the foundation for transforming the city into a tourism hub.
• 1940s — Renowned architect Alejandro Bustillo designed and built key city buildings, including the park administration and the old Cataratas Hotel.
• 1951 — The city was temporarily renamed Puerto Eva Perón, but returned to the name Puerto Iguazu after political changes in 1955.
• 1984 — Iguazu National Park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, attracting the attention of the international community.
• 1985 — The opening of the Tancredo Neves Bridge (Fraternity Bridge) took place, directly connecting Puerto Iguazu with the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu.
• 2011 — Iguazu Falls were officially recognized as one of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" based on the results of a global vote.

Stages of Development and Their Significance

The transformation of Puerto Iguazu from a small settlement into a world-class tourism centre occurred in leaps. Each milestone brought new economic opportunities to the city and changed its appearance.

• Establishment of the National Park (1934)
  This event became a turning point in the region's economy. The city ceased to be merely a point for exporting timber and mate, reorienting itself to service the park. This legislatively fixed the boundaries of urban development and stopped deforestation in the vicinity of the waterfalls.
• Alejandro Bustillo's Urban Plan (1940s)
  The work of the famous architect gave the city its first systematic appearance. The construction of administrative buildings, a school, a police station, and a sanitary post in a unified style created a civic centre and set aesthetic standards for local architecture.
• Opening of the Tancredo Neves Bridge (1985)
  The launch of the bridge connecting Argentina and Brazil brought Puerto Iguazu out of geographic isolation. This gave a powerful impulse to border trade and allowed tourists to move freely between the two countries, forming a unified tourism zone.
• Development of the International Airport
  The construction and subsequent modernisation of the "Cataratas del Iguazu" airport ensured a stable flow of tourists from Buenos Aires and abroad. Air transport made the resort accessible for short trips, which significantly increased the revenues of the local hotel business.
• Recognition as one of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" (2011)
  Victory in the international vote attracted major investments to the city. After 2011, a construction boom of premium-class hotels and spa complexes began in Puerto Iguazu, which significantly raised the level of service and employment of the population.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

Puerto Iguazu is a young city whose architectural code was formed not by centuries of spontaneous development, but by targeted state programmes and the influence of the tropical climate. It is difficult to find classical European styles in their pure form here; instead, functional adaptation to the jungle and a unique "park" style dominate.

Era of State Planning (1930s–1940s)

The most significant mark on the city's appearance was left by the period when the state began to actively develop infrastructure around the waterfalls. The central figure of this stage was the architect Alejandro Bustillo. His works defined the visual identity of the historic centre.

• Style: Neocolonial style with elements of rustic (rural style) and "missionary" baroque. It is characterised by stone plinths, white plastered walls, tiled roofs, and wide wooden galleries for protection from the sun and rain.
• Landmark Buildings:
  • National Park Administration Building (Intendencia): A striking example of Bustillo's style, combining the severity of an administrative institution with the aesthetics of a country estate.
  • Old Hospital and Commissariat: Civil purpose buildings, executed in a single ensemble with the administration, form the historical core of the city.
  • School No. 615: Another example of how social infrastructure fit into a unified architectural concept.

Modern Development and Tourism Architecture (since the 1980s)

After the construction of the Tancredo Neves Bridge and the rapid growth of tourism, the city began to expand. Urban planning of this period is characterised by a shift in emphasis from centralised planning to private investment.

• Style: Modernism and postmodernism adapted to the tropics. The centre is dominated by dense low-rise buildings made of concrete and brick, typical of Argentine provincial cities.
• Eco-architecture: In the vicinity of the city, closer to the jungle, the eco-lodge style has developed. These are modern hotel complexes using natural materials (wood, stone) and panoramic glazing to maximally integrate buildings into the surrounding forest, minimising visual noise.

Urban Planning Features

The layout of Puerto Iguazu is dictated by the complex relief of the terrain (hills and ravines) and the proximity of two rivers — the Iguazu and the Parana.

• Irregular Street Grid: Unlike the traditional Spanish "chessboard" layout, streets here curve, following the topography of the hills.
• "Seven Corners" District (Siete Bocas): A famous urban intersection where several key streets converge, demonstrating a road network structure atypical for flat cities.
• Waterfront (Costanera): A modern public space along the river, which has become an important element of the urban environment, orienting the city facing the water and neighbouring countries.

Explorers and Founders

• Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
  Spanish conquistador and explorer (16th century)
  The first European to set foot on these lands. In 1541, during an expedition, he discovered the waterfalls, which he named "Salto de Santa Maria". His discovery marked the beginning of the European presence in the region, although permanent settlements appeared here much later.
• Victoria Aguirre
  Philanthropist, artist, and public figure (late 19th – early 20th century)
  Played a decisive role in the development of infrastructure. Visiting the waterfalls as part of one of the first expeditions, she donated a significant sum for the construction of a road from the port to the waterfalls (the current Victoria Aguirre Avenue). In gratitude, the city bore the name Puerto Aguirre for a long time.

Creators of the City and Park's Appearance

• Carlos Thays
  Landscape architect and urban planner (early 20th century)
  A French architect who changed the face of Argentina. In 1902, he developed a detailed project for the creation of the Iguazu National Park, defining its boundaries and tourist routes. His vision allowed the unique nature around the city to be preserved, preventing it from turning into private estates.
• Alejandro Bustillo
  Architect (mid-20th century)
  The author of Puerto Iguazu's architectural code. In the 1940s, he designed the city's iconic buildings: the National Park administration, the old Cataratas Hotel, a school, and a police station. His style of "stone architecture" became the hallmark of the historic centre.

Humanists and Public Figures

• Marta Schwarz
  Doctor and humanist (20th century)
  A legendary personality known as the "Angel of the Jungle" (El Ángel de la Selva). The first female doctor in the Misiones province. Arriving in Puerto Iguazu as a young woman, she dedicated more than 60 years to treating local residents, immigrants, and Guarani Indians, often working in the harshest conditions of the tropics. A museum is now open in her former home.