Get to know the Triple Border: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay

iguazú falls in the Triple Frontier

Un trifinium it is a geographical point where the borders of three different countries coincide. One of the most famous is the Triple Frontier that divides Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

It is not a unique event in the world. In the same American continent there are a dozen trifinians. However, none of them reach the popularity of the Triple Frontier, since this particular place is very close to the spectacular Iguazú Falls.

The fluvial courses of the rivers Iguazú and Paraná they are the ones that determine the border line between these three countries. It is for this reason that this place is known as a aquatic trifinium.

The Iguazú, which flows westward, separates the Brazilian territory (to the north) from the Argentine (to the south). In this section is where the beautiful waterfalls are located, one of the most important tourist destinations in South America.

On its way west, the Iguazú meets the Paraná River, which flows from north to south, marking the border between Brazil (to the east) and Paraguay (to the west). Thus, in the confluence of both rivers this curious triple border is configured.

TRIPLE BORDER

The Iguazú and Paraná rivers mark the limits of the Triple Border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay

Three cities, three countries

From an economic and demographic point of view, the Triple Frontier is a place of great importance in the region. It is also a very popular place for tourists from all over the world as it is the access point to the Iguazú Falls. About 800.000 people live distributed among the three cities that swirl around this trifinio. The three that coexist, glued to each other, although belonging to different states:

  • Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), capital of the Alto Paraná department. It is the largest and most populated city in the Triple Frontier, with 480.000 inhabitants. It is the second city in the country behind the capital, Assumption, in addition to an important economic pole: the most important free market in Latin America.
  • Foz do Iguacu (Brazil), in the state of Paraná, where about 270.000 people live. It is considered one of the most multi-ethnic cities in Brazil.
  • Puerto Iguazu Holiday Rentals (Argentina), located in the extreme north of the province of Misiones. Its population is 50.000 inhabitants.

All three cities are relatively modern. Foz de Iguaçu and Puerto Igauzú became stable settlements at the beginning of the 1957th century, while Ciudad del Este was founded in XNUMX at the initiative of the Paraguayan government.

Virtually the entire economy of the region depends on cross-border trade between the three states. Argentina and Brazil are connected by the Tancredo Neves Bridge, which crosses the Iguazú River. On the other hand, the Friendship Bridge connects Brazil and Paraguay above the waters of the Paraná.

There is no land connection between Argentina and Paraguay, only one raft service that sail between both shores with constant frequencies throughout the day. These boats offer their services at the docks of Puerto Iguazú and the port of the town of President Franco, on the Paraguayan side.

The Triple Border is also a hot spot that has sometimes been the subject of disputes between the countries that share it. One of the main problems is smuggling that he is not persecuted with the same zeal by the customs police of the three states. Another issue that generates a lot of controversy is the status of Duty-free free port of Ciudad del Este, which conflicts with the agreements established by Mercosur, the "common market" of South America.

Milestones of the Triple Frontier

triple border argentina brazil paraguay

Milestones of the Triple Border in Puerto Iguazú (Argentina)

As is customary in almost all the trifinios of the world, also in the Triple Frontier milestones or monuments that remind travelers of the peculiarity of this three-way border.

The most touristy of all is the one that rises in Puerto Iguazú (in the image above), which has a wide viewpoint from which you can see the three countries in a single panorama. It also can observe the confluence of the two riversThe dark waters of the Paraná are perfectly distinguished from the brown and sediment-laden waters of the Iguazú.

There the flags of the three nations wave on a pedestal. It is a place very frequented by tourists (everyone wants to be photographed there) and usually has a lively craft market.

Both in Puerto Iguazú and in Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu rise monoliths painted with the colors of the flags of their respective countries right at the point where the triple border is located. Those of Argentina and Brazil are two tall obelisks, while the Paraguayan monolith, larger than the others, is rectangular in shape.


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