EVERYTHING WHAT YOU NEEDTO DREAM...
Brazil >
Foz do Iguaçu
KNOWLEDGE OF Foz do Iguaçu
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 do Iguazu, this name is an native name from the Guarani Indians who once lived there.
Until 1860 it was in Paraguayan territory, but given its defeat in the Paraguayan War, and big loses of territory to the winners, the falls passed to Brazilian control in the north side and Argentinian control in the south side.
The region was almost uninhabited, there was only a military colony until 1897, with the creation of a postal office in the region. Given the little attention of the political authorities, the region was very predated by foreigners, mainly Argentinians.
In 1910, the colony's status was upgraded to the position of "vila" (town or village), named "Vila Iguassu", and, in 1914, to city. At that time, the city was known as Foz do Iguassu.
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 misappropriation of the land where actually is the Parque do Iguaçu (Iguassu Park). Until 1917, this region had a owner, Jezus Val. The state misappropriated the land in the next year, and, in 1939, the Parque 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 1970s. However, the city suffered with the world economy's recession, that implied in fewer tourists and fewer consumers to 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 approved in first and second debates, at the Town Hall (Câmara Municipal), by eight votes for and four against, a bill changing the city name to Foz do Iguassu. PSDB'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 in Portuguese equal to the one in other languages, which will, according to Djalma Pastorello, make easier to search for the city in internet search engines, as the ç diacritical mark is hard to be typed by non-Portuguese speakers. This will, according to him, improve the city's tourism. However, he, estimates that 70% of the city's population are against the name change.
Until 1860 it was in Paraguayan territory, but given its defeat in the Paraguayan War, and big loses of territory to the winners, the falls passed to Brazilian control in the north side and Argentinian control in the south side.
The region was almost uninhabited, there was only a military colony until 1897, with the creation of a postal office in the region. Given the little attention of the political authorities, the region was very predated by foreigners, mainly Argentinians.
In 1910, the colony's status was upgraded to the position of "vila" (town or village), named "Vila Iguassu", and, in 1914, to city. At that time, the city was known as Foz do Iguassu.
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 misappropriation of the land where actually is the Parque do Iguaçu (Iguassu Park). Until 1917, this region had a owner, Jezus Val. The state misappropriated the land in the next year, and, in 1939, the Parque 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 1970s. However, the city suffered with the world economy's recession, that implied in fewer tourists and fewer consumers to 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 approved in first and second debates, at the Town Hall (Câmara Municipal), by eight votes for and four against, a bill changing the city name to Foz do Iguassu. PSDB'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 in Portuguese equal to the one in other languages, which will, according to Djalma Pastorello, make easier to search for the city in internet search engines, as the ç diacritical mark is hard to be typed by non-Portuguese speakers. This will, according to him, improve the city's tourism. However, he, estimates that 70% of the city's population are against the name change.
Chapi