The word “Iberá” means “bright waters” in the Guaraní tongue. When watching the moon glowing on the lagoons and the marshlands in these Corrientes lowlands, it is not hard to guess why the old Guaraní Indians chose such a name for this place.
The area is one of the largest natural reserves in the country, with sceneries of unique beauty and a huge wildlife variety.
Located in the center of the province of Corrientes, the Iberá marshlands and lagoons make up one of the richest and most unspoilt areas in Argentina and the world, which occupies over 2,000,000 square kilometers.
This zone is formed by lagoons which, joint to marshlands and swamps, create a wetland that represents the habitat for animal and plant species, as well as countless insects and numerous butterfly varieties. It is possible to visit streams and lagoons by boat. There, visitors may observe howler monkeys, deer, capybaras, caymans and hundreds of birds.
The district of Carlos Pelegrini is a small rural spot representing the gate to the marshlands. Touring around its streets, which bear Guaraní names, the main square may be accessed. The attractiveness of the marshlands and lagoons lies not only in their sceneries, but also in the customs and traditions of its people.
Unlike Carlos Pelegrini, Mercedes is a city, the closest to the Iberá Marshlands. Located 125 kilometers from the marshlands, the sanctuary built to pay tribute to well-known Gauchito Gil amazes visitors at its entrance gate.
The marshlands were declared Natural Reserve in 1983 and International Wetlands in 2002 and many people assure that the largest fresh water reserve for mankind lies under it. It has come to be called: Guaraní aquifer.