Above the falls, the Iguazu river meanders at variable widths and contains several small islands. At San Agustin island (1 km in length) the river surges to 1,500 meters at it's widest point, forming a huge "U" that contains the great fault which has caused an abrupt drop in the ground and, thus, the falls.
Over the course of its winding path a number of islands fragment the river into various branches. As they arrive at the edge, each branch becomes a unique waterfall, and taken together these constitute the great fan of the Iguazu Falls.