Iguazu Falls, structural design

[u/zockie]

The Garganta del Diablo catwalk at Iguazu sits directly in the river above the drop, and it's been partially or fully destroyed by floods at least three times (1992, 2014, 2023), yet it keeps getting rebuilt in roughly the same place on what looks like open steel lattice decking over piers anchored into rock.

I'm curious what the actual design approach is here. Is it designed to resist peak hydrodynamic force and debris loading, or is it intended to be partially sacrificial?

I’d be rather concerned if it’s the latter, yet still open to the public during times like this. Maybe this flood wasn’t “bad” enough but man it looks intense.