Iguazú National Park, located in Argentina near its borders with Brazil and Paraguay, contains remnants of the highly endangered Paranaense Rain Forest. Isolated from other rain forests by natural barriers, the Paranaense developed a distinct and highly diverse ecosystem with thousands of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians unique to the area. The famous Iguazú Falls are located within the boundaries of the National Park and are shared by Argentina and Brazil. Between 1973 and 2011, dramatic changes to the landscape occurred in this region. In 1973 the forested area spread across the borders of the three nations. By 2011, however, large areas of the forest in Paraguay and Brazil, and smaller amounts in Argentina, had been converted to other forms of land cover, creating a mosaic of differently colored land use areas. Note the variation in land cover patterns among the different countries - reflections of different land use polices and practices.