Math Is Fun Forum

Gist

Iguazu Falls is the world's largest waterfall system, featuring 275 individual cascades stretching nearly 3 kilometers along the Argentina-Brazil border. As a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new seven natural wonders, it features the dramatic 80-meter-tall "Devil's Throat" (Garganta del Diablo).

Iguazu Falls exists within a protected UNESCO World Heritage site that's home to over 2,000 species of vascular plants and countless animal species, including jaguars, ocelots, and over 400 bird species.

Iguazu Falls is one of the new seven natural wonders of the world. At over 1.5 miles wide it is wider than Niagara Falls and is 60% taller than Niagara Falls.

Summary

“My poor Niagara …”

That is what Eleonor Roosevelt said when she saw Iguazu Falls.

Welcome to Iguazu Falls! One of the most important destinations in Argentina, Brazil and South America!

Every year, millions of people come to visit this beautiful natural attraction that Argentina and Brazil have to offer. During 2019, the park received 1,640,000 visitors, both local and foreign.

And everyone is amazed with this destination!

The Iguazu Falls consists of two national parks, one in Foz de Iguazu (Brazil) and the other one in Puerto Iguazu (Argentina). The curious thing is that although one only sees the falls as the main attraction, the park has a size of 252,982 hectares (67,720 on the Argentine side and 185,262 on the Brazilian side).

These falls in Argentina and Brazil managed to attract so much attention that almost at the same time they were declared National Parks (1934 in Argentina and 1939 in Brazil). And after some years and millions of visitors fascinated by the landscape and the sound of this natural attraction, UNESCO declared them as World Heritage Site in 1984, and reaffirmed as Exceptional Universal Value (their cultural and nature it’s so important that it’s conservation should be of worldwide interest) in 2013.

Why are they so famous? It is enough to just see photos and videos to be amazed by its beauty. But it is not only about tourism: the Iguazu National Park is home to many species of animals and flora that create an important natural ecosystem connected to all Latin America.

Each visitor who comes to the Iguazu Falls collaborates to continue the conservation work for the area.

And obviously, Iguazu Falls have allowed the development of local economies, making the city of Puerto Iguazu and Foz de Iguazu grow and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants.

Location of Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls are in the continent of South America, and as we mentioned, it is shared by two countries: Argentina and Brazil. Although Paraguay is nearby, it only shares the river that Iguazu Falls feeds, but it is quite far from the falls and cannot even be seen from there.

The city in Argentina where the Iguazu Falls are located is called Puerto Iguazu, and in Brazil it is called Foz de Iguazu. Both cities are very close to each other: only 16km from center to center.

Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side are located 18km from Puerto Iguazu and 29km from the center of Foz de Iguazu.

Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side are 27km from Puerto Iguazu, and 29km from downtown Foz de Iguazu

Both cities are very close to each national park, that is why all the excursions that we offer on both sides of the falls can pick up from any hotel in both destinations (except in hotels far from the center such as Recanto Cataratas).

The destination is close to several major cities with direct flights. For example, going to Iguazu Falls from Buenos Aires only needs to take a plane to get there in about 2 hours. From Rio de Janeiro you can also get to Iguazu in two hours.

The Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side is at latitude -25.68352837588661 and longitude -54.4547103472097.

The Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side is at latitude -25.61524025766296 and longitude -54.479225906855845.

Airports Near Iguazu Falls

As the Iguazu Falls are shared by Argentina and Brazil, you have two airports to choose from where to get there: Puerto Iguazu (airport code IGR) and Foz de Iguazu (airport code IGU).

Getting to one or the other airport depends on where you come from to visit the destination.

If you want to visit Iguazu from destinations in Argentina such as Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Salta or other, you should look for flights arriving in Puerto Iguazu (airport code IGR).

Now if you come from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, or even some international destination like Lima (Peru), then look for flights that arrive at Foz de Iguazu (airport code IGU).

Both airports are fairly close to Iguazu Falls, in fact it is quite normal to offer one-day tours that visit the park on flights that arrive and depart the same day – although it may seem rushed, it is an excellent option for passengers who come from cruise ships or who have very little time.

Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side are 9km (15-20 minutes by car). And the falls on the Brazilian side are 4 kilometers away (less than 10 minutes by car).

Details

Iguazú Falls or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Together, they make up the largest waterfall system in the world. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the heart of the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil; however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the border between Argentina and Brazil.

The name Iguazú comes from the Guarani or Tupi words y, meaning 'water', and ûasú [waˈsu], meaning 'big'. Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. It was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.

Geology and geography

The staircase character of the falls consists of a two-step waterfall formed by three layers of basalt. The steps are 35 and 40 metres (115 and 131 ft) in height. The columnar basalt rock sequences are part of the 1,000-metre-thick (3,300 ft) Serra Geral formation within the Paleozoic-Mesozoic Paraná Basin. The tops of these sequences are characterized by 8–10 m (26–33 ft) of highly resistant vesicular basalt and the contact between these layers controls the shape of the falls. Headwater erosion rates are estimated at 1.4–2.1 cm/year (0.55–0.83 in/year). Numerous islands along the 2.7-kilometre-long (1.7 mi) edge divide the falls into many separate waterfalls and cataracts, varying between 60 and 82 m (197 and 269 ft) high. The number of these smaller waterfalls fluctuates from 150 to 300, depending on the water level. About half of the river's flow falls into a long and narrow chasm called the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo in Spanish or Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese).

The Devil's Throat canyon is 80–90 m (260–300 ft) wide and 70–80 m (230–260 ft) deep. Left of this canyon, another part of the river forms 160–200 individual falls, which merge into a single front during the flood stage. The largest falls are named San Martín, Adam and Eva, Penoni, and Bergano.

About 900 m (2,950 ft) of the 2.7 km (1.7 mi) length does not have water flowing over it. The water of the lower Iguazu collects in a canyon that drains into the Paraná River, a short distance downstream from the Itaipu Dam. The junction of the water flows marks the border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Some points in the cities of Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, have access to the Iguazu River, where the borders of all three nations may be seen, a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the three cities.

The layout of Iguazu Falls resembles a reversed letter "J". The Argentina–Brazil border runs through the Devil's Throat. On the right bank is the Brazilian territory, which is home to more than 95% of the Iguazu River basin but has just over 20% of the jumps of these falls, and the left side jumps are Argentine, which make up almost 80% of the falls.

Access

The falls may be reached from two main towns, with one on either side of the falls: Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, as well as from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, on the other side of the Paraná River from Foz do Iguaçu, each of those three cities having commercial airports. The falls are shared by the Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil). The two parks were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

The first proposal for a Brazilian national park aimed at providing a pristine environment to "future generations", just as "it had been created by God" and endowed with "all possible preservation, from the beautiful to the sublime, from the picturesque to the awesome" and "an unmatched flora" located in the "magnificent Iguaçu waterfalls". These were the words used by André Rebouças, an engineer, in his book Provinces of Paraná, Railways to Mato Grosso and Bolivia, which started up the campaign aimed at preserving the Iguaçu Falls in 1876. At this time, Yellowstone National Park in the US, the first national park in the world, was four years old.

On the Brazilian side, a walkway along the canyon has an extension to the lower base of Devil's Throat. Helicopter rides offering aerial views of the falls have been available from Brazil, but Argentina has prohibited such helicopter tours because of the adverse environmental impact on the flora and fauna of the falls.

Aerolíneas Argentinas has direct flights from Buenos Aires to Iguazu International Airport. Azul, GOL, and LATAM Brasil offer services from main Brazilian cities to Foz do Iguaçu. From Foz do Iguaçu airport, the park may be reached by taking a taxi or bus to the entrance of the park. Their park has an entrance fee on both sides. Once inside, free and frequent buses are provided to various points within the park. The town of Foz do Iguaçu is about 20 km (12 mi) away, and the airport is between the park and the town.

The Argentine access, across the forest, is by a Rainforest Ecological Train very similar to the one in Disney's Animal Kingdom. The train brings visitors to the entrance of Devil's Throat, as well as the upper and lower trails. The Paseo Garganta del Diablo is a 1 km-long (0.6 mi) trail that brings visitors directly over the falls of Devil's Throat, the highest and deepest of the falls. Other walkways allow access to the elongated stretch of falls across the forest on the Argentine side and to the boats that connect to San Martin Island. Also on the Argentine side, inflatable boat services take visitors very close to the falls.

The Brazilian transportation system aims at allowing an increase in the number of visitors, while reducing the adverse environmental impact, through an increase in the average number of passengers per vehicle inside the park. The new transportation system has a 72-passenger capacity and panoramic-view, double-deck buses.

Comparison with other notable falls

Upon seeing Iguazu, the United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed, "Poor Niagara!" (which, at 50 m or 165 feet, are a third shorter). Often, Iguazu also is compared with Victoria Falls in Southern Africa, which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. Iguazu is wider but is split into roughly 275 distinct falls and large islands, whereas Victoria has the largest curtain of water in the world, at more than 1,600 m (5,249 ft) wide and over 100 m (328 ft) in height (in low flow, Victoria is split into five by islands but in high flow, it may be uninterrupted). The only wider falls are extremely large rapid-like falls, such as the Boyoma Falls (Stanley Falls).

With the flooding of the Guaíra Falls in 1982, Iguazu currently has the sixth-greatest average annual flow of any waterfall in the world, following number five Niagara, with an average rate of 1,746 {m}^{3}/s (61,660 cu ft/s). Its maximum recorded flow was 45,700 {m}^{3}/s (1,614,000 cu ft/s) on 9 June 2014. By comparison, the average flow of Niagara Falls is 2,400 {m}^{3}/s (85,000 cu ft/s), with a maximum recorded flow of 8,300 {m}^{3}/s (293,000 cu ft/s). The average flow at Victoria Falls is 1,088 {m}^{3}/s (38,420 cu ft/s), with a maximum recorded flow of 7,100 {m}^{3}/s (250,000 cu ft/s).

Climate

The Iguazu Falls experience a humid subtropical climate (Cfa, according to the Köppen climate classification) with abundant precipitation and high temperatures year-round. During the summer of 2006, a severe drought caused the Iguazu River to become diminished, reducing the amount of water flowing over the falls to 300 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s) until early December. This was unusual, as dry periods normally last only a few weeks. The period with the greatest volume of water flowing over the falls is usually December to February, coinciding with one of the periods of greatest rainfall.

Additional Information

Iguazu Falls, Iguazú Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls (Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú [kataˈɾatas ðel iɣwaˈsu]; Guarani: Chororo Yguasu [ɕoɾoɾo ɨɣʷasu]; Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu [kataˈɾatɐʒ du iɡwaˈsu]) are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. They are the largest waterfalls system in the world. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil, however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil.

The name “Iguazu” comes from the Guarani or Tupi words “y”, meaning “water”, and “ûasú “[waˈsu], meaning “big”. Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.

Iguaçu Falls is a series of cataracts on the Iguaçu River, 14 miles (23 km) above its confluence with the Alto (Upper) Paraná River, at the Argentina-Brazil border. The falls resemble an elongated horseshoe that extends for 1.7 miles (2.7 km)—nearly three times wider than Niagara Falls in North America and significantly greater than the width of Victoria Falls in Africa. Numerous rocky and wooded islands on the edge of the escarpment over which the Iguaçu River plunges divide the falls into some 275 separate waterfalls or cataracts, varying between 200 and 269 feet (60 and 82 metres) in height. The name of the falls, like that of the river, is derived from a Guaraní word meaning “great water.”

The rate of flow of the falls may rise to a maximum of 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic metres) per second during the rainy season from November to March. Minimum flow occurs during the dry season from August to October. The mean annual rate of flow is about 62,000 cubic feet (1,756 cubic metres) per second.

The falls occur along a wide span where the Iguaçu River, flowing westward and then northward, tumbles over the edge of the Paraná Plateau before continuing its course in a canyon. Above the falls, islands and islets spread the river into numerous flows that feed the cataracts. A major portion of the river tumbles into a narrow, semicircular chasm called the Garganta do Diabo (Spanish: Garganta del Diablo [“Devil’s Throat”]); the effect has been described as that of “an ocean plunging into an abyss.” Excellent views of this section (also called Union Falls) can be obtained from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Many of the individual falls are broken midway by protruding ledges; the resultant deflection of the water, as well as the spray that arises, creates an array of rainbows. From the foot of the Garganta do Diabo, a curtain of mist rises some 500 feet (150 metres) into the air.

Among the many islands along the falls, the most notable is Isla Grande San Martín, which is situated downstream from the Garganta do Diabo (on the Argentine side). From this island, a fine view of many of the cataracts may be had. Individual falls to be seen from the forest paths and trails on the Argentine side include those known as Dos Hermanas (“Two Sisters”), Bozzetti, San Martín, Escondido (“Hidden”), and Rivadavia. From the Brazilian shore, an impressive panorama of falls can also be seen; among individual Brazilian falls are those known as Benjamin Constant, Deodoro, and Floriano.

The first Spanish explorer to visit the falls was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. In 1897 Edmundo de Barros, a Brazilian army officer, envisaged the establishment of a national park at Iguaçu Falls. Following boundary rectifications between Brazil and Argentina, two separate national parks were established, one by each country—Iguaçu National Park (1939) in Brazil and Iguazú National Park (1934) in Argentina. Both parks were created to preserve the vegetation, wildlife, and scenic beauty associated with the falls. In 1984 the Argentine park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and two years later the Brazilian park was also granted World Heritage status. The Iguaçu area is served by three airports, in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

The vegetation of the region is rich and varied, ranging from semi-deciduous to tropical, and has been a focus of botanical interest. Water plants include a family (Podostemaceae) that grows only in rushing water and is found on the ledges of the falls. Contrasts are also abundant, with orchids growing next to pines, bamboos next to palm trees, and mosses next to lianas and colourful begonias.

Animal life is equally varied and abundant but has been much less studied. Iguanas are a common sight. Among the mammals are several members of the cat family (ocelots and jaguars), deer, tapir, and innumerable smaller animals. Toucans and birds of many other varieties are also to be found. Fish include the dorado (golden salmon), mandi, and cascudo.

Comfortable Quotes - II

1. I'll work with a director if I think I'm going to get into a comfortable situation, and if it's someone I respect and who respects me, even if they're not so well known. Movies are hard to make, and you have to work toward a common ethic and do your best. - Robert De Niro

2. War is a way of shattering to pieces... materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable and... too intelligent. - George Orwell

3. There's nothing wrong with a woman being comfortable, confident. - Selena Gomez

4. I don't see myself going out in sweats, dropping Barron at school in sweats - it's just not my style - never was. I like to put myself together and go out. I do wear jeans and T-shirt though! I like them - why not? They're very comfortable, and when I'm home and playing with my child, I like to wear a white T-shirt and jeans. - Melania Trump

5. I never felt comfortable with myself, because I was never part of the majority. I always felt awkward and shy and on the outside of the momentum of my friends' lives. - Steven Spielberg

6. I know what I believe, I know what I want to do, and I'm just comfortable saying it, and laying it out there. - Joe Biden

7. Most actors don't like doing still photo shoots, but I love them. I'm very comfortable, and I enjoy the clothes, looking good, and freezing the moment. - Asin

8. I look at myself, and I see a Spanish person who's trying to be understood by an English-speaking audience and is putting a lot of energy into that, instead of into expressing himself freely and feeling comfortable. - Javier Bardem.

Lungs

Gist

Lungs are the primary, spongy, pinkish-gray respiratory organs in the chest that enable breathing by exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide, a process vital for life. They consist of lobes (three on the right, two on the left), fill with air via the trachea and bronchial tree during inhalation, and are protected by the rib cage and pleural membrane.

The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system, responsible for taking in oxygen from the air (inhalation) and expelling carbon dioxide (exhalation). They deliver oxygen to the bloodstream for cellular energy and remove metabolic waste, maintaining pH balance and supporting immune functions.

Summary

The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in many animals, including humans. In mammals and most other tetrapods, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart. Their function in the respiratory system is to extract oxygen from the atmosphere and transfer it into the bloodstream, and to release carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the atmosphere, in a process of gas exchange. Respiration is driven by different muscular systems in different species. Mammals, reptiles and birds use their musculoskeletal systems to support and foster breathing. In early tetrapods, air was driven into the lungs by the pharyngeal muscles via buccal pumping, a mechanism still seen in amphibians. In humans, the primary muscle that drives breathing is the diaphragm. The lungs also provide airflow that makes vocalisation including speech possible.

Humans have two lungs, a right lung and a left lung. They are situated within the thoracic cavity of the chest. The right lung is bigger than the left, and the left lung shares space in the chest with the heart. The lungs together weigh approximately 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb), and the right is heavier. The lungs are part of the lower respiratory tract that begins at the trachea and branches into the bronchi and bronchioles, which receive air breathed in via the conducting zone. These divide until air reaches microscopic alveoli, where gas exchange takes place. Together, the lungs contain approximately 2,400 kilometers (1,500 mi) of airways and 300 to 500 million alveoli. Each lung is enclosed within a pleural sac of two pleurae which allows the inner and outer walls to slide over each other whilst breathing takes place, without much friction. The inner visceral pleura divides each lung as fissures into sections called lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left has two. The lobes are further divided into bronchopulmonary segments and lobules. The lungs have a unique blood supply, receiving deoxygenated blood sent from the heart to receive oxygen (the pulmonary circulation) and a separate supply of oxygenated blood (the bronchial circulation).

The tissue of the lungs can be affected by several respiratory diseases including pneumonia and lung cancer. Chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema can be related to smoking or exposure to harmful substances. Diseases such as bronchitis can also affect the respiratory tract. Medical terms related to the lung often begin with pulmo-, from the Latin pulmonarius (of the lungs) as in pulmonology, or with pneumo- as in pneumonia.

In embryonic development, the lungs begin to develop as an outpouching of the foregut, a tube which goes on to form the upper part of the digestive system. When the lungs are formed the fetus is held in the fluid-filled amniotic sac and so they do not function to breathe. Blood is also diverted from the lungs through the ductus arteriosus. At birth however, air begins to pass through the lungs, and the diversionary duct closes so that the lungs can begin to respire.

Details:

What Are Lungs?

Your lungs are a pair of organs that are the main part of your respiratory system, a network of structures and tissues that allow you to breathe. They pull air into your body so your tissues can get oxygen.

You have two lungs, a right and a left. Many people think of them like balloons. But they’re actually made up of spongy tissue, airways (tubes that air travels through), air sacs (alveoli) and blood vessels. The blood vessels pick up oxygen from the air sacs and deliver it to the rest of your body.

Function:

What do lungs do?

Your lungs’ main function is to bring oxygen to your blood and remove carbon dioxide from your body. When you inhale through your nose or mouth, air travels down your pharynx (back of your throat), passes through your larynx (voice box) and into your trachea (windpipe). Then, it moves into your left and right bronchial tubes and into smaller and smaller passages (bronchioles).

Your airways end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. These are surrounded by blood vessels. Your alveoli hold the air, and the blood that flows by picks up oxygen. Your blood delivers the oxygen to your tissues to use for energy. At the same time, your blood also drops off carbon dioxide to your lungs, which you breathe out on your next exhale. This process happens 12 to 20 times per minute.

Anatomy:

Where are your lungs in your body?

Your lungs are located in your chest (thorax), inside your rib cage. Your thoracic cavity is the space that contains your lungs and other organs of your chest.

Lung structure

Your lungs are made up of spongy, pinkish-gray tissue (connective tissue). They’re thicker in your back and get thinner as they curve around to your chest. They’re shaped a bit like cones or upside-down elephant ears: They have a narrow top part that extends toward your shoulders and a wider bottom.

Your bronchial tubes enter your lungs and branch into smaller and smaller airways until they reach the alveoli. The alveoli look a bit like a bunch of tiny grapes. Your lungs are covered in thin layers of tissue called pleura. These layers reduce friction as your lungs get bigger when they fill and smaller when they empty. Many blood vessels bring blood into and out of your lungs.

You have two lungs, one on each side of your chest. Each lung is divided into sections (lobes). They’re separated by folds called fissures. Your lungs rest on your diaphragm, a muscle that contracts and relaxes to pull air into your lungs.

Right lung

The lung on your right side is divided into three lobes: the superior, the middle and the inferior. It’s shorter and wider than your left lung.

Left lung

Your left lung has two lobes: the superior and the inferior. The superior lobe has an indent (cardiac notch) to make space for your heart. The piece of the superior lobe that curls down around the left and bottom of your heart is called the lingula.

How big are your lungs?

A typical adult lung weighs about 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and is a little longer than 9 inches (about 24 centimeters) when you’re breathing normally. It’s about 10.5 inches (27 cm) when your lungs are completely expanded.

Conditions and Disorders:

What diseases affect your lungs?

Conditions that affect your lungs include:

* Asthma: Inflammation of your airways when you’re exposed to triggers
* Bronchiectasis: Widened airways that can develop pouches
* Bronchitis: Inflammation and mucus in your airways
* COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease): Damage to your airways that blocks your breathing and gets worse over time
* Cystic fibrosis: An inherited condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in your lungs and other organs
* Infections: Flu, COVID-19, RSV, tuberculosis and other germs can infect your lungs and airways
* Interstitial lung disease: Damage and scarring in your lungs, like pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis
* Lung cancer: Growths in your lungs that can spread to other organs
* Mesothelioma: A type of cancer in the lining of your lungs
* Pneumonia: Inflammation and fluid in your lungs caused by an infection
* Pulmonary nodules: “Spots” on your lungs

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of lung disease can include:

* Cough
* Chest pain, tightness or discomfort
* Shortness of breath
* Tiredness

These symptoms are common, and many other conditions can cause them. Talk to a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms that affect your breathing.

Care:

How to care for your lungs

To keep your lungs healthy:

* Don’t smoke or vape. It’s never too late to quit.
* If you have to work with materials that create dust or fumes, wear a respirator mask and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
* Maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
* Get regular physical activity. This helps your heart and lung muscles stay strong.
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* Take steps to avoid respiratory infections. This includes washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask when respiratory illnesses, like the flu and COVID-19, are spreading. Ask a provider which vaccines are recommended for you.

Additional Information:

Why Are Lungs Important?

Every cell in your body needs oxygen to live. The air we breathe contains oxygen and other gases. The respiratory system's main job is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases.

Once in the lungs, oxygen is moved into the bloodstream and carried through your body. At each cell in your body, oxygen is exchanged for a waste gas called carbon dioxide. Your bloodstream then carries this waste gas back to the lungs where it is removed from the bloodstream and then exhaled. Your lungs and respiratory system automatically perform this vital process, called gas exchange.

In addition to gas exchange, your respiratory system performs other roles important to breathing. These include:

* Bringing air to the proper body temperature and moisturizing it to the right humidity level.
* Protecting your body from harmful substances. This is done by coughing, sneezing, filtering or swallowing them.
* Supporting your sense of smell.

The Parts of the Respiratory System and How They Work:

Airways

* SINUSES are hollow spaces in the bones of your head above and below your eyes that are connected to your nose by small openings. Sinuses help regulate the temperature and humidity of inhaled air.
* The NOSE is the preferred entrance for outside air into the respiratory system. The hairs lining the nose's wall are part of the air-cleaning system.
* Air also enters through the MOUTH, especially for those who have a mouth-breathing habit, whose nasal passages may be temporarily blocked by a cold, or during heavy exercise.
* The THROAT collects incoming air from your nose and mouth then passes it down to the windpipe (trachea).
* The WINDPIPE (trachea) is the passage leading from your throat to your lungs.
* The windpipe divides into the two main BRONCHIAL TUBES, one for each lung, which divides again into each lobe of your lungs. These, in turn, split further into bronchioles.

Lungs and Blood Vessels

* Your right lung is divided into three LOBES, or sections. Each lobe is like a balloon filled with sponge-like tissue. Air moves in and out through one opening—a branch of the bronchial tube.
* Your left lung is divided into two LOBES.
* The PLEURA are the two membranes, actually, one continuous one folded on itself, that surround each lobe of the lungs and separate your lungs from your chest wall.
* Your bronchial tubes are lined with CILIA (like very small hairs) that move like waves. This motion carries MUCUS (sticky phlegm or liquid) upward and out into your throat, where it is either coughed up or swallowed. Mucus catches and holds much of the dust, germs, and other unwanted matter that has invaded your lungs. You get rid of this matter when you cough, sneeze, clear your throat or swallow.
* The smallest branches of the bronchial tubes are called BRONCHIOLES, at the end of which are the air sacs or alveoli.
* ALVEOLI are the very small air sacs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
* CAPILLARIES are blood vessels in the walls of the alveoli. Blood passes through the capillaries, entering through your PULMONARY ARTERY and leaving via your PULMONARY VEIN. While in the capillaries, blood gives off carbon dioxide through the capillary wall into the alveoli and takes up oxygen from air in the alveoli.

Muscles and Bones

* Your DIAPHRAGM is the strong wall of muscle that separates your chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. By moving downward, it creates suction in the chest, drawing in air and expanding the lungs.
* RIBS are bones that support and protect your chest cavity. They move slightly to help your lungs expand and contract.

Keeping Lungs Healthy

Lung capacity declines as you age. Keep your lungs healthy by taking good care of yourself every day. Eat a balanced diet, exercise and reduce stress to breathe easier. Get more tips for healthy lungs.

Comfortable Quotes - I

1. You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own. - Michelle Obama

2. Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator. - Confucius

3. There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction. - John F. Kennedy

4. A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. - Mark Twain

5. It's always felt natural, because I'm generally very comfortable with people. - Bruce Springsteen

6. I'm more than comfortable just sitting back and scoring 21, 22 points or whatever and getting 10, 11 assists whatever the case might be. More than comfortable with that. It's just a matter of the pieces that you have around you and what you can do to elevate everybody else. - Kobe Bryant

7. Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home. - Michael Phelps

8. If you're not comfortable with public speaking - and nobody starts out comfortable; you have to learn how to be comfortable - practice. I cannot overstate the importance of practicing. Get some close friends or family members to help evaluate you, or somebody at work that you trust. - Hillary Clinton.