A waterfall is a free, vertical fall of water caused by differences in height in a riverbed or stream. A series of waterfalls in a sequence is called a cascade. Waterfalls occur on every continent in the world, and some of them stand out from the rest.
The world’s highest waterfalls by continent
The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls (also known as Salto Angel), named after James Angel, who discovered the waterfall in 1935. It is located in South America, in southeastern Venezuela near the border with Guyana and Brazil. It has a height of 979 meters (or 1054 meters according to other sources), and the water falls down continuously for 807 meters. The waters flow from the Auyantepui plateau – the most famous flat mountains in Venezuela.
Angel Falls – the tallest waterfall in the world – front view
Source: Francisco Becerro; https://www.flickr.com/photos/58743958@N04/9576962342
Angel Falls – the tallest waterfall in the world – view of the waterfall area
Source: Heribert Dezeo; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salto_Angel_-_Cañon_del_Diablo.JPG
The second tallest waterfall in the world is located in Africa (eastern South Africa on the border with Lesotho.) and is the Tugela Falls with a height of 948 meters. It is made of 5 main steps, and the largest free fall of water is 411 meters. It is fed by the waters of the river of the same name (Tugela).
Tugela Falls landscape view
Source: Andynct; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Tugela_Falls_drop-off.jpg/450px-Tugela_Falls_drop-off.jpg
Oloʻupena Falls (also known as Oloupena Falls or Molokai Fall – the name of the island on which it occurs), located in Hawaii (USA), is the fourth highest waterfall in the world. It is 900 meters high. It is the tallest waterfall in Oceania.
Oloʻupena Falls known as Molokai Fall is the tallest waterfall in Oceania
Source: Jay; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oloʻupena_Falls#/media/File:Molokai_Waterfall.jpg
Vinnufossen (also known as Vinnufallet) in Norway (about 150 km southwest of Trondheim) is one of the tallest waterfall in Europe and the 6th highest waterfall in the world. It is 845-860 meters high (depending on source), and the largest free fall is 420 meters. It is fed by meltwater from the Vinnufonna mountain glacier. According to different sources it is 6th or 8th tallest waterfall in the world.
Source: Karl S. Bj.; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Vinnufossen%2C_Sunndal%2C_Norway_%28front%29.jpg/450px-Vinnufossen%2C_Sunndal%2C_Norway_%28front%29.jpg
Located in California, USA, Yosemite Falls is one of the highest waterfall in North America. It is 739 meters high and has a maximum free fall of 440 meters. It is fed by the waters of the Yosemite River. While there is a slightly taller Colonial Creek Falls (788 m), Yosemite is much better known to the public, and is 22th tallest waterfall in the world.
Source: Diliff; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Yosemite_Falls_from_trail%2C_Yosemite_NP%2C_CA%2C_US_-_Diliff.jpg/800px-Yosemite_Falls_from_trail%2C_Yosemite_NP%2C_CA%2C_US_-_Diliff.jpg
There are a few tall waterfalls in Asia. Some researchers consider the Kadamaian Falls in Malaysia to be probably 700 meters high, but due to difficult accessibility there is no exact data, but most known as one of the highest waterfalls in Asia is Jiao Lung Waterfall in Taiwan (height 600 meters), although there are discrepancies (some researchers consider the Kadamaian Waterfall in Malaysia to be probably 700 meters high, but due to difficult accessibility there is no exact data).
Kadamaian Falls view in Malaysia
Source: Oscark; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Waterfall_in_Kinabalu_park.jpg/800px-Waterfall_in_Kinabalu_park.jpg
View of Jiao Lung Waterfall in Taiwan
Source: Johnny.sj6135; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/%E8%BF%91%E8%A7%80%E8%B1%90%E5%B1%B1%E8%9B%9F%E9%BE%8D%E7%80%91%E5%B8%83…JPG/400px-%E8%BF%91%E8%A7%80%E8%B1%90%E5%B1%B1%E8%9B%9F%E9%BE%8D%E7%80%91%E5%B8%83…JPG
The widest waterfall in the world
Located in Asia on the border between Laos and Cambodia and fed by the waters of the Mekong River, the Khone Falls series is over 10.7 kilometres wide.
Khone Falls on Mekong river – Google Earth View
Source: Google Earth
One part of Khone Falls on Mekong river in Laos (Khone Phapheng Falls)
Source: Basile Morin; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khone_Phapheng_Falls#/media/File:Khone_Phapheng_Falls,_Si_Phan_Don,_Laos,_widest_waterfall_in_the_world.jpg
The waterfall with the largest sheet of falling water in the world
Although it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, thanks to the combination of the parameters of height (108 metres) and width (1.7 km), the Victoria Falls in Africa on the Zambezi River, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is producing largest sheet of falling water in the world.
Victoria Falls with the largest sheet of falling water in the world
Source: i_pinz; https://www.flickr.com/photos/i_pinz/1352528624
The waterfall is also known for its unusual natural conditions. The falling and foaming waters lead to the formation of clouds of water vapor (a rainbow is often formed here) and the sound made by the falling water can be heard from a distance of several kilometers. In front of the very edge of the waterfall there is a fairly shallow depression called the “Devil’s Pool” in Zambia, from which you can safely admire the power of the waterfall “from the inside”. This is an extraordinary tourist attraction.
Tourists in Devil’s Pool – Zambian part of Victoria Falls
Source: Restall; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Tourists_swimming_at_Victoria_Falls.jpg/800px-Tourists_swimming_at_Victoria_Falls.jpg
View of some tourists enjoying the extreme view from Devil’s Pool
Source: Joepyrek; https://www.flickr.com/photos/joepyrek/8300597797
Other very famous waterfalls
Although it might seem that for obvious reasons, Antarctica does not have classic waterfalls, some similar phenomena do occur. From the Taylor Glacier on the southeastern edge of the continent, strongly metallic and very salty water known as the Blood Falls flows.
Blood Falls in Antarctica in fact is not a waterfall but a similar phenomena
Source: National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Blood_Falls_by_Peter_Rejcek.jpg/800px-Blood_Falls_by_Peter_Rejcek.jpg
One of the most famous waterfalls in the world is undoubtedly the Niagara Falls on the Niagara River, on the border of the USA (New York State) and Canada (Ontario Province). It consists of two parts about a kilometer apart. One on the US side – called the “American” is 21 to 30 meters high depending on the location and 320 meters wide, the other on the Canadian side called the “Horseshoe” is 57 meters high and 790 meters wide). The waterfall is a huge tourist attraction, better conditions are on the Canadian side (a larger waterfall and a view of both parts. The waterfall is visited by almost 30 million tourists a year. In addition, the waterfall is used as a hydroelectric power plant, which provides electricity for about 160,000 households.
Niagara Falls landscape view (left – US part, right – Canadian part)
Source: Wladyslaw; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Niagara_Falls_-_ON_-_Niagaraf%C3%A4lle.jpg/800px-Niagara_Falls_-_ON_-_Niagaraf%C3%A4lle.jpg
Niagara Falls at Night (US Part) with a great view of lights
Source: Marcin Klapczynski; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Noc_Niagara_kolorowa_piana.jpg/800px-Noc_Niagara_kolorowa_piana.jpg
Canadian part of Niagara Falls – very popular tourist destination
Source: Helen Filatova; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Niagara-Falls-Horseshoe-Falls-view.jpg/759px-Niagara-Falls-Horseshoe-Falls-view.jpg
Another waterfall worth mentioning is Iguazú Falls (Iguazu), located on the Iguaçu River on the border of Brazil and Argentina (near the border with Paraguay). Water falls simultaneously from as many as 275 steps from a height of 60-82 meters and a total width of 2.7 kilometers. The waterfall is known primarily for its majestic view. On sunny days, rainbows also form here. In terms of the amount of water falling at once, it rivals the Victoria Falls.
View of Iguazu Falls – most famous waterfall in South America
Source: Enaldo Valadares; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_by_flow_rate#/media/File:Cataratas.jpg
Different view of Iguazu Falls
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