The noise of falling water and the rainbow in the spray of a waterfall catch the eye of even the most sophisticated tourist for a long time. Truly waterfalls are a unique natural phenomenon.
Water and stones of steep cliffs complement each other so harmoniously that you can admire the waterfall for hours, forgetting about the realities of the surrounding life. They have power and strength, beauty and perfection.
Waterfalls can be divided by the height of the water flying from the rocks and by the power of the falling flow. But, whatever the waterfall, seeing it, you will not forget its beauty and grandeur.
Angel (Venezuela)
Height: 979 meters
This waterfall in Venezuela is the highest waterfall on Earth. Its height is 979 meters. Truly such greatness and height are impressive.
It was opened to the whole world by the American pilot Jimmy Angel. Flying over Venezuela, he saw from a height a mountain, from which a string of a waterfall fell down. Jimmy and his three companions were looking for diamonds. The pilot landed the plane on a small platform near the waterfall, but the wheel burst during landing. 11 days adventurers were selected to people. The plane stood on a plateau at the waterfall for 33 years, until it was reached by helicopter.
Locals call Angel in the national dialect "Waterfall of the deepest place."
Tugela (South Africa)
Height: 948 meters
This waterfall, located in the Republic of South Africa, firmly occupies the 2nd place in the world in terms of the height of the falling water.
Tugela is a cascade of 5 waterfalls, the highest of which reaches a height of 411 meters. Two paths lead to the waterfall, and each tourist can choose whether he wants to look at the waterfall from the eastern peak of the Dragon Mountains or go along the second path to the foot of the waterfall. Choosing the lower path, you can see two magnificent gorges, over which suspension bridges are stretched, through which tourists go to the waterfall.
Winnufossen (Norway)
Height: 860 meters
Winnufossen Waterfall is the highest in Europe and ranks sixth highest in the world.
Water flows down the mountainside, so measuring the exact height is quite difficult. Scientists set the height of the waterfall in Norway from 420 to 860 meters.
If we take the free fall of water, as a classic parameter, then it is 420 meters. The top of the cliff completely opens the view of the falling flows of water, which at the foot is lost in the thickets of the dense northern forest.
Norwegian waterfall has a cascading structure and is beautiful when you look at it from a distant distance. Then a complete picture of the magnificent waterfall opens up before the tourists.
Hokta (Peru)
Height: 771 meters
Gokta closes the top five largest waterfalls in the world. It is located in Peru and its height is 771 meters.
For a long time only local Aborigines knew about the waterfall, and the world only found out about this water-rocky giant in 2005. In 2002, he was first seen by German researcher Stefan Zimendorff. Three years later he returned, described and measured the waterfall.
This large waterfall entered the natural catalogs under the name of the nearby Peruvian village - Gokta.
Yosemite (USA)
Height: 739 meters
Yosemite is, in fact, a national park in American California. 17 waterfalls are harmoniously located on the territory, but the most majestic and largest got its name from the name of the national park - Yosemite.
Yosemite Falls - one of the most powerful and highest in the world, its height is 739 meters. A waterfall behaves differently when changing seasons. In winter, it becomes quiet and, as it were, calms down. With the advent of spring, it begins to come to life and shows tourists all its power, noisily dropping water from a steep cliff.
Around the waterfall there are many rocks that are actively used by lovers of extreme types of recreation.
By the way, on thebiggest there is a very interesting article about tourist attractions in the United States, which are mandatory for visiting guests of this country.
Niagara Falls (USA, Canada)
Water consumption: 2.8 million liters per second
The waterfall on the Niagara River is powerful and one of the most popular in the world. From a height of 58 meters per second, 2.8 million liters of water constantly fall down.
In fact, this is a cascade of waterfalls on the river. The complex consists of two wide waterfalls “Horseshoe” and “Fata”.
Due to the piling up of stones, it is impossible to see the real height of Niagara Falls. But its power is impressive and thousands of tourists from all over the world come to look at the waterfall every day.
There is a version that the waterfall owes its name to the Iroquois tribe Ongiara. And of course, there is a legend in which a girl rushes into the water of a waterfall because of the cruelty of her father, who wanted to give her in marriage to an unloved person.
Iguazu (Argentina)
Water consumption: 1,500-6,000 m³ per second
The waterfall, located on the border of the two South American countries of Argentina and Brazil, occupies a leading position among the waterfalls in terms of power.
Iguazu is a chain of 275 waterfalls with a total length of 3 km. The height of the waterfalls ranges from 60 to 80 m. A complex of waterfalls formed about 20 thousand years ago.
The first European to see the waterfall in 1541, because of its U-shape, called it the “Devil's Throat”.
In 2011, UNESCO introduced the Iguazu Falls to the list of seven natural wonders of the world.
Sutherland (New Zealand)
Height: 580 meters
Sutherland Falls on South Island is not only one of the largest, but also rightfully can proudly bear the title of the most beautiful waterfall in the world.
In the mountains, a mountain lake is comfortably located, which Sutherland Falls flows from. Water from the bowl of the lake falls on stones from a height of 580 meters. The roar of the waterfall is heard for many kilometers from the Fiordland National Park in which it is located.
The island is almost always sunny, so tourists constantly observe the rainbow in the clouds of spray from the falling water.
Getting to the waterfall to watch a fabulous sight is quite difficult. Queenstown is the closest city to the park, where the waterfall is 450 km away.
Cayetur (Guyana)
Height: 226 meters
On the Potaro River in the tropical forests of Guyana, Cayetur Falls is located. The height of this miracle of nature is 226 meters. Kayetur is included in the complex of natural monuments of the national park of the same name.
The width of the waterfall is also one of the largest in the world - 105 meters. The volume of flowing water of the waterfall is 663 m³ per second. Cayetur is one of the most beautiful and impressive rare tourists for its splendor. Getting here is difficult enough, but this fact does not bother the true connoisseurs of natural beauty.
In 1870, a waterfall accidentally discovered by English geologist Charles Brown, who was looking for new minerals in the mountains of Venezuela.
Baatara (Lebanon)
Height: 225 meters
Even in ancient times, local residents called this waterfall, located in the mountains of Lebanon, "the abyss of three bridges." Nature truly acted as an inspired architect to create this waterfall.
Water that flows from a cliff from a height of 225 meters passes through three rings overhanging each other's bridges.
The best view of Ba'athar opens from the middle bridge. Being there, raising his head up, you can see the edge of the cliff, from which water rushes into the gorge, and looking down - you can see a small lake that receives falling water.
Dettifoss (Iceland)
Water consumption: up to 600 m³ / s
But Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
The waterfall, whose height is about 100 meters, is located on the territory of the Jökülsaurgluvure National Park. 193 cubic meters of water passes through the waterfall per second, and up to 600 m³ / s during flood periods on the Jökulsau au Födlum river.
This indicator makes the waterfall a leader in terms of power. Dettifoss is surrounded by magnificent cliffs and gorges, which also attracts tourists to this wonderful, almost fabulous place on planet Earth.
The waterfall even became the hero of the movie. It was shot by Ridley Scott in the movie Prometheus.
Victoria (South Africa)
Height: 119 meters
It is noteworthy that many waterfalls are located on the borders of two states. Victoria Falls, conveniently located on the border of African states - Zambia and Zimbabwe, is no exception.
The waterfall is almost 2 kilometers wide and 119 meters high. The giant waterfall is also called "Thundering Smoke." The rumble of falling water and the rising haze from the drops impressed the ancient hunters and gatherers who lived around so much that they gave him such a sonorous name.
But the whole world knows this waterfall under the name Victoria. Scottish explorer David Livingstone was struck by the beauty and splendor of a miracle of nature, which compared him to Queen Victoria.
Zhenzhutan (China)
Height: 100 meters
The waterfall in China is unique in its beauty. One common Zhenzhutan waterfall is formed by hundreds of smaller waterfalls.
There is almost no free fall of water. Water, washing rocks stones, is divided into thousands of small water pearls, which makes the waterfall the most beautiful in the world.
At the top of the cliff there is a threshold and water, hitting it, breaks down to the stones below the original hemisphere.
Zhenzhutan National Park has several waterfalls. For example, the Nozhiran waterfall, whose height is more than 100 meters, does not fall over the rocks, but over the green flooring of the mountain slope, winding between the trunks of willows growing on it.
Inga (Congo)
Height: 96 meters
Inga Falls is part of the Livingston Falls system, which explored the territories of the African continent. The complex consists of 32 waterfalls. In addition, the waterfall is included in the list of the largest waterfalls not only in Africa, but also in the world.
In total, the length of these waterfalls is 350 kilometers. From the very first to the last, the level of the Congo River is reduced by 270 meters. Inga Falls closes this cascade of the most beautiful natural phenomenon.
Kauai Island Waterfalls (Hawaii)
The structure of the island and natural conditions contributed to the formation of unique waterfalls. They are different in shape and size. Kauai island is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. His age is about 6 million years.
From the history of navigation, we know that this is the first island on which James Cook landed. The sailors of his expedition became the first Europeans to appreciate the beauty of Kauai waterfalls.
A magnificent view in the canyons of the island opens onto the cascading Wailua Falls waterfalls. A unique triple waterfall Opaekaa Falls formed in the mountains.
Some extreme tourists use the cascading waterfall to experience strong emotions, overcoming natural barriers on a kayak.
Roviyoki (Norway)
The waterfall near the Norwegian town of Šibotn attracts tourists, primarily because the observatory is located here. This observatory is the northernmost on earth.
Roviyoki Falls is also the northernmost waterfall on the planet, and is located in a picturesque corner of Norway. Falling water is surrounded by abundant greenery, bright representatives of the northern fauna.
Tourists are attracted to the waterfall not only by its beauty and magnificence of the surrounding nature, but also by clean air. Many come here to distract from the problems of the modern world, to feel like part of a great nature. This is exactly how the travel agencies position the Roviyoki Falls.
Salt del Laha (Chile)
Height: 35 meters
The relatively small Salt del Laha waterfall, only 35 meters high, attracts tourists with its beauty and history associated with the site of the Bio Bio province where the waterfall is located.
Around the waterfall, the Mapuche tribes lived. They used the waterfalls and adjacent cliffs to conduct magical rites and sacraments. For the Indians, these were sacred places, and at certain periods of time located on the territory of the waterfall was forbidden.
The most interesting rite conducted by the Indians was the rite of passage - the initiation of youths. A full-fledged man and a warrior of the tribe was only one who managed to cross the falls to the other side of the cliff. What happened to the young men who did not complete the task, the story is silent.
Rideau (Canada)
Translated from French, this waterfall is called the "curtain". This waterfall differs from its counterparts in that in winter the water in it freezes and forms a kind of ice curtains that curtained the rocks.
The name of the waterfall was given by the French explorer of the North Samuel de Champlain in 1613. When meeting with a waterfall, they reminded him of a curtain.
The waterfall gave the name to the river and many other, geographical and natural sites in Ottawa.
Rideau Waterfall is a complex of two waterfalls between which Green Island is located. Not far from the waterfall is the National Research Council of Canada.
To the piggy bank! Waterfalls are the most unique natural objects created by nature. But there are some more facts about waterfalls that will be interesting. In addition to waterfalls located in the mountains on the earth's surface, there are waterfalls that are hidden in the depths of the seas and oceans. Today, scientists have discovered 7 such waterfalls. In addition, they are much larger than their earthly relatives.
Danish Strait Waterfall
The waterfall in the Danish Strait is the largest waterfall in the deep sea. This waterfall separates the two large islands of Greenland and Iceland. In fact, we can say that this is the largest waterfall in the world, whose height is about 4000 meters. This is the deepest waterfall, both among sea and surface waterfalls. Every second, a Danish waterfall drops 5 million cubic meters of water from a height. And this is 350 times the volume of water that carries the most powerful surface waterfall in the world, located in Brazil.
This waterfall mixes the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, brought to this part of the ocean by the Gulf Stream, and the heavy waters of the Arctic Ocean. This led to the emergence of the largest underwater waterfall. The total area of the waterfall is about 200 km.
Similar underwater waterfalls, but of smaller sizes, are located in other parts of the World Ocean: at the equator, around the Antarctic and in the Strait of Gibraltar. The waterfalls of Antarctica are surprising in that the water of these waterfalls falls from the ice. If you want thebiggest.ru to publish an article about underwater waterfalls, write about it in the comments.
Conclusion
In the photo: Skogafoss waterfall. Iceland.
Humanity is evolving, and in the future, tourist excursions to underwater waterfalls will become as familiar as traveling to their brothers located on the surface of the earth's continents.
Posted by Valery Skiba