China The Pearl Shoal Waterfall is the most spectacular waterfall in China and one of the definitive sites of the Jiuzhaigou Forest (see separate entry). Located in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, it is part of the national park, and by extenstion a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and World Biosphere Reserve. Early peoples migrated to and lived in the Jiuzhaigou Valley long … [Read more...]
JOG FALLS
India Jog Falls is the second highest waterfall in India, but arguably the most spectacular waterfall in the Far East. Fed by the Sharavathi, one of India’s sacred rivers, and surrounded on all sides by lush, dense rainforest, it is one of the most beautiful and most visited natural sites in the Indian state of Karnataka. The area around the Jog Falls has been inhabited … [Read more...]
BOYOMA FALLS
Congo Boyoma Falls is Africa’s second best known waterfall, and though perhaps less impressive, is historically of similar importance. Formerly known as Stanley Falls, it consists of seven drops totaling 200 feet along a long stretch of the Lualaba River. It has been a very popular fishing spot for locals since long before the European era. The heart of the Congo Rainforest … [Read more...]
VICTORIA FALLS
Zambia/Zimbabwe Victoria Falls is, by some measures, the world’s largest waterfall (based on a combination of height and width). It is also one of the greatest natural wonders of the African continent. The falls are known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or ‘the smoke that thunders’. Over the last few decades, as more infrastructure has been added to the area, the number of annual … [Read more...]
OUZOUD FALLS
Morocco Ouzoud Falls are among the most beautiful in Africa and a highlight of any visit to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Located high in the mountains, where the scenery is green and lush, the falls are an oasis above the endless sands of the Sahara Desert. The Ouzoud Falls are possibly the most popular natural destination in Morocco. It is uncertain how long inhabitants … [Read more...]
RHINE FALLS
Switzerland The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Europe. It is also one of the youngest of the world’s major waterfalls, having been formed less than twenty thousand years ago. The falls are one of the great water features of Central Europe, and being close to the border with Germany, are considered an integral part of Germanic culture. The falls are not a … [Read more...]
GULLFOSS (GOLDEN FALLS)
Iceland The Gullfoss (Golden Falls in English) is arguably the most spectacular waterfall in Europe and possibly the finest located in a Subarctic setting. For much of the colder months of the year, the canyon into which the Gullfoss plunges is covered in massive ice formations, giving the waterfall a particularly spectacular setting. It is one of the sites of the ‘Golden … [Read more...]
KAITEUR FALLS
Guyana Kaiteur Falls (which possibly means the ‘Old Man’ Falls) is probably the least known of the world’s major waterfalls, but in magnificence is without a doubt one of the very best. It is the world’s widest single drop waterfall, with an immense flow and plunge that dwarfs almost all of its rivals. Located in Kaieteur National Park, it is considered to be Guyana’s … [Read more...]
IGUAZU FALLS
Argentina/Brazil Iguazu Falls (‘Big Water’), on the border of Argentina and Brazil, is considered by many to be the most spectacular waterfall in the world. Sprawling over a wide length of the Iguazu River, it actually consists of approximately 275 separate falls, the main site being at a location known as the Devil’s Throat. The site of the falls is split between Iguazu … [Read more...]
ANGEL FALLS
Venezuela Angel Falls is the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. It is named in honor of Jimmie Angel, an aviator who flew over the falls in the 1930s. Plunging off of Auyantepui Mountain, it has a direct vertical drop of over half a mile, and a further broken drop of another quarter of a mile. Located in Canaima National Park, it is one of the most popular … [Read more...]
