Waterfalls, rapids

Some of the most fascinating and awe inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls, or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.

Iguazu Falls in Argentina / Brazil. Photo by L.Galuzzi, CC-BY-SA-2.5.

Origins

Waterfalls and rapids or sections of rivers with steep beds have diverse origins.

Self-shaped falls

Many waterfalls, including the most powerful waterfalls of the world, are shaped by the stream itself. The power of the flowing water at a fault line or trench, gradually erodes the riverbed. Slowly, year by year it is carved deeper. As the threshold of the plunge recedes, it leaves behind a ravine. If the conditions are right, the waterfall will, over the time, become higher and higher.

Niagara Falls in Canada / United States. Photo by IDuke, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-2.5

Beautiful examples of such waterfalls are Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe), Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Niagara Falls (straddling the border between Canada and the United States).

Mountain falls

The highest waterfalls of world fall down along natural slopes, which are either shaped by tectonic processes or, for example by glaciers but not by the stream itself.

Kjosfossen in Norway. Photo by stigmj, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0

In many cases the slope is more or less oblique, i.e. not vertical or overhanging. Then the water is pouring down along the cliff. If such falls (rather, flows) are consequently measured, the Hymalayas or the Andeas could easily have the highest waterfalls in world. But in general, such steep flows are not considered to be true waterfalls. When the most impressive oblique falls with larger and smaller plunges in between, are measured, they often belong to the highest falls in world.

Yosemite Falls in California, United States. Photo by BorisFromStockdale, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0

Many of the most impressive waterfalls of the world are located in glacier shaped mountains, especially at the ends of hanging valleys: such waterfalls are located in Norway, Alps, British Columbia (Canada), New Zealand and elsewhere. Such waterfalls often have very high plunges or uninterrupted falls of water. For example, Yosemite Falls (California, United States) has a plunge of 436 metres.

Kukenaam Falls in Venezuela. Photo by J.Falcon, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

In the Guiana Highlands (South America) there are outstanding natural formations, the tepuis or table-top mountains, with extremely high abrupt sides. Here one can find the highest waterfall of the world the Salto Angel (Venezuela) which are 979 metres high. A major part of its height, 807 meters, constitutes one fantastic drop. In this area there are several more of the highest free-falling falls of the world, such as Roraima Falls (610 m) and Kukenaam Falls (674 m), both of which are in Venezuela.

 

Criteria

Khone Falls in Laos. Photo by
Californian Em, Flickr CC-BY-2.0

Waterfalls and rapids are any sections of rivers where the elevation is changing more or less abruptly. This allows for wide interpretations. Sometimes there are attempts to represent 10 kilometres long rapids as a single waterfall.

The minimum size of a waterfall (especially - height) is subject to the local traditions of each separate country. A 2 metre high waterfall is considered to be an attractive curiosity in lowland countries, while, for example, in Norway such falls in general are not much noticed.

This website includes outstanding waterfalls and rapids of the world: each of them well exceeds the minimum requirements of a true waterfall.

 

Some statistics

No single waterfall is the largest waterfall in the world, because no waterfall is greater in all dimensions at once.

Salto Angel in Venezuela.
DaVinzi, Flickr / CC-BY-2.0

The highest falls in the world are the Salto Angel in Bolivar, Venezuela. 979 metres high, their tallest single drop is 807 metres.

The widest falls in the world are the Khone Falls in Ban Hang Khone, Laos, where the Mekong River becomes 10.8 kilometres wide. Some data even gives a width of 14 kilometres to these falls.

Inga Falls in Congo. Photo by Alaindg, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0

The most powerful falls in the world are most likely the Inga Falls in Bas-Congo, Congo, but these are actually rapids. Before reaching its mouth the enormous Congo River leaps over 32 large rapids - Livingstone Falls and the largest ones of these are Inga Falls. River near these falls exceeds depth of 230m.

The largest curtain of falling water is created by Victoria Falls in Zambia/ Zimbabwe. The falls are 80 - 108 metres high and circa 1708 - 1737 metres wide the area of the water curtain covering up to 55 ha.

Gaping Ghyll with falls, United Kingdom.
J.Frost, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The kighest known free falling underground waterfall is the Gaping Ghyll in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The fall of Fell Beck stream is 105 - 110 metres high. It is very possible that there are higher underground falls.

Outstanding waterfalls

This list includes a selection of high, powerful, unusual and very beautiful waterfalls from around the world.

Europe

• Dettifoss - Iceland, Norðurland eystra. This is often considered to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, although at flood time the Rhine Falls (Switzerland) might be more powerful. It is 44 metres high and around 100 metres wide.
• Gaping Ghyll - United Kingdom, England, Yorkshire. The Fell Beck stream falls directly into Britain's largest cavern and is 105 - 110 meters high.
• 

  Gavarnie Falls, France.
  J.C.Benoist, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 3.0

  Grande Cascade de Gavarnie - France, Hautes-Pyrenees. 422 metres high, impressive falls. Its highest single drop is 281 metres. It is located in the impressive setting of an enormous glacial cirque.
• Gullfoss - Iceland, Suðurland. A beautiful, wide waterfall with two tiers placed at 90 degrees, with a total height of around 32 metres.
• Hraunfossar - Iceland, Vesturland. A very unusual, 900 metre wide waterfall, emerging from under a lava field and falling directly into the Hvítá river.
• Langfoss - Norway, Hordaland. A powerful, large river that cascades down a steep but not vertical, cliff with a height of 612 metres.
• Sotefossen - Norway, Hordaland. A waterfall of unusual beauty, with two steeply sliding tiers and a total height of 246 metres.

Asia

• 

  Bản Giốc Falls, Vietnam side.
  M.Williams, Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA-2.5

  Detian Falls and Bản Giốc Falls - China, Guangxi and Vientam, Cao Bang province. One of the most picturesque waterfalls, it is around 60 metres high and 200 metres wide.
• Hidden Falls - Tibet, Tsangpo Gorge. This very powerful fall is around 30 metres high and is located in one of the last explored areas on Earth. It was discovered in 1998.
• Khone Falls (Chutes de Khone) - Laos, Mekong river, Ban Hang Khone. At 10783 metres, this is the widest waterfall in world. The total height of the cascade is 21 metres.
• Nohkalikai Falls - India, Meghalaya. This is a beautiful 335 metre high plunge over a giant, overhanging cliff, almost directly into a lake.

Africa

• Augrabies Falls - South Africa, Cape of Good Hope province. The Orange River falls 56 metres into a deep gorge. During a flood, this becomes one of the most powerful falls in world.
• Cascades de Trou de Fer - Reunion Island, Cirque de Salazie. A 725 metres high falls in an impossible, dramatic location: one of the deepest and steepest cirques of the world, the Iron Hole.
• Inga Falls - Congo DR, Bas-Congo. These are some of the largest and most impressive rapids in world, on the Congo, one of the largest rivers of the world. They drop 96 meters over the course of 15 kilometres and form a part of Livingstone Falls (Chutes de Livingstone) consisting of 32 rapids over the distance of 340km, with a total drop of 260m.
• Jinbar Falls (Jinbar Falls) – Ethiopia, Amhara. Jin Bahir stream falls into giant, 800 m deep abyss in Simien Mountains. Falls are starting from deep canyon – thus their height is less than the depth of abyss but nevertheless - more than 500 m.
• Tugela Falls - South Africa, Kwazulu Natal. The second highest waterfall in world. With a total height of 948 metres and the largest single fall of 411 metres, and a river width of 15 metres.
• 

  Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
  B.Gillespie, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

  Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe, Matabeleland and Zambia, Southern State. Extremely powerful falls, these are 1737 metres wide and 107 metres high. They are some of the most impressive natural sights in world.

North America

• Francis Falls - Canada, British Columbia. A powerful, approximately 650 metre high waterfall, belonging to a larger group of very impressive waterfalls.
• Hidden Valley Falls - Belize, Cayo. More than 450 metres high, this waterfall is in a unique location. In the upper reaches of the waterfall there is a unique growth of fir, while down below there is a tropical jungle.
• Hunlen Falls - Canada, British Columbia. A very picturesque and impressive waterfall, which leaves the lake in a 26 metre wide stream and plunges 374 metres into a deep canyon.
• Niagara Falls - United States, New York and Canada, Ontario. The most popular waterfall in world is 51 metres high and 1203 metres wide. The shape of the waterfall and its proportions have become synonymous with the word "waterfall".
• Schwartzenbach Falls - Canada, Nunavut, Baffin Island. These 520 metre falls (tallest single drop - circa 200 metres) are special due to their location: they are possibly the most remote and the most northern large falls in world.
• 

  Takakkaw Falls, British Columbia in Canada.
  brilang, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

  Takakkaw Falls - Canada, British Columbia. These are very beautiful falls with a total height of 380 metres and the highest drop at 260 metres.
• Yosemite Falls - United States, California. These falls are 739 metres high, have 3 drops and are 28 metres wide. One of the most visited waterfalls in world.

South America

• Aponguao Falls (Salto Aponguao) - Venezuela, Bolivar. Very impressive, powerful waterfall, 106 metres high and approximately 200 metres wide.
• Aracá Falls - Brazil, Amazonas. A powerful, 365 m tall waterfall was discovered only recently, around the year 2000.
• Iguazu Falls (Salto de Iguaçu)- Argentina, Misiones and Brazil, Paraná. One of the most enormous and most impressive waterfalls of the world, they are "only" 82 metres tall, but 2 700 metres wide.
• Gocta Falls (Catarata Gocta) - Peru, Amazonas. A very high waterfall with a measured height of 771 metres, in two drops.
• 

  Kaieteur Falls, Guyana.
  sorenriise, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

  Kaieteur Falls - Guyana, Mazaruni-Potaro. A very powerful waterfall in a wonderful jungle setting, it is 226 metres tall and 113 metres wide.
• Kukenaam Falls (Cuquenan Falls) - Venezuela, Bolivar. With 674 metres in height and 61 metres in width plunging from the rim of a tepui, this fall is similar in many respects to the highest falls in world - the Salto Angel.
• Pará Falls (Salto Pará) - Venezuela, Bolivar. The widest waterfall in South America, it is 5.6 kilometres wide and 64 metres high.
• Roraima Falls (Salto Roraima) - Venezuela, Bolivar. This waterfall is 610 metres high and 23 metres wide, falling from the high wall of a tepui.
• Salto Angel (Salto Angel) - Venezuela, Bolivar. This is the tallest and one of most spectacular waterfalls in world, with a total height of 979 metres. It has the highest single drop (807 metres) in the world.
• Salto Oshi - Guyana, Mazaruni-Potaro. A very powerful and visually impressive waterfall at 160 metres in height and around 30 metres in width.
• Tres Hermanas Falls (Cataratas las Tres Hermanas) - Peru, Ayacucho. This 12 metres wide stream has a total height of 914 metres in 5 drops.
• Ventisquero Colgante Falls - Chile, Aisén. One of the highest waterfalls in Chile and possibly - one of the most beautiful waterfalls worldwide. Water originates from the base of Ventisquero Colgante glacier and falls more than 350 m high in a single plunge as approximately 30 m wide stream. This is rare sight, as above this giant waterfall is towering a wall of blue glacier. Several smaller falls around are even higher.

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Oceania

• Olo'upena Falls - United States, Hawaii, Moloka'i. At 900 metres in height, this is an amazing seasonal waterfall falling directly into ocean.
• Sutherland Falls - New Zealand, Southland. This beautiful 580 metre high waterfall starts directly from the glacier-fed Lake Quill and falls in three drops.
• Vaipo Falls (Falls in Kings Valley, Haka Falls, Ahuii Falls) – French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva, Hakaui Valley. Approximately 350 m tall waterfall in dramatic, impressive valley.