Description
Gouina Falls have formed on the mighty Senegal River. Water here falls over the step of hard Precambrian sandstone forming some 15 – 16 m tall and approximately 500 m wide waterfall.
During the rainy season these falls become very powerful – up to 2430 m³ of water every second (or even 5000 m³/s) what is comparable with the most powerful falls in the world, but during the dry season the volume falls hundreds of times to meagre 12 – 13 cubic metres per second. Thus the other nickname of falls – "Niagara falls of Mali" – are justified to some extent.
Above the falls in several places have formed large potholes – up to 2 m deep and 2 by 2 m large voids, which become visible during the dry season.

Most images of this waterfall are taken in dry season, when the dirt roads allow to access this remote waterfall. In rainy periods this waterfall becomes almost inaccessible by car.
Hydroelectric plant
Currently (in the early 2016) next to the falls is ongoing construction of Gouina Hydroelectric Plant – the possibility of this plant was explored already in 1921-1922 (1). Unfortunately this plant will take away much of the power of this waterfall, leaving the rim of the falls almost dry – just as it happened to the similar Félou Falls downstreams.
References
- Y.Chaineau, L’usine hydro-electrique du Felou – La chute de Gouina. La Houille Blanche, Mars-Avril 1929. Visited in 4th January 2016.
Gouina Falls on the map
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Location, GPS coordinates: | 14.0151 N 11.1025 E |
Categories: | Waterfalls |
Values: | Geology |
Rating: | ![]() |
Where is located? | Africa, Mali, western part of Kayes district, some 57 km (by road) west from Bafoulabé |
Name in French: | Chutes de Gouina |
Alternate names: | Diamo Falls (after the nearby village), "singing falls" |
Height: | 16 m |
Drops: | 1 |
Tallest drop: | 15 – 16 m |
Width: | ˜ 500 m |
Average annual flow: | ˜ 12 – 13 m³/s in dry season and up to 2430 m³/s in the rainy season |
Stream: | Sénégal River |
Landmarks of Mali

Waterfalls and rapids

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