The highest waterfalls in the world. Angel - the highest waterfall in the world Waterfalls by height

What is the tallest waterfall in the world? The highest waterfalls in the world.
Top 10 highest waterfalls in the world:

  1. Angel Falls or Kerepakupai Meru, Venezuela (Angel Falls, Venezuela) - 979 (1054) m.,
  2. Tugela Falls, South Africa - 948 m.
  3. Three Sisters Falls, Cataratas las Tres Hermanas, Peru - 914 m.
  4. Olo'upena Falls, United States - 900 m.
  5. Umbilla Falls, Peru - 895.4 m.
  6. Vinnufossen Waterfall, Norway - 860 m.
  7. Balaifossen Waterfall, Norway (Balaifossen, Norway) - 850 m.
  8. Pu'uka'oku Falls, USA, Hawaii (Pu'uka'oku, United States) - 840 m.
  9. James Bruce Falls, Canada - 840 m.
  10. Browne Falls, New Zealand - 836 m.

Countries with the highest waterfalls in the world

If you select the highest waterfalls in the world (10 above 800 meters), then it is easy to count the countries that hold the record for the number of gigantic highest waterfalls on their territory. The leader is Norway, in which four tallest waterfalls in the world, all of which are above 800 meters: Vinnufossen (860 m), Balaifossen (850 m), Strupenfossen (820 m), Utygard (818 m). 2/3 of Norway's territory is located at an altitude of more than 500 meters above sea level. In terms of the total height of the world's highest waterfalls, small Norway has surpassed one of the largest countries in the world, the USA. IN THE USA 4 tallest waterfalls in the world: Oloupena (900 m), Puukaoku (840 m), Waihilau (792 m), Colonial Creek (788 m). Geologically, the United States has been greatly helped by its distant state of Hawaii, which has three of the highest waterfalls in the United States on the slopes of volcanoes. In a small country, Peru is located two of the tallest waterfalls in the world: “Three Sisters” (914 m), Yumbilla (895.4 m).

  1. Norway: 4 of the world's highest waterfalls, totaling 3348 meters.
  2. USA: 4 highest waterfalls in the world, only 3320 meters.
  3. Peru: The 2 highest waterfalls in the world, only 1810 meters.

The highest waterfall in the world - No. 1 Angel, Venezuela

What is the tallest waterfall in the world? The highest waterfall in the world - Kerepakupai-meru or Angel was discovered in 1933 in Venezuela by the American pilot James Angel. He flew in the tropical forests of Venezuela in search of either ore or diamonds. In 1937, James Angel wanted to land a plane on the Auyantepuy plateau (the peak of Mount Auyantepuy), where pieces of quartz sparkled, which from afar he mistook for the shine of diamonds. During landing, the plane was damaged, the landing gear burst and the pilot, his wife Marie and two companions spent 11 days going down. Their difficult journey made the world's largest waterfall famous.

Angel Falls ( Salto ?ngel in Spanish ) was named after him, which is how the name Angel is pronounced in Spanish ( Angel in English). In 1994, the world's tallest Angel Falls was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the Canaima National Park, where it is located. Recently, under the pretext of fighting cosmopolitanism, the world's highest Angel Falls was renamed Kerepakupai-meru ( Kerepakupai-mer?). Kerepakupai-meru is one of its local Indian names. So in 2009, Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias took revenge on the Americans. Indeed, back in 1912, Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz, who explored Venezuela, mentioned this waterfall, although he did not officially publish its discovery.

All of the world's tallest waterfalls are topped by Angel Falls, which is renowned for its beauty. The water of the world's largest waterfall begins its fall directly from the clouds, because its height is 979 meters (in 1949, today other data is 1054 m), that is, a kilometer. It is fed by the waters of the Carro River (a tributary of the Carroni River). Free-falling water flows from the largest mountain in Venezuela, Auyantepui (“Devil’s Mountain”). Because the mountainside is made of soft red sandstone, the river has cut it and the water falls from crevices 50 meters below the edge of Mount Auyantepui. And the water completes its fall into the Kerep River, breaking into a tiny fog that lasts for several kilometers around.

Is it worth seeing the world's tallest waterfall?


For those wondering whether to visit Angel Falls, all I can say is “the tallest waterfall in the world”! When you look at this miracle of nature, you understand how small a bug a person is in comparison with the power of gravity. Being near the majestic Venezuelan Angel Falls, you understand that your life, your descendants, will end, and the water of this waterfall will also rush down madly, regardless of the progress of mankind, war and destruction.

The world's highest Angel Falls is free to visit by tourists and is one of the main attractions of Venezuela. Angel Falls is located in a wild area and you first need to take a scheduled plane to get to it. You can enjoy the beauty of the world's largest Angel Falls from below, arriving along the river, using the services of numerous guides. And you can see the world's highest waterfall from a bird's eye view on a sightseeing helicopter. This sight literally takes your breath away, you won’t regret it!

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 2 Tugela Falls (South Africa)

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 2 Tugela Falls South Africa

The second highest waterfall in the world is the waterfall Tugela 914 meters high on the eastern cliff of the Drakensberg Mountains. Drakensberg translated from German means “dragon mountain”, it is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The waters that give strength to the waterfall are the purest and you can drink them. The total length of the Tugela River, which gives power to the world's second highest waterfall, is 512 km. Its source is just a few kilometers from the Tugela Falls. The cliff at the source of Tugela Falls in winter (our summer) is often covered with snow, and the waterfall itself can turn into ice. Unlike other tallest waterfalls in the world, Tugela Falls has five stages, which looks very unusual and attractive up close. The highest cascade is 411 meters high.

Second in height only to the world's largest Angel Falls, Tugela Falls looks beautiful at any time of the year and in any weather, even glistening in the sun. It is best to watch it after heavy rain, when the 15-meter stream becomes more noticeable and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. There are two main routes available to tourists. The first is shorter and takes 5 hours on foot: from the parking lot with a short climb to the top and further along two suspension bridges. The second route begins with a seven-kilometer climb up the gorge, then a suspension bridge will lead curious tourists to the foot of the world's second highest waterfall.

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 3 Three Sisters Falls in Peru

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 3 Three Sisters Falls in Peru

The third highest of the "Top 10: The World's Tallest Waterfalls" is named "Three sisters" (Three Sisters Fall) due to its unusual construction. The third highest waterfall in the world, "Three Sisters" (in Spanish) Cataratas las Tres Hermanas) hid deep in the dense forests of a small country. The Ayacucho region in Peru can boast of its presence. The Three Sisters waterfall was hidden from civilization for a long time. World science has only recently been enriched with information about this highest waterfall in Peru. The photographers discovered it as a group when they were doing a photo shoot of another Peruvian waterfall - Catarata, which is located nearby and three times lower (267 meters high). The waterfall flow consists of three separate tiers, with a total height of 914 meters. Moreover, two of them (the upper ones) are visible only from the air, and the lower one, the third one, splashes out into a huge pool, hidden among 30-meter tall trees.

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 4 Olopena, Hawaii

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 4 Olopena Falls in the USA

Waterfall Olopena (Olo'upena Falls in English) is the tallest waterfall in the United States and the fourth tallest waterfall in the world. Olopena Volcano is located on the northern coast of Malokai Island ( Moloka'i). A 900 meter high waterfall flows down the almost vertical slope of Mount Haloku ( Haloku), although water usually flies freely from a height. Olopena waterfall was hidden from people for a long time, because... lies within an isolated volcanic island mountain range and is surrounded by high mountains. Even now, when Olopena Falls is widely known among tourists, it is more convenient to get to it by helicopter. Until now, the Olopena waterfall is inaccessible to hikers. Except by air, it can only be approached from the sea, where it directs its waters.

The best time for tourists to visit Olopena Falls is from November to March during the rainy season. One of the world's highest waterfalls, Oloupena is available for guided tours from boats, yachts and helicopters. Numerous tourists are treated to a breathtaking spectacle of water smoothly flowing into the sea along a vertical wall. And tourists in windy weather see another phenomenon: the waters of the Olopena waterfall literally fly up, lifted into the air by the pressure of the air flow. Just 500 meters away is the eighth highest waterfall in the world: Puukaoku Falls, which is only 60 meters lower. And even closer, 300 meters away: the Haloku waterfall, 700 meters high.

Fake photos of Olopena Falls.

World's Tallest Waterfalls: Wrong Photo of Olopena Falls, Actually Papalaua Falls!

Very often photographs are published on the Internet called Olopena Falls, showing a picturesque valley with streams of waterfalls surrounded on three sides by mountains. This photo is not from Olopena Falls, but rather from the picturesque Papalua Falls ( Papalaua Falls) with a height of only 500 meters. The real Oloupena waterfall pours down the outside of the mountain directly into the sea.

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 5 Umbilla, Peru

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 5 Umbilla, Peru

The second highest waterfall in Peru and the fifth highest in the world Yumbilla(Umbilla, in English Yumbilla, and in the language of the Quechua Indians Yumbillo). Umbilla Falls is located in the Selva region of Peru. The height of the waterfall is 870 meters. However, the Peruvian National Geographic Institute insists on the figure - 895.4 meters. The flow of water from one of the world's largest waterfalls begins from underground. Its source: the cave of San Francisco, the length of the studied part of which is about 250 meters.

This waterfall is a multi-level system with four major drops. True, many photographers were able to capture 5 cascades of Umbilla Falls. Yumbilla is being considered by the Peruvian government as one of the sites that will be included in a two-day excursion to the largest waterfalls in this country. While the excursions are accompanied by unofficial guides, they provide the pleasure of visiting the wild with fantastic views. Within a 7-mile radius of Umbilla Falls is another waterfall, Gocta, which is 771 meters high.

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 6 Vinnufossen, Norway

The highest waterfall in Norway and Europe, Vinnufossen

The highest waterfall in Norway and Europe Vinnufossen is located on the Vinnu River, which determined its name (in Norwegian Vinnufossen means waterfall on the Vinnu River). The Vinnufossen waterfall is located near the village of Sunndalsøra (to the east of it). The total height of the highest waterfall in Europe is 860 meters. Vinnufossen waterfall has several levels. The source of water supply for the Vinnufossen waterfall is the Vinnufon glacier ( Vinnufonna). This glacier gives rise to the Vinnu River, which flows down Mount Vinnufielle ( Vinnufjellet) in the form of the Vinnufossen waterfall. It is interesting that in modern Norwegian there is no word Vinnu, which is included in the names of the glacier, mountain, river and waterfall. Linguists are inclined to believe that the word vinnu comes from the old Scandinavian word work. In modern Norwegian, work means arbeid.

The highest free fall of water from the largest waterfall in Norway and Europe, Vinnufossen, is 420 meters. Further on, the waters of the Vinny flow into the Driva River ( Driva). Tourists prefer the more famous and spectacular Mardalsfossen waterfall ( Mardalsfossen), which is 200 meters lower, but deeper. It is a classic waterfall flowing into a U-shaped valley to form Lake Eikesdalsvotn ( Eikesdalsvatn).

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 7 Balaifossen, Norway

The highest waterfalls in the world: No. 7 Balifossen Falls

Norway's second highest waterfall Balaifossen (Balai Fossen, Balaifossen Falls) is located near the Osafjord fjord ( Osafjord or Osafjorden) in the municipality of Ulvik ( Ulvik) in Huralan county ( Hordaland). The Balaifossen waterfall is 850 meters high and consists of 3 cascades with the highest being 452 meters high. The source of water supply for the Balaifossen waterfall is the Bala stream, replenished with meltwater. At the edge of the valley, where the waters of the mountain waterfall Balaifossen descend, the town of Osa was founded. A normal stream of up to 6 meters wide in a warmer than usual year can turn into a sluggish trickle, exposing the rocky bed of one of the tallest waterfalls on the planet.

Balaifossen waterfall is not favored by tourists because of its low water flow, which can practically stop on the hottest days. During the warmer months, the narrow cascade of Norway's second-highest waterfall, Balaifossen, turns into an imperceptible trickle. The changing nature of Balaifossen waterfall is due to its weak source. The waterfall is filled with melting snow from the surrounding high mountains. Consequently, the appearance, flow rate and overall impression of the Balaifossen waterfall are not constant and change from season to season, from year to year. Visit this waterfall in July and you can spend your trip looking at the dry rock bed of the huge waterfall. The existence of one of Europe's highest waterfalls is alarmingly dependent on a warming climate. A systematic decrease in snow cover below the level necessary to replenish the waterfall by the autumn months can lead to its complete disappearance.

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 8 Puukaoku, USA

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 8 Puukaoku, USA

Waterfall Puukaoku (Pu'uka'oku) at 840 meters (2,756 feet) is not the tallest waterfall in the world, but is ranked among the ten tallest waterfalls in the world at number 8. Puukaoku Falls is a natural wonder on the volcanic Hawaiian island of Molokai ( Moloka'i). This island is interesting because it has 12 (!) waterfalls, two of which are in the Top 10: The highest waterfalls in the world. The tallest waterfall on the island of Molokai, Olopena is the first tallest in the United States and the fourth tallest in the world. The smallest waterfall is Haha on this small island, only 240 meters high. The water of Puukaoku Falls does not fall freely, but flows evenly along slopes located almost vertically. The waterfall is rarely photographed because the slopes around it are inaccessible to people. The densely growing thickets hinder climbers and do not adhere tightly enough to the loose volcanic soil to support the weight of a person and equipment.

The falls can be observed from the sea by taking advantage of boat excursions offered by numerous tour companies. You can get so close to the waterfall that you will be immersed in the fog from the water falling from this delightful natural monument. Helicopter excursions offer an even more impressive sight. During strong winds, the water of Puukaoku Falls does not reach the ocean, but rises up. This spectacle is missed by many tourists, who can only observe Puukaoku Falls from boats and helicopters. Traveling on them is too dangerous in this weather.

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 9 James Bruce, Canada

Tallest waterfalls in the world: Tallest in North America James Bruce, Canada

The tallest waterfall in Canada and North America is the Falls James Bruce (James Bruce Falls) 840 meters (2,755 ft) high. James Bruce Falls, number 9 in the world's top ten tallest waterfalls, is just one foot (31 centimeters) lower than Hawaii's Puukaoku Falls. The waterfall is named after the great traveler, the Scot James Bruce, who was the first to find the sources of the Blue Nile. James Bruce Falls is located in Canada. In British Columbia, James Bruce Falls is a top viewer in Princess Louise Marine Provincial Park. The small width of the waterfall (only 5 meters) is explained by the fact that, like all the highest waterfalls in the world, it is formed by melt water. The largest waterfall in North America is fed by snow on a high plateau clearly visible in the photo.

All the highest waterfalls in the world are very similar to each other. however, James Bruce differs from most of them in that he has not one, but two parallel origins. Due to the fact that one of them is created by a lower-lying and weaker glacier, its stream is weaker and dries up in the summer. James Bruce Falls is also distinguished by the fact that it constantly twists and turns its direction among rocky mountain faults. The source of water supply for James Bruce Falls is small in terms of the overall catchment area, but it is located at an altitude of almost two kilometers, so the total flow does not vary much, depending on seasonal changes.

James Bruce Falls is most suitable for tourists to visit in rainy winter or autumn; it looks the most full of water. It is difficult to see it entirely from the lower part, where tourists usually sail by boat. It is more convenient to view and photograph James Bruce Falls from the nearby hills. in addition, here in the Princess Louise Park, tourists can see more than a dozen lower waterfalls. Of course, even this cannot attract as many tourists as come to see Canada’s most famous waterfall on the Niagara River. Niagara Falls is visited by 25 million people annually.

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 10 Brown, New Zealand

Tallest waterfalls in the world: No. 10 Brown, New Zealand

New Zealand's tallest waterfall Brown (Browne Falls) was discovered on South Island by Victor Carlile Brown in 1940. The discovery of the tenth largest waterfall in the world occurred during aerial photography and immortalized the ordinary pilot. Today this waterfall is part of Fiordland National Park, located on the South Island, New Zealand. The source of Brown Falls is a small mountain lake (by the way, also discovered by Brown and named after him) in the southern part of the island. The waterfall itself is surrounded by a subtropical evergreen forest, consisting mainly of kauri trees 50 meters high and 6 meters wide. The width of the waterfall is 12 meters. It is not surprising that the spillway of this powerful waterfall reaches up to 14 cubic meters of water per second. But this is in those months when its filling with water is maximum. And the usual water flow is about 3 cubic meters per second. The waters of New Zealand's largest waterfall calm in the fjord of Arm Bay.

Brown Falls is the only one of the ten tallest waterfalls in the world that is formed by a mountain lake, and not by melting glaciers, snow or streams. This is what determines the largest overhang among tall waterfalls. The water falling from Brown Falls flies vertically 836 meters, and horizontally as much as 1130! The pressure of water from Brown Mountain Lake allows the water not to fall at an angle close to 90 degrees, but to fly forward at a forty-two degree angle. The features of the mountain range are such that Brown Falls is a single-cascade. The highest drop of Brown Falls is 244 m long.

Among all the wonders given to man by nature, waterfalls are perhaps the most popular. Their beauty fascinates tourists, and their power inspires admiration. Below is a list of the ten fastest, most powerful waterfalls in the world, including those that have been destroyed by man.

Victoria is a waterfall on the Zambezi River, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is considered one of the largest geographical landmarks in Africa. It was discovered in 1855 by Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone. The width of the waterfall is approximately 1,800 meters, height - 128 meters. Average water consumption is 1,088 m³/s.


Iguazu is a cascade of waterfalls located on the Iguazu River on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná (in the Southern region of Brazil) and the Argentine province of Misiones. It was discovered for Europeans in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Don Alvaro Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, who arrived in the American jungle in search of gold. Interestingly, approximately once every forty years during a drought, Iguazu dries out completely. It is one of the most visited tourist sites in South America. More than 700,000 tourists try it every year. Depending on the state of the water in the river, the number of waterfalls ranges from 150 to 300, and their height ranges from 40 to 82 m. The average water flow is approx. 1,500 m³/s, and in different seasons varies from 500 to 6,500 m³/s.


Urubupunga is a waterfall on the Paraná River on the border of the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. It had a width of 2,012 meters, a height of 13 m (in a cascade of two rapids), the water consumption was 2,747 cubic meters per second. Unfortunately, it was flooded due to rising river levels as a result of the construction of the Sousa Díaz hydroelectric power station, which at one time was the largest hydroelectric power station in Brazil.

Paulo Afonso


Paulo Afonso is a series of rapids and three waterfalls in northeastern Brazil, on the São Francisco River. It has a height of 84 m and an average width of 18 m. Although the water here no longer falls freely from a great height, since the hydroelectric power station and dam have blocked the river, it can however be seen again during floods, when the additional flow of the dam is opened. Before this, the waterfall on average flowed about 3,000 m³ of water per second, the maximum flow rate was 14,158 m³/s.


Niagara Falls is a group of large waterfalls on the Niagara River in eastern North America, on the border between the United States and Canada. Famous for its beauty. Its maximum height is 53 m, width - 790 m (Horseshoe Falls). In terms of the volume of water passing through it, it is the most powerful in North America: more than 3,160 tons of water per second, during periods of greatest activity 5,720 m³/s. was first discovered to Europeans by the Belgian missionary and traveler Louis Enpen in 1677.


Para is a waterfall located on the Caura River in South America, in the state of Bolivar, in the tropical, inaccessible forests of Venezuela. The water here falls in seven cascades from a height of 64 meters (according to other sources - 60 m). The width of the waterfall is 5,608 m, it drops every second 3,540 m³ water, during the flood period the water flow can reach up to 11,327 m³/s.


Selille is a ruined waterfall on the Columbia River in North America, on the border of the states of Oregon and Washington (USA). Selil Falls, which existed until 1957 on the lower Columbia River, was a regular fishing spot for local tribes until the construction of the 79-meter Dallas Dam. With a small height, only about 6 meters, it was one of the fastest waterfalls that ever existed on Earth, with an average annual water flow 5,366 m³/s, during floods the flow rate could reach 11,300 m³/s.


Khon is a waterfall in southeast Asia on the Mekong River, in the extreme south of Laos. The total height of the water fall here is 21 meters, the length of the cascades is 9.7 km. The waterfall consists of several thousand islands and countless water branches and channels. Its average width is 10,783 m, maximum - 12,954 m. According to this indicator, it is considered the widest in the world. On average he resets every second 11,610 m³ water, and during the period of maximum water level in the river, the flow rate can reach 49,554 m³/s. It was discovered in 1920 by researcher E. Khokhan.


Guaira is a once-existing waterfall on the Parana River on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, west of the Brazilian city of Guaira. It included 18 cascades with a total height of 114 m. The waterfall was one of the largest in the world in terms of water flow - 13,309 m³/s. The cascading water created a deafening noise that could be heard 30 km away. It was also considered an important tourism center for many years, but ceased to exist in 1982 when it was blown up to flood the Itaipu Dam reservoir. It is interesting that before his final “death” he managed to take revenge on humanity and took with him 82 tourists who expressed a desire to say goodbye to him. Guaira tore down the suspension bridge on which they stood and pulled them into the watery abyss.


Stanley or Boyoma Falls is a waterfall in Central Africa, on the Lualaba River, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a series of seven waterfalls (thresholds), with a total height of 61 m, a width of 1,372 m, and a length of up to 100 km. On average, he misses every second 16,990 m³ water, and during the flood period, water flow can reach up to 51,933 m³/s. It was named after the discoverer, famous British journalist and outstanding traveler and explorer of Africa Henry Morton Stanley.

You can watch the flow of water endlessly, but what if it falls from the highest height ever recorded on our planet? Here are the 10 highest waterfalls in the world.

Angel Falls - the highest in the world

There is an opinion that Tugela is higher than Angel and the latest calculations are incorrect, but there is no conclusive evidence yet; such calculations are very difficult to carry out. You can get to the attraction in 2 ways, the first will lead to the foot, and the second to the top.

Three sisters

The third highest waterfall is in Peru. Found by a group of tourists relatively recently. It got its name because of its natural features - three separate tiers, 914 meters high.


Olopena

The fourth waterfall in the world and the highest waterfall in the USA is Olopena, 900 meters. Located near the volcano of the same name, among high mountains. It is impossible for a hiker to get here, well, except for a rock climber in full equipment.


However, you can fly by plane or sail across the sea into which the Olopena flows. It's worth it, as within 500 meters there are another of the world's highest waterfalls, Puukaoku (8th place) and Haloku, which is in the top 30.

Umbilla


According to various sources, Umbilla is 870 or 895 meters high, but in any case this is the top 5. An interesting feature of Umbilla is its origin in the cave of the same name. There are 5 cascades in the stream, one of which looks like a heart. Hence the name, which translated means “heartfelt love”.

Vinnufossen

The highest in Norway, Europe and 6th in the world is Vinnufossen, 860 meters. Here, by the way, that’s what everything is called. The glacier that provides water to the object is Winnufon, and the river is Winna. Only in the Norwegian language there is no such word at all. The origin of the name is not known for certain; most likely, it is from ancient Scandinavian.


Balaifossen

The seventh one on the list of leaders is not without reason similar in name to the previous one, since it is also located in Norway. Balaifossen has an altitude of 850 meters. The glacier also provides it with water, and every year there is less and less of it, which also affects the flow of tourists. Perhaps soon the attraction will disappear altogether, leaving a bare, dry cliff.


Puukaoku

The second in the USA and 8th in the world has a height of 840 m and is located in Hawaii. Getting to it is also not easy, but many travel agencies will be happy to provide you with a boat or yacht for this, but not for free, of course. Puukaoku is more like a water slide, since the water here rolls evenly down the slope.

Any person who has been to a waterfall at least once is sure that this natural phenomenon is one of the most stunning spectacles.


Even small streams evoke a feeling of delight, what can we say about giant streams. What is the largest waterfall in the world? It is quite difficult to give a definite answer, since the waterfall can be the tallest, widest or with the largest volume of water. In this rating, we will consider the waterfalls that have the greatest width and deepest water.

1. Khon

In terms of size, Khon ranks first in the world. The waters of the Mekong River, cascading from heights of up to 21 meters, cover thousands of islets and countless channels.

Wikimedia Commons/PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ ()
The total width of the waterfall system is 9.7 km, and the volume of water reaches record numbers - 49,000 m³ per second. The waterfall is located in the Champasak province of Laos and is called “4000 Islands” among locals.

2. Kongu

Kongou Falls are located in eastern Gabon on the Ivindo River and are a series of cascades 3.15 km wide. Every second they carry up to 900 m³ of water, and the maximum height of their flows reaches 56 meters.

Wikimedia Commons/Lengai101()
Many tourists consider this place to be one of the most beautiful in Central Africa, since the waterfall is surrounded on all sides by lush green jungle.

3. Iguazu

Iguazu is not only one of the widest, but also the most powerful in the world. You can see it in South America, on the border of the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentine province of Misiones.

Wikimedia Commons/Wilson r vieira ()
Iguazu is a cascading complex 2.7 km wide and consists of 275 individual waterfalls up to 82 meters high. The water flow in its channels is 6,000 m³/s. For its beauty, in 2011 it was included in the list of 7 natural wonders of the world.

4. Mokona

Mocona Falls, located in northeastern Argentina, extends 2,743 km into the upper reaches of the Uruguay River and is considered one of the most stunning in the world.

Wikimedia Commons/Skyfoto-Marcos Alexandre ()
Its streams, rolling down 11-meter cliffs, form an arc, under which a multi-colored rainbow constantly shines. It differs from other waterfalls in that it is located not along the river bed, but across it.

5. Victoria

Victoria is one of South Africa's premier natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the only one in the world with a width of over 1 km and a height of more than 100 meters. If you give exact numbers, then its width is 1800 meters, and its height varies in different areas from 80 to 108 meters.

Wikimedia Commons/LBM1948()
Typically, about 1088 m³ of water per second falls along the Victoria Cascades, but during the rainy season the flow power reaches enormous levels.

6. Stanley

On the Lualaba River in the African Congo there is a series of picturesque waterfalls named after their discoverer, journalist Henry Stanley.

Wikimedia Commons/Foto Ad Meskens ()
In total, the complex includes 7 water streams with a width of 1.35 km. Although it is quite deep and throws down up to 17,000 m³ of water every second, its height reaches only about 5 meters.

7. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is one of the most popular in North America. It is located in the Canadian province of Ontario, on the Niagara River, and has a width of 1200 meters. The waterfall complex includes three streams - American, Horseshoe and Veil.

Wikimedia Commons/isol()
The widest is considered to be the Horseshoe, stretching across the river bed for 792 meters. The total width of Niagara Falls reaches 1200 meters.

8. Livingston

Livingstone is a whole group of waterfalls, rapids and rapids up to 800 meters wide, located in the lower reaches of the Congo River. There are a total of 32 streams with a maximum height of 270 meters.

Wikimedia Commons / I, Alaindg ()
Livingston consumes 42,000 m³ of water every second, making it one of the deepest waterfalls in the world.

9. Gersoppa

In terms of the volume of water transferred, Gersoppa ranks second among the waterfalls in India, and in terms of height it is among the ten highest streams in the world. Its picturesque water system is located on the Sharavati River and includes four cascades with a total width of 472 meters.

Wikimedia Commons/Vinodtiwari2608 ()
At a speed of 153 m³ per second, Gersoppa rushes into a huge abyss 253 meters high, and then splits into several small branches.

10. Dettifos

Dettifos is considered the most powerful in Europe. Located on the Jökulsau au Fjödlum river in northeast Iceland, it rushes its waters from a height of 44 meters.

Wikimedia Commons/Peter Heuveling ()
The total width of the waterfall is quite small - about 100 meters, but the water flow sometimes reaches 500 m³ per second.

the site provides an overview of the highest waterfalls in the world. Waterfalls in a simplified form are divided into two types: cascading and free fall. The first are a series (cascade) of small waterfalls following each other, or rocks flowing down the slope at a large angle. Free-fall waterfalls are the classic waterfalls that we all imagine - the river breaks off a cliff and the water falls freely down. Most often, waterfalls are a mixture of several types, including cascades and free fall.

1. Angel (1054 meters)


Angel is a waterfall on the Churun ​​River (Caroni River basin) on the Guiana Plateau. Located in Bolivar state, 60 km southeast of the village of Canaima. Tallest waterfall in the world, total height 1054 meters, the height of continuous free fall is 807 meters.


Named after pilot James Angel, who flew over the falls in 1933. The waterfall is located in the tropical forests of the Venezuelan state of Bolivar, in the Canaima National Park. Water cascades from the top of Auyantepui, the largest of the Venezuelan tepuis - its name means “mountain of the devil” in Russian.


The height of the fall is so great that before reaching the ground, the water is sprayed into tiny particles and turns into fog. Fog can be felt several kilometers away. The falling water flows into the Kerep River. In 1994, UNESCO designated Canaima National Park, which includes the waterfall, as a World Heritage Site.

2. Tugela (933 meters)


Tugela is a cascading waterfall on the Tugela River in the Drakensberg Mountains. Located in Natal province, 75 km southeast of the village of Estcourt. Waterfall height 933 m.


It consists of five steps, the height of the largest step is 411m. The Tugela falls in a narrow ribbon from the eastern cliff of the Drakensberg Mountains, in the Royal Natal National Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is clearly visible after heavy rain or at the end of the day, shining from the reflection of the Sun.


The source of the Tugela River is located several kilometers from the cliff from which the waterfall falls. The cliff is often covered with snow during the winter months.

3. Three Sisters (914 meters)

Three Sisters (Spanish: Cataratas las Tres Hermanas) is a waterfall in South America, in the Rio Cutevirini river basin, in the central part. The water of the waterfall falls down into a deep canyon, five ledges with a total height 914 m.


The width of the waterfall is 12 m, it discharges on average 1 m3 of water every second, and during flood periods the water flow can reach up to 6 m3/sec. In terms of height, the Three Sisters Falls rank third in the world after Angel and Tugela Falls.


The waterfall consists of three tiers separated from each other. From the air you can only see two of them, but the third is a huge pool, where the water falls as a result. The waterfall is surrounded on all sides by tall trees that reach 30 meters.

4. Olopena (900 meters)


Oloʻupena Falls, or Oloupena Falls) - a waterfall with a height of 900 meters, located in the northeastern part of the Hawaiian island of Molokai,. The waterfall was formed on a short, seasonal stream and falls over the edge of one of the highest coastal cliffs in the world, located between the Pelekunu and Wailau valleys.




Olopena is quite thin and is distinguished by numerous transitions down from one level to another. The water does not fall down, but slides along an almost vertical cliff, falling directly into the Pacific Ocean. The waterfall can only be seen from the ocean or from the air, since it cut deep into the rocks and therefore could not be found for a long time.


Not far from Olopen there are other, smaller waterfalls, which also fall directly along a sheer cliff into the Pacific Ocean.

5. Yumbilla (895.5 meters)


Yumbilla is a waterfall in the Amazonas region. It is the fifth highest known waterfall in the world. It was opened at the end of 2007.



Although the waterfall is high, the volume of water falling is insignificant. The height of the waterfall was measured by the National Geographic Institute of Peru using laser equipment. The upper edge of the waterfall is located at an altitude of 2723.6 m above sea level, and the lower edge is at an altitude of 1828.1 m above sea level. Waterfall height - 895.5 meters.



The waterfall is located in an area that is part of the eastern Peruvian Andes, also known as the Cordillera Oriental.