What waterfalls are there? Waterfalls of the world – choosing the most beautiful ones. Tallest waterfall

Khon Falls is located on the Mekong River between Laos and Cambodia; more than nine billion liters of water fall here every second. Its height is about 21 meters.

This is the highest waterfall in India. Or rather, a series of waterfalls that reach a height of up to 200 meters! Best time For tourism in these parts, this is the rainy season, the period during which the Jog Falls look most impressive.

A magnificent waterfall with emerald crystal clear water on the Keelung River, Taiwan. This is the largest waterfall in the country with a height of 20 meters and a width of 40 meters.

Victoria Falls added to the list World Heritage UNESCO and is often considered to be the largest in the world. It was discovered by David Livingstone in 1855 and named after the British Queen Victoria. Although there is also a widespread version that he named it after his late wife Victoria.

Langfossen waterfall is located in the municipality of Etne, in western Norway and is easy to access: European car route The E134 passes right at the base of this waterfall, which is very convenient for tourists.

It is located in national park Krka, Croatia, and is very popular among swimmers and diving enthusiasts. The turquoise waters of the river flowing from the Dinaric Alps flow into the magnificent Veliki Slap waterfall ( Big waterfall), buried in lush vegetation, it is also the largest waterfall in the Plitvice Lakes region.

Due to a number of controversial issues, this waterfall ranks either third or 14th in the world. In any case, Gokta is one of the highest and most majestic waterfalls in the world, and was first noticed relatively recently only in 2003.

This is not even one, but a series of waterfalls located in the Bern area (Switzerland). The height of the Reichenbach Falls reaches more than 250 meters. It is also notable for the fact that it was in this place that the final battle between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty took place based on the novel by Arthur Conan Doyle.

This largest waterfall in Asia is located on the Guichun River on the border of China (Guangxi Province) and Vietnam, known among the Vietnamese as Ban Gioc Falls.

The waters of Mardalsfossen are used for hydroelectric power; the waterfall flows freely only in the summer. Therefore, when choosing a time for travel to contemplate the waterfall “in action”, focus on the period from June to August.

St. Clair Falls is the largest waterfall in Sri Lanka and is nicknamed “Little Niagara.” In fact, it is 10 times smaller than Niagara Falls.

The Throat of Baatara waterfall falls from a height of more than 250 m into the Jurassic limestone cave "Chasm of Three Bridges" in the Lebanese region of Tannourine. It was discovered by French speleologist Henri Coiffait in 1952.

Famous Niagara Falls separates Canada and the USA. World famous, it continues to fascinate and attract extreme sports enthusiasts who enjoy risking their lives to challenge the powerful flow of water. In 2012, hereditary tightrope walker Nik Wallenda successfully crossed the waterfall on a tightrope fixed in neighboring countries.

It is approximately four times the height of Niagara Falls, meaning Kaieteur is 226 meters above the ground. Located on the Potaro River and named after the great Kaya chief of the Patamon tribe, who sacrificed himself to the great spirit Makonaima to save his people.

Inga Falls is famous for the largest volume of moving water; no other waterfall can compare with it; it extends 15 kilometers from the city of Matadi.

Yosemite National Park, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, is home to the tallest waterfall in the world. North America with a height of 739 meters from the top to the lowest level. According to various sources, it ranks sixth or 20th among the highest waterfalls on the planet.

The Rhine Falls are one of the largest in Europe. It extends 150 meters between the Swiss cities of Neuhausen and Flurlingen, maximum height about 23 meters.

This turquoise cascading waterfall is located in the Erawan National Park and attracts many tourists. In Hindu mythology, Erawan is an elephant with three heads.

Tugela Falls is the highest in Africa and the second highest in the world (933 meters). It is located in the Drakensberg region of South Africa.

Gaping Gill Falls is located on Mount Ingleborough in North Yorkshire, England, within the cavity of Britain's largest natural cave, which is popular among cavers. Water falls into this well from a height of 105 meters.

In Amharic, these waterfalls are called "Tis-Ysat" and "Tis-Abbay", which means "smoking water". They are located on the Blue Nile River, a few meters from the first stone bridges built in Ethiopia in the 17th century.

Russell Falls is located in Tasmania, in the Mount Field National Park. It was used to illustrate Australia's first postage stamp in 1899.

Among the greatest natural phenomena, the most deservedly occupy a special place. beautiful waterfalls peace. Since ancient times, people have been drawn to their inexhaustible thunderous cascades like a magnet. If you find yourself in front of this natural phenomenon, the veil of illusions in which man previously imagined himself to be the king of nature is falling away.

Let's look at the most beautiful and majestic waterfalls, the photos of which, in themselves excite our imagination, are still unable to convey even a hundredth part of the truly stunning impression that they invariably produce when seen in reality.

The highest Angel Falls

This waterfall is the highest on the planet. It is located on the South American continent in Venezuela, and translated into Russian means “angel’s jump.” Location of the waterfall - national park Kanama. A roaring stream of water, falling from a height twice as large as itself tall building, ever built by man, falls down with a roar and forms a kind of thick fog. Its exact height is still unknown and is approximately between 978 and 1054 m.

Angel Falls- one of the most difficult to reach for tourists. It is almost impossible to approach the steep kilometer-long wall, tightly blocked by tropical forest, which is completely intertwined with thickets of impenetrable bushes and vines. Therefore, when surveyors tried to measure the height of this waterfall, they cut their way through with axes. It took them 20 days to cover 35 km.

And now, if you want to see this miracle of nature, during the rainy season, which lasts six months (from May to November), you would have to travel 5 hours by boat. And since Angel feeds exclusively on rain, there is no point in making your way to it during the dry season: an eyewitness risks being very disappointed when he sees an insignificant stream instead of a monumental water extravaganza.

Great Iguazu Falls

Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Objectively considered the most beautiful panorama in the world. It ranks first in terms of fullness of water. 275 cascades, merging into one, form a giant with a displacement of 1700 cubic meters per second. Its height is 80 m, and its width at the base is 4 km. It was opened to Europeans in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors.

The river where this waterfall is located, winds for a long time, flows through the mainland towards the west for approximately 1500 km and only then ends with a huge arch of waterfalls, which at the very drainage are shaped like a crescent. The rumble of the elements can be heard for several miles. Iguazu has become the real pride of Brazilians and Argentines. Every year it attracts tens of thousands of tourists eager to see this splendor with their own eyes.

It is interesting that due to its border location, Argentina and Brazil simultaneously have every right to a “master’s” attitude towards this unique waterfall. Due to the current situation, original agreements take place between these states: the Brazilians hold a monopoly on helicopter excursions for tourists, but the Argentines manage boat trips.

When the largest waterfalls on the planet are mentioned, it would be unfair to leave out the famous Niagara. The waterfall is located on the river of the same name, near the border of two states: New York and Ontario, located in the USA and Canada, respectively. It has long been noted that all the largest waterfalls in width are located on the border of two, and sometimes three countries. And this is far from an accident - the vast expanses of water are natural impassable boundaries along which state borders were once established.

Niagara Falls has become the most popular among tourists, largely due to its accessibility. It is formed by several waterfalls, the total height of which is 53 m. The falling speed of the water jets of this giant is about 3 million l/s. Niagara Falls was attacked both by air and by swimming, using homemade aircrafts, ropes, wooden barrels and even rubber balls.

The closest locality is the city of Buffalo. To avoid large crowds of pilgrims, it is better to come here in the autumn-spring period. This will provide an opportunity to enjoy the indescribable beauty and power of the waterfall in relative peace.

Victoria Falls

In addition to Angel Falls, the highest waterfalls in the world are complemented by Victoria Falls, which successfully divides Zimbabwe and Zambia. The discoverer of Victoria was destined to be a native of Scotland, D. Livingston. The opening date is considered to be 1865. Livingston already knew about it four years before the opening geographical object and initially intended, with the help of this amazingly beautiful waterfall, to make dense Africa a center of attraction for travelers.

Victoria is the highest waterfall on the African continent. Also, the uniqueness of this waterfall is that while it is two kilometers in width, it has a height of 120 meters. There are no more cascades of this kind on the planet. It is located on the local, very deep Zambezi River. At the very peak of water inflow, the waterfall displaces an average of 8,000 cubic meters per second.

The aborigines nicknamed this mind-blowing cascade “thundering smoke,” referring to the volume of water mist rising above 400 m, as well as the unbearable noise heard tens of kilometers away. And the spray rising up in a huge column can be seen 50 km away. The rainbow certainly sparkles in them. To experience incredible sensations, you should stand at the foot of Victoria at least once.

The most beautiful waterfalls globe- these are undoubtedly the largest and most picturesque creations of nature. These include a natural complex of waterfalls and lakes - Plitvice Lakes, located in the Croatian National Park. This waterfall literally delights with its picturesque beauty. You can’t help but feel that all the colors of the color spectrum are present in this fabulously beautiful place. The park is a self-healing ecosystem with 140 waterfalls, 16 lakes, two dozen caves and a unique forest consisting of endemic trees, which is home to an impressive number of rare animals and birds.

Until 1958, the park was an object inaccessible to tourists; there were only clearings in it. In 1958, park director Josip Movčan began the construction of pedestrian roads. And at the moment there is a wide network of decking and environmentally friendly transport operating here.

The Plitvice Lakes waterfall has long been the most significant attraction in Croatia, which was included in UNESCO in 1979. It is prohibited here to engage in fishing, light fires, swim, and many other human activities that could disrupt the natural balance of this miracle of nature.

Waterfalls are amazing masterpieces created by nature. Water element never ceases to fascinate people. No wonder they were worshiped in ancient times local residents and considered them the habitat of spirits and gods. It is difficult to single out the most picturesque waterfall. After all, each object is unique and amazing in its own way. Still, we tried to choose the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and compiled a list of the 10 best.

1. Angel

The incredible beauty and thundering power of this beautiful waterfall located in Venezuela will leave you in awe. The name “Angel” (Angel) was given to the picturesque object in honor of the Venezuelan pilot who discovered it. A waterfall cascades down from the “Devil’s Mountain,” as the locals call it. It ranks first in the world in terms of free fall height (979 m). Not even Niagara Falls can compete with it.

Angel's water flow ends up in a huge lake located in the jungle. Due to the height of the fall, the base is shrouded in thick fog. There are no roads to the waterfall - you can only approach it by river by boat or by plane. From a distance, it seems as if the white stripe turns into a lot of splashes and is lost in the surrounding greenery. According to researchers, if you place a wind tower at the beginning of the drainage, there will be enough electricity to power a metropolis.

2. Baatara

Baatara is considered a fantastic masterpiece of nature in Lebanon. It received the status of one of the most interesting and beautiful waterfalls in the world thanks to the “Chasm of Three Bridges”. This is the nickname for the abyss, into which a stream of water falls from a height of 255 m. The “cunning” waterfall is difficult to notice right away - it falls into a cave, where three natural bridges are located. They are formed by nature itself and are located one above the other. The waterfall reaches its special power when the snow melts. Local authorities were going to install ropes for athletes or arrange a lift. But they abandoned this idea, leaving the incomparable beauty of these places untouched.

3. Havasu

Havasu Falls is also distinguished by its heavenly beauty. This is a real oasis in the arid Arizona in the USA. Havasu is hiding in the local Grand Canyon National Park. What we saw is impressive: emerald-turquoise water falls down from 37 meters. The beautiful waterfall owes its unusual color to calcium and magnesium carbonate, which color the stream. The surrounding red-brown rocks of the canyon stand out in sharp contrast; they add incredible picturesqueness to this place.

Almost no one goes to the site tourist buses– most guests travel 16 km by mules and horses. Rich tourists book a helicopter tour.

4. Niagara Falls

The beautiful Niagara Falls needs no introduction, as it is known throughout the world. Its name is “rumbling” - translated as “Big Noise”. Niagara Falls is located on the border of two countries - the USA and Canada. But he obviously doesn't like the location. Due to the erosion of the ledge, the waterfall moves. Previously, it shifted 1-1.5 m upstream. After creating a mound of stones and a power plant - by 30 cm per year.

Niagara Falls combines three water streams: American, Horseshoe and Veil. Especially scenic view opens from the coast of Canada. The height difference is small - 53 meters. The waterfalls are rather famous for their latitude. The Horseshoe is impressive, its width reaches 790 meters.

Niagara Falls is recognized as the strongest in North America in terms of the amount of water passing through. Once a century, people observe a rare spectacle - a reservoir freezes over (1848 and 1912).

5. Seljalandsfoss

Have you dreamed of looking at the world through a waterfall? In Iceland there is such an opportunity. Not far from Reykjavik is Seljalandsfoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world that you can get up close to. Behind it there is a deep indentation. This is the main highlight of Seljalandsfoss - the opportunity to see how the water falls from the inside. The main thing is to bring a raincoat. When the sun's rays hit the spray column, Seljalandsfoss delights visitors with a rainbow. Double beauty - Iceland waterfall in the background northern lights. This combination proves: nature is the best artist.

6. Victoria

Mesmerizing beauty, roar, a million drops, a cloud of steam and a dazzling rainbow - Victoria Falls captivates at first sight. This is the most beautiful waterfall in Africa, occupying the territory between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Locals called it Mosi-oa-Tunyi (“thundering smoke”) or Chongue (“place of the rainbow”). The Zambezi is a calm river along almost its entire length. But suddenly the basalt plateau breaks off, and a stream of water rushes down. The angry river abruptly rushes into the abyss with a mesmerizing waterfall (width - almost 2 km, fall height - from 80 to 100 m). During the rainy season, a cloud of spray can be seen 50 km away. The waterfall surprises not only with its beauty, but also with its power. It roars into the gorge, zigzags for 70 km and falls into a huge reservoir. The terrifying power of water can capture a large animal or person in dangerous captivity.

7. Iguazu

According to the legend of local Indians, the beautiful Iguazu Falls appeared due to the wrath of God. He wanted to marry beautiful girl, but she ran away with her lover on a boat. God's wrath “cut” the river - a waterfall appeared, dooming the couple to an eternal fall. The legend conveys the power of the Iguazus, which are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. This complex includes almost 300 waterfalls. One of them, Nakundai Falls, reaches 40 meters - almost like Niagara Falls (53 m). The spectacle is mesmerizing, it’s not for nothing that in 2011 Iguazu was named one of the seven natural wonders peace. This is one of the most visited places South America– 1.5-2 million tourists come to the natural complex every year. The power of the picturesque waterfalls is complemented by tropical nature.

8. Yosemite Falls

“Big Grizzly Bear” is the translation of the name of the beautiful Yosemite Falls, which is located in California. And indeed, a powerful stream of water “growls” as it falls from a steep cliff into the Yosemite Valley. Around are the Sierra Nevada mountains, forests, granite cliffs and gorges. At the foot of the three-stage waterfall, clear lakes form. To appreciate the full power of Yosemite Falls, it is worth walking along the winding road to its top. During the climb, you can admire the wonder of nature from observation platforms.

9. Karakol

In the middle of the dense forests of Brazil, the very beautiful Caracol waterfall bubbles. Tourists love it both for its beauty and accessibility. Karakol is located near major cities, and therefore easy to reach. The river falls from a basalt rock into the gorge from a height of 131 meters. The area is equipped for guests - there is a metal staircase of a thousand steps, a tower with an observation elevator and even cable car. The picturesque picture is complemented by green hills completely covered with trees.

10. Detian

If you want to see something so beautiful that it will take your breath away during your upcoming vacation, then here is our list of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Iguazu Falls , located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. It has 275 cascades, stretching for two miles along the Iguazu River. This waterfall was formed as a result of a strong volcanic eruption, as a result of which a huge crack formed in the earth's crust. It is simply impossible to describe the beauty and grandeur of this waterfall, as well as the beauty of the untouched tropical nature around. included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Getting to the waterfall is quite easy; the tourist infrastructure is well developed here, there are many observation platforms from which all the beauty of Iguazu can be best seen. In addition to contemplating the waterfalls, here you can also visit the Argentine and Brazilian national natural parks with real untouched jungle.

Angel Falls, Venezuela. This is the highest waterfall in the world, its height reaches 978 meters. A waterfall falls from Mount Tepuy, which translated into Russian means “mountain of the devil.” The height of the fall of the waterfall is so great that the water, not having time to reach the bottom of the waterfall, is sprayed into tiny particles, forming a fog that can be felt many kilometers away. Hiking trails There is no access to the waterfall; you can only get there by air or by river, so tourists are offered organized excursions.

Victoria Falls. The waterfall is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. This waterfall is the main attraction South Africa. Victoria Falls is very impressive for tourists, because its width is more than 1,700 meters, and the water falls from a height of about one hundred meters. The spectacle is very beautiful and memorable. During the rainy season, about 10,000 cubic meters of water passes through the waterfall every second. Immediately after the waterfall, a section of the river begins with fairly safe rapids, which attract lovers of rafting on mountain rivers, and beginner tourists can also successfully raft in this place.

Gullfoss waterfall, Iceland. Translated from Icelandic, the name of the waterfall means “golden waterfall”. Indeed, the water of this waterfall looks golden, and there is almost always a rainbow hanging over the waterfall. And in winter, the waterfall is covered in a shell of ice, which is also very beautiful. This waterfall is interesting because it has two levels. At first, the water falls from a height of 11 meters, then it flows calmly, and suddenly it falls again from a height of 21 meters. There are many viewing platforms near the waterfall that are never empty.

Jog Falls - the most interesting and highest waterfall in India. This waterfall has the highest free fall height of water, that is, the water of Jog Falls does not roll over the stones, but freely falls into the reservoir from a height of 253 meters. The waterfall consists of four branches, each of which has its own name. These are Raja, Rocket, Rumbling and Rani. The name refers to the sound water makes when falling. Raja falls down with dignity, Rocket has the largest filling of water that passes at high speed through a small hole, the name Rumbling speaks for itself, and Rani has a winding trajectory reminiscent of the dance of a woman (in translation Rani means queen or woman). Any tourist can personally verify that these names correspond to reality.

Located on the border of the USA and Canada, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on Earth. Downstream there is a bridge between the two countries, open to both vehicles and pedestrians. In fact, behind the name there are three waterfalls that are perceived as a single whole - Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Veil. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, the waterfall is actively used by power engineers to generate electricity. An excellent infrastructure has been created for tourists near the waterfall, observation decks for contemplating Niagara, and in the evening the stunning illumination lights up, created by dozens of multi-colored spotlights with a total capacity of one and a half million kilowatts. Crowds of tourists admire this amazing spectacle for hours.

Detyan Waterfall located on the border of China and Vietnam. It is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the world. The most beautiful sight is from May to September, when the water level in Detyan is highest. The height of the waterfall is 75 meters and the width is about 200 meters. It's sad, but every year there is less and less water in the waterfall. Therefore, every person who comes to these places should definitely see Detyan.

Did you know that the height of the tallest waterfall in the world is comparable to the height of 33 nine-story buildings? Interesting Facts Read about the most beautiful waterfalls in the world below.

No. 10. Sutherland Falls, New Zealand

Sutherland Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Oceania. Its height is 580 meters. The waterfall is located in one of the most picturesque corners of New Zealand - in the Fiordland National Park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Source of the waterfall - Mountain Lake, which flows into the Arthur River and falls in a powerful stream from the top of the Southern Alps.

No. 9. Dettifoss waterfall, Iceland

Iceland is famous the most beautiful waterfalls, lakes, geysers and glaciers. One of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland is Dettifoss Falls, which is considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

The waterfall is located in the Jökulsargljuvur National Park, and is a continuation of the Jökulsargljuvur River.

Among the sparse, arid landscape, the waterfall looks like a real miracle. The width of Dettifoss is about 100 m, the height is 44 m (9 m less than Niagara Falls), the average water flow is 193 m³/sec, during floods - up to 600 m³/sec.

No. 8. Gullfoss waterfall, Iceland

Gullfoss waterfall is located in the southwest of Iceland in the canyon of the Hvita River. Gullfoss means “Golden Waterfall”.

Gullfoss is huge waterfall, located on the cliff of a mountain range. The waterfall has a unique shape and structure. It is formed by three separate levels and two cascades. The height of the upper level is 11 meters, and the lower level is 21 m. The depth of the gorge is 70 m.

The volume of water passing through Gullfoss averages 109 m3/sec and rises in summer to 130 m3/sec. During major floods, this figure increases many times over.

No. 7. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Kaieteur Falls is one of the most powerful and beautiful waterfalls in the world. Kaieteur is located on the Potaro River in Guyana. The height of the waterfall is 226 meters - this is 5 times higher than Niagara Falls and 2 times higher than Victoria Falls.

No. 6. Yosemite Falls, California

Yosemite Falls is located in California in the national park of the same name. This waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America and the 20th tallest in the world. The height of Yosemite is 739 meters. The height of the upper, reaching the first terrace of the Upper Yosemite Falls, is 435 meters, and the middle and lower waterfalls have heights of 206 and 98 meters, respectively.

No. 5. Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel is the tallest waterfall in the world! Angel's height is 979 meters, width is 107 m, flow rate is 300 m3/sec. The waterfall was named after pilot James Angel, who flew over the waterfall in 1933.

The waterfall is located in the Canaima National Park in tropical forests Venezuela. The waterfall falls from the top of Mount Auyantepui. The height of the water fall is so great that only fog reaches the ground.

No. 4. Sastavci Waterfall, Croatia

Sastavci Waterfall is the largest and most beautiful waterfall in the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. Perfectly clear turquoise water falls from a height of 72 meters.

No. 3. Niagara Falls, USA/Canada

Niagara Falls is located on the Niagara River, which carries the waters of 4 of the 5 Great Lakes of America. Niagara Falls is considered the most powerful in North America due to the volume of water passing through it.

Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls: the American Falls (on the American side), the small 20-meter Veil Falls and the Horseshoe or Canadian Falls (on the Canadian side).

The height of the waterfall is 51 meters. The total length of the waterfall is 1150 meters, of which 323 meters are the American Falls and 792 meters are the Horseshoe Falls.

No. 2. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world! This wonder of the world was discovered by Scottish traveler and African explorer David Livingstone in 1855.

Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River. The width of the waterfall is 1800 meters, the height is 107 meters. Hundreds of millions of liters of water per minute crash down to the bottom of the gorge. The noise from the waterfall can be heard at a distance of 20-30 km.

Victoria is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

No. 1. Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

Iguazu consists of 275 waterfalls, with a total width of more than 3 km, and a height of 82 m. The noise from the waterfall can be heard 20-25 km away. Iguazu is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina; two rivers form the waterfall - Iguazu and Parana.

This is a unique sight. The Indians gave the waterfall the name “iguazu” - “big water”. Among Europeans, it was first discovered by the Spanish conquistador Don Alvaro Nunez Caseso in 1541.
Igusau Falls is considered the eighth wonder of the world; tens of thousands of tourists come here every year.