The largest waterfall on earth. Where are the largest waterfalls in the world? Waterfalls of Plitvitskie Lakes

The widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls, is 1,708 meters wide (but only 108 meters high). It is located in southern Africa, on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is one of the largest in the world. In the language of local African tribes, her name means “roaring smoke.”

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders peace. David Livingston Scottish explorer, is believed to have been the first European to discover the falls. And he named it after Queen Victoria.

During the rainy season, every minute, more than 19 million cubic meters of water falls down into the Zambezi Gorge. The result of the spray, or vapor, can sometimes be seen 25 miles away.

By the end of 2000, almost 800 thousand people a year had the opportunity to visit the falls, and in the next twenty years the number will increase to two million per year.

Unlike an amusement park, Victoria Falls Park receives more visitors from Zimbabwe and Zambia than foreign tourists as it is accessible by bus and train and is therefore relatively inexpensive.

Photo of the widest waterfall in the world

Video of the widest waterfall in the world

It so happened that most of The most impressive natural sites are located in remote corners of the planet. Waterfalls were no exception. Although the roar of falling water can sometimes be heard tens of kilometers away, for a long time the existence of the widest waterfall in the world was known only to local residents, who had nothing to compare with, and, as a rule, they had no connection with the world.

So it turned out that the title of the broadest in different time got several waterfalls.

Big water of the Guarani Indians

As you know, Europeans in the New World were primarily interested in gold. In search of this metal, white conquerors climbed into the most impassable areas, using the help of local guides. It was the thirst for gold that brought the Spaniard Cases de Vaca to the banks of the Parana River and its tributaries. Of course, the conquistador was not looking for natural beauty, and the legendary Eldorado.

And yet it was he who became the first European to see the widest waterfall in the world. Admired by such power, he gave the cascade the name “Mary’s Leap” and reported his discovery to the royal court, where the message was not given any importance, because there was not a word about gold. And for several centuries no one knew what a magnificent spectacle was hidden in the South American forests.

The Iguazu Falls were discovered again in the 19th century. The name of the river where it is located was invented by local residents - the Guarani Indian tribe. Without much imagination, they named the stream Big Water - Iguazu. It was under this name that the waterfall was included in all textbooks as the widest in the world. The lava flow formed a natural ledge in the bed of one of the tributaries of the Parana, which water has not been able to destroy for several million years.

Strictly speaking, Iguazu is not one waterfall, but a whole system of them. There are 275 streams in total. They form a huge horseshoe-shaped wall of falling water up to 80 meters high, stretching for almost 4 km. The width of individual streams reaches 700 meters. The roar can be heard three dozen kilometers away. Numerous rainbows burn in the water spray, which can be observed even with moonlight.

This incredibly beautiful natural cascade is located on the border of two countries: Argentina and Brazil. To protect unique object, the area around it has been declared a national park. For tourists, who are becoming more and more every year, trails and bridges have been laid, cable cars. You can view the waterfalls from above or approach them along the river.

Almost every waterfall has its own name. One of the widest, with the terrifying name “Devil’s Mouth,” runs along the state border between Brazil and Argentina. It is here that you can walk along the walkways almost to the cliff itself and watch how gigantic masses of water fall into the abyss. A spectacle that delights and frightens at the same time.

Cascade on the Mekong River

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Iguazu was considered the widest in the world, while on the main waterway South-East Asia a cascade of rapids and waterfalls of superior width was not opened in 1920. The Khon (or Kon) Falls on the Mekong River are not only a major obstacle to navigation, but also the widest natural cascade on the planet. However, Iguazu remains the deepest waterfall in the world.

The granite ledge, located in the river bed, is about 12 km wide. Its height is small, no more than 20 meters. But still, it is this system of thresholds and spillways that is the widest waterfall to date. Low height and significantly smaller than in South America, the volume of falling water evokes not so much admiration and respect for the power of nature, but rather peace and tranquility.

It is no coincidence that magical properties are attributed to this waterfall. According to many tourists who have been there, the stream of water flowing over the granite boulders gives those who look at it a charge of energy and longevity. And the beauty of the river’s surroundings sets the mood for calm contemplation.

The Khon Cascade, like Iguazu, is a protected site, the center of the same name national park. The similarity is enhanced by the location - on the border between Laos and Cambodia. There are also equipped observation platforms, paths and bridges for tourists. And instead of colorful rainbows, you can observe rare animals - freshwater dolphins.

The world's widest waterfalls, Khon and Iguazu, are recognized as natural heritage of the planet and will be preserved. But the fate of another waterfall - Guaira, or Seti Quedas - turned out differently. In 1982, seven of its cascades were flooded by a reservoir formed by a hydroelectric dam. Thus the second widest waterfall in the world disappeared.

Waterfalls - a wonder of the world

Among all the wonders given to man by nature, waterfalls are perhaps the most popular. Their beauty fascinates tourists, their power inspires admiration. “Falling water”, as the most majestic phenomenon of nature, has long attracted people with its unique beauty. It has been noticed that any waterfall, with its thunderous peals for many kilometers, serves as a guide for birds during migration.

A very interesting pattern: all the largest waterfalls in the world in width are located on the border of two or even three states. And this, apparently, is not accidental - wide waterfalls represent insurmountable natural boundaries along which boundaries were established.

There are entire clusters of “water diamonds” on our planet. In the Caucasus, on the territory of the Teberda Nature Reserve in the gorge of the river. Salynngan (a tributary of the Kizgych River) is the valley of the “Thirty Waterfalls”. In Japan, in the Honshu Island National Park, 100 waterfalls fall into the Osugidani Valley. And Norway is even called the Land of Waterfalls. But few people know that the small highland kingdom of Lesotho in Africa on the territory of South Africa is a unique intricacy of 3,000 waterfalls.

And if you ask someone a question: what is the most big waterfall- rest assured, the majority will answer: Niagara. Some will remember Victoria Falls, discovered in Africa famous traveler David Livingston in 1855. And only a few, specialist geographers, will ask: what is meant - width, height or power, since the term “largest” in relation to waterfalls sounds very vague.

Angel and Con

The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls, and the highest in Russia is the Talnikovsky waterfall. You can read about these two waterfalls and the height of the tallest waterfalls in the world in our article - The highest waterfall in the world.

The widest in the world waterfall - Kohn waterfall(Khon) on the Mekong River, on the border of Laos and Kampuchea (12-13 km). The width of its drainage area is more than 12.5 kilometers.

Kohn was discovered in 1920 by researcher E. Khokhan and was named after him.

Kon Falls is a cascading structure that includes many waterfalls flowing from different levels of the Mekong Plateau. The beauty of this waterfall comes from the vibrant colorful flowers growing along its banks.

Kon waterfall is good for health

Kon is also a well-accessible spot for observation. Its viewing area is well landscaped. Tourists appreciate this.

This waterfall is the most tranquil of all the waterfalls. His disposition is most favorable to sick people. The power of this waterfall is aimed at a calming effect, it has magical energy. Many people who visited the Kon waterfall were convinced of its positive effect on the human body.

Kon Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. He is under guard national reserve and is recognized as a national treasure of the Earth.

The most powerful waterfall - Iguazu

The most powerful waterfall in the world - Iguazu(“Devil’s Throat”), whose height is only about 80 m.

A monstrous mass of water falls over the crest of the ledge of this waterfall - more than 700 thousand cubic meters per minute.

The roar of this powerful waterfall can be heard for many kilometers.
Iguazu - 275 cascades in one system - this is the most beautiful panorama on our planet. It was opened to Europeans in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Alvaro de Veca. Crossing the Brazilian Highlands with his squad and hearing a distant rumble, he came to a waterfall. The religious Spanish conqueror, who exterminated the aborigines with fire and sword, was so shocked by the grandiose grandeur of Nature that he did not find a better name for the waterfall, like “leap of St. Mary” - “mother of God”. And the border between Brazil and Argentina along the “Devil’s Throat” was finally established only in 1928.

It is impossible to take in the entire front of Iguazu Falls from one point - the cascades are interspersed with rocks, which interferes with a tropical forest. Therefore, at the service of numerous tourists from all over the world, 2 kilometers of bridges have been laid here, connecting the “rock-islands” protruding from the boiling foam at the crest of the abyss. Several hotels, bars and restaurants, and an airfield have been built nearby (the nearest railway station is 400 km away).

The greatest waterfalls in the world

In Iguazu National Parks (180 thousand hectares in Brazil and 55 thousand hectares on the Argentine side) palm trees and Quebracho ironwood grow, and a variety of animal world, inhabited by hummingbirds and rare butterflies the size of saucers, the most unimaginable colors.

The greatest waterfalls in the world:

Name	Height, m	Width, m	Water consumption, cubic m/s	Location
Con	21	12500	8700-45000	R. Mekong, border of Kampuchea and Laos (Eurasia)
Guaira	40	4800	9000-13000	R. Parana, Brazil and Paraguay (South America)
Iguazu	80	4000	1700-12000	R. Iguazu, borders of Brazil and Argentina (South America)
Victoria	120	1800	1400-7500	R. Zambezi, border of Zambia and Zimbabwe (Africa)
Niagara	50	1200	1350-6000	R. Niagara, US-Canada border ( North America)

The most famous waterfall is Niagara Falls

A "most famous" Niagara Falls - only 50 meters high, and inferior in power to Iguazu and even Victoria.

And for some reason, many people believe that Niagara belongs to the United States. This is not entirely true. Niagara, at the very ledge, is divided by Goth Island into two streams: the left, Canadian - 914 m wide and the right, American - 305 m wide.

But the Americans skillfully present the miracle of nature. They installed dozens of multi-colored floodlights here with a total capacity of 1.5 million kW. As soon as it gets dark, their rays are directed onto the continuously moving wall of the waterfall, creating a fabulous illumination.

Bridges were built above and below the waterfall for the convenience of tourists, and hotels, motels, observation towers 100-meter height, suspended road. There are adits on both banks, their lifts lower tourists down to the very base of the waterfall. Standing on concrete platforms a meter away from the giant wall of the collapsing elements (on the other side), tourists experience awe at the unbridled forces of nature.

Based on materials from gorodokn.ru and ru.wikipedia.org

Large waterfalls climb over several ledges before they hit the ground. They are of the cascade type. The fastest flows of water in the world crash down mountainsides into lakes or into fog. Some have remained untouched and inaccessible to travelers, others have become real attractions.

The largest waterfall in the world is not easy to determine; scientists are constantly debating. All indicators are taken into account: height, width, flow speed and volume of falling water. Most high waterfall in the world - Angel. A large stream of water falls from a height of 979 m of free fall.

List of large waterfalls:

1. Niagara Falls connects 3 waterfalls. It is not the largest, but it has the largest volume. Approximate age: 12 thousand years. The cause of its occurrence was a glacier, from which, as it melted, streams of water formed. According to scientists, the waterfall continues its movement and in a few thousand years will connect with the lake and become one large reservoir. The discovery of the waterfall occurred at the beginning of the 17th century. Samuel de Champlain. While mapping the rivers, local residents told him about a small water ledge. 40 years later, the creation of nature was called “a waterfall of terrible height.” Extreme entertainment in the waters of the waterfall gained popularity in the 19th century. – descent in wooden barrels. Daredevils were injured or lost their lives. Now the descent is prohibited and is punishable by a fine.

   The largest waterfall in the world is Niagara Falls.

2. Dettifoss. Water consumption (average) – 193 cubic meters. m/s., during high tides - up to 600 cubic meters. m/s. There was no approach to the waterfall, but 8 years ago, after the construction of a road, tourists gained access to it. Thanks to the waterfall, a large number of travelers come to Iceland to look at the creation of nature. The water stream is located in a picturesque place, in a national park. The river it falls into is surrounded by vertical rocky cliffs. The water is brown and turns black at high tide. The most favorable time to watch this fascinating spectacle is the end of spring - the beginning of summer. The waterfall reaches 100 m in width and 44 m in height. A huge stream of water falls with a deafening roar. Tourists, standing at the very edge of the waterfall, can feel slight vibrations under their feet. The road to it is not equipped, so visitors follow the edge of the cliff, and may get wet due to large quantities splash
3. Yosemite Falls, 739 m high, consists of 3 cascades; located in America's National Park. Its founder, Galen Clark, rests near the waterfall. The river from which the stream of water appeared originates high in the mountains, passes through a valley 16 km away, or falls from a cliff. The largest amount of water is recorded in the spring, when melting glaciers fill the river; in summer and autumn it practically dries out. The age of the waterfall is more than 5 thousand years. It appeared as a result of melting glaciers. One of them divided the valley, and rocks appeared along which streams of water flow today.
   
   
4. Kaieteur. The waterfall is located in a picturesque place; The middle cascade offers breathtaking views. The flow rate is 633 m/s. For a long time, the public did not know about the existence of the waterfall, since it is located in a place inaccessible to humans. IN late XIX V. one of the geologists discovered a creation of nature. The waterfall was named in honor of the Kaya Indian leader, who crossed the river in a canoe to save his people. The waterfall is located near Venezuela and is considered one of the highest in the world (height 226 m, width 105 m). This natural wonder is located in the National Park of the same name.
5. Victoria. The widest waterfall in the world (1800 m) first became known in the middle of the 19th century. A scientist from Scotland discovered a creation of nature and was stunned by what he saw. There is no other waterfall in the world this wide and with a continuous flow of water. He gave the name of Queen Victoria to the creation of nature. At the beginning of the 20th century. construction work has started railway across the Zambezi River, this contributed to an increase in the number of travelers. Since that time, many people have had the opportunity to see the waterfall with their own eyes. In the 80s XX century South Africa became independent and the number of travelers increased to 300 thousand people/year. On the surface of the river from which the water falls, there are several small islands that divide the waterfall into several parts. Below, the water flows into a narrow stream, which stretches 120 cm. The “devil’s font” is of great interest to tourists. This small area at the cliff of the waterfall, where the current weakens and there is a small rocky fence. This creates a small pool. There are known cases of fatalities when travelers were carried over the edge of the pool.
   
   
6. Langfossen. The stream of water, 612 m high, occupies the western part of Norway. The waterfall is of the cascade type. Flowing from the mountain peak, the water enters the Akra fjord. In the vicinity of the waterfall there is a well-developed travel business. Hotels and holiday homes have been built for travelers who want to enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery and water flow views. Main city Norway, Oslo is 396 km away. Tourists get to the area by bus, which follows a highway located at the foot of the water stream.
7. Gullfoss. The name of the creation of nature means “golden waterfall”. There is no exact version of where this name came from. It may be related to the rainbow that is constantly present at the waterfall. The reason for this is the large number of water droplets in the air. Streams of water rush down along 2 cascades, which are located 90˚ relative to each other. At their junction, a natural observation deck has been formed, from which tourists can enjoy the view of the waterfall and the surrounding area. Representatives of the flora: lichens, mosses and dwarf trees. In sunny weather with good visibility, tourists observe the glacier-covered peaks from the northeast side. The waterfall is protected by the state. In Iceland, a sightseeing tour is organized for travelers lasting one day. It includes a tour of the Valley of Geysers, a national park and a waterfall. Travelers get to observation deck along a narrow path that is constantly wet due to the large amount of splashes. Equipped parking, shops and cafes are located near the observation deck.
   
   
8. Kukenan. A special type of mountain in Venezuela, tepuis, from which a stream of water flows, is part of the highlands. It existed at a time when the continents of Africa and Latin America were one.
9. Tugela. The waterfall consists of 5 cascades (the highest is 411 m). To get to its base, tourists pass through a gorge, dense forest and boulders. Water flows from the cliff of the Drakensberg Mountains.
10. Angel. The water falls from such a height that it becomes fog before it reaches the ground.

The largest waterfall in the world is named after the pilot who flew over it in the 30s. XX century Travelers reach a natural site only by air or water.

general characteristics waterfalls:

Name	Location	Height, m	Width, m	Volume of falling water, m³/s
Niagara	Canada, USA	53	792	5700
Dettifoss	Iceland	45	100	600
Yosemite	North America	739	137	746
Kaieteur	Guyana	226	90-105	663
Victoria	South Africa	120	1800	980
Langfossen	Western Norway	612	76	322
Gullfoss	Iceland	32	—	109-130
Kukenan	Venezuela	610	54	556
Tugela	South Africa	933	15	1
Angel	Venezuela	979	107	300

Angel

The largest waterfall in the world is located in the National Park in Venezuela; it is more than 15 times the size of Niagara Falls. Mount Auyantepui serves Starting point for water flow. It is penetrated by several layers of sandstone; It is in them that water accumulates after tropical downpours. This contributes to the existence of the waterfall.

The name of the hill means “devil’s mountain.” This name was given by local residents because of the impenetrable fog that accumulated around the mountain. Such hills are characterized by a smooth flat top, a vertical cliff and a high altitude. The mountains, which are characteristic of the Guiana Highlands, were inaccessible to humans due to their topography for many centuries.

Rare plants grow here and unprecedented animals live.

Many centuries ago, local residents knew that there was a waterfall in the country, but the public learned about it only at the beginning of the 20th century. American pilot James Angel in the 30s. XX century flew over a hill. Together with his group, he went in search of ore and diamonds.

James's plan was to land on the top of the mountain, but an accident occurred during landing, due to which the group was unable to take off and return home. They had to make their own descent from the mountain. It lasted about 10 days. After a dangerous adventure, James Angel and his group became famous throughout the world, and the waterfall was named after the pilot (Angel - Angel).

For more than 30 years, the plane was on the top of the mountain, and then it was evacuated. In the 50s and 90s. XX century American scientists made a trip to the waterfall. In 2005, Russian climbers went to him. In 2009, the ruler of Venezuela issued an order to change the name of the waterfall, since it could not be named after a foreigner.

This change applies only to Venezuela; on world maps the waterfall remained under its previous name. The largest waterfall in the world is visited by tourists in the spring, summer and autumn months. They get to the waterfall by water or air, since there is no road to it. Inns, hotels and restaurants for vacationers have been built in the nearest village.

The planes operate regular or private flights (tickets cost $110-350). Visitors pay a small amount for entry to the National Park. Cloudy or foggy weather can prevent you from enjoying a picturesque place.

Tugela

The waterfall is second only to Angel in size; located in Africa in the Natal National Park. It consists of several cascades, the largest of which is more than 400 m. The river with the same name originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, from which the waterfall originates. The water flow is narrow, no more than 15 m, even in the rainy season. Only during the dry season does the water flow decrease.

The waterfall is clearly visible after rain or at sunset. Tourists reach the natural wonder along a path from one of the parking lots, and then climb a rickety hanging staircase. There is a road of over 7 km from the National Park, which passes through forest, boulders and suspension bridge.

Travelers book sightseeing tours with guides or take a walk on their own. Information about the excursion can be obtained from any hotel in Africa.

Information about the waterfall:

1. A group of scientists from the Czech Republic recorded the height of the waterfall at 983 m in 2016. This means that it is the highest in the world.
2. The name of the waterfall translates as “sudden”. The local people gave this name to the water flow due to the fact that during rains the speed of the water increases several times.
3. The mountainside along which the water flows is covered with snow during the winter months.
4. There is very little information about the waterfall. Encyclopedias Soviet Union and Great Britain give a brief description of it. Wellington's book on Africa contains the most detailed information.

Three sisters

The waterfall is located in South America, on the territory of the state of Peru. The miracle of nature was discovered by chance. A group of photographers came to photograph another waterfall (Katarata). While working, they accidentally discovered the Three Sisters.

Its name is explained by the fact that it consists of three separate waterfalls: 2 of them are clearly visible to tourists located near the waterfall, and 3 is a large pool into which water flows. The waterfall takes beautiful place, surrounded by trees rising more than 30 m. Height - 914 m.

Olopena

The waterfall is located on one of Hawaiian Islands Molokai. Its height is 900 m. It is located in a mountainous area, surrounded by volcanic hills. Due to the fact that the stream of water is narrow and located in the recess of the mountain, it could not be discovered for a long time.

The water does not fall down like other waterfalls, but flows down the rock.

Tourists vacationing in the Hawaiian Islands book guided excursions to the waterfall and its surroundings. A helicopter is the most common means of transport to access the water stream.

Umbilla

The waterfall is located on the territory of the state of Peru. The water flow falls from the east side mountain range Andes, belongs to the Amazon basin. For a long time, there was debate among scientists about the height of the waterfall, but laser measurements by geographers determined the figure to be 895 m. The waterfall was discovered in 2007 by researchers from the Peruvian Geographical Institute.

They showed photographs and information about the water flow, and then it was broadcast by the media mass media on the international level. The name of the waterfall means "heart love". Many centuries ago, local residents knew about the existence of a creation of nature and gave it such a name because one of the cascades looks like a heart. Researchers are also arguing about the number of cascades: 4 or 5.

Interesting information about the waterfall:

1. Compared to other waterfalls, Umbilla does not look as exciting due to the amount of water. During the dry season, the waterfall completely disappears.
2. The creation of nature is located in a place untouched by man, so it is impossible to examine and study the waterfall in detail.
3. Tourists need to hire an accompanying person during the excursion, since there are no equipped roads or signs here.
4. The waterfall is surrounded by tropics with amazing and rare representatives of flora and fauna.

Vinnufossen

The waterfall (height 860 m) is located in Norway and is considered the highest in Europe. The water flow originates from the Vinnu River, then falls from the cliff and turns into a ghostly tail. Its length is 179 m.

Tourists, admiring the miracle of nature, remain enchanted by the spectacle, as the flow of water diverges into several waterfalls that intertwine with each other. They are separated by vegetation and rocks. As you approach the bottom of the rock, all the water flows unite. The widest section of the waterfall is at the bottom and is 152 m.

Tourists are interested in the immediate surroundings and attractions of the waterfall:

• mountain range Trollheim ("house troll");
• Snøhetta is part of the national park. This is one of the mountains in the Dovrefjell chain;
• the tallest wall in Europe, the Troll Wall;
• national park"Dovrefjell."

To get to the waterfall, tourists arrive in Norway from Moscow or Bergen by plane, train or bus. When choosing a train, travelers will have to cover a distance of 500 km in 8 hours. Along the way you can see Mountain peaks in the snow, fjords and valleys. In one day, 6 trains transport tourists. Exists international route via Sweden.

Bus (No. 100) transports travelers from railway station and a bus station to the city center. The bus journey from Oslo to Bergen takes 10 - 11 hours.

Balaifossen

The waterfall, 849 m high and 6 m wide, is located in Norway, occupying east sideÅsa fjord, Ulvik municipality. The flow of water begins from the Bala stream, which flows from mountain lake.

At the foot of the mountain slope along which the waterfall rushes down, there is a small village where local residents receive tourists. From here you have a breathtaking view of the natural wonder. It consists of 3 cascades, the length of the largest is 452 m.

Puukaoku

The height of the water flow is 840 m. It is located on the island of Molokai (Hawaiian Islands). Distinctive feature creations of nature: it flows from the top of the mountain, and does not fall down like a rapid stream.

At any hotel in the Hawaiian Islands, tourists can order sightseeing tour to the waterfall. It can be accessed from the air, since the waterfall is located in a place that humans could not reach, so the area is not equipped for visitors.

James Bruce

The North American waterfall is considered the largest on the continent and reaches a height of 840 m. The creation of nature is located in the Princess Louise National Park (Canada).

The water stream originates on the flat top of a mountain covered with snow and rushes down in several cascades. The waters of 2 streams, which are parallel to the waterfall, feed it. One of them exists regardless of the season; the other dries out during the summer months.

Brown Falls

The waterfall is the largest in New Zealand. It is located in the southern part of the country, near the Hall Arm fjord, within the Fiordland National Park. The water flow comes out of Brown Lake and rushes down in 6 cascades. Height – 836 m, angle of incidence – 42˚. This is a small degree compared to other waterfalls, so the sight of the water flowing is not particularly impressive.

The width of the waterfall is 12 m. At high tide, the volume of water reaches 14 cubic meters. m/s.

In the 40s XX century aerial photographer Victor Carlile Brown flew over the fjord. During his journey, he discovered a lake named after him and a waterfall that flowed from the reservoir.

The most big waterfalls serve as the main attraction of the country, as in Iceland. They are protected by the authorities, who develop tourism businesses in the areas where they are located. There are a few waterfalls left in the world that are impossible to reach, and they preserve their nature in in its original form.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the largest waterfalls

The biggest and beautiful waterfalls in the world:

Iguazu Falls is a fairly wide and rugged area of ​​falling water. The waterfall is located on the Iguazu River of the same name near the border of Brazil and Argentina.
It is believed that the formation of the waterfall occurred as a result of a strong earthquake caused by a volcanic eruption, as a result of which large cracks formed in the earth's crust.
During the rainy season in November - March, water flow can reach 12,750 cubic meters per second.
Iguazu Falls consists of many individual waterfalls that are separated by islands, total area a single complex of more than 2700 square meters.
There are a total of 275 waterfalls in this area, the largest is called “Devil's Throat” - the water in this area falls from a height of 80 meters.
In the Guarani language, the term "Iguazu" means "big water". The waterfall was discovered in 1541 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and has been part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1984.

The waterfall is located in Africa, on the border of Zambia and Zambezi.
The waterfall was discovered in 1855, after David Livingston first saw this amazing natural phenomenon.
During the Jurassic period (150 - 200 million years ago), volcanic activity led to a thick layer of basalt covering most of South Africa. As the lava cooled and crystallized, cracks appeared in the hard basalt crust, which were filled with clay and lime. The Zambezi River gradually washed away soft rocks, thus forming a waterfall.

The width of the water fall is 1700 meters, the height is 108 meters, in terms of the volume of falling water (during the rainy season) per unit time, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on the planet.
The volume of water ranges from 300 to 9000 cubic meters per second. On average for the year - about 1000 cubic meters per second.

The waterfall is located in the northern United States on the border with Canada.
The height of the waterfall is 53 meters, but the height of the falling water is 21 meters, the width of the main part of the falling water is 323 meters.
The volume of falling water is from 2800 to 5700 cubic meters per second.
In 1954, a landslide occurred - a pile of stones fell from above to the foot of the waterfall, thereby reducing the height of the water fall.

The waterfall is located in the northeast of Iceland, on the Jökulsau au Fjödlum river, and is largest waterfall Europe in terms of the volume of falling water - on average, about 200 cubic meters per second.
The width of the waterfall is 100 meters, the height of the water fall is 44 meters.

5. Shoshone Falls

The waterfall is located in Idaho, USA on the Snake River. The waterfall is believed to have existed since the end of the last ice age.
The height of the water fall is 64 meters, the width is 305 meters. Due to the fact that in summer a significant part of the river’s water is used to irrigate fields, the waterfall practically disappears. The waterfall has its best views in spring and autumn.

The waterfall is located in the west of Guyana, on the border with Venezuela, on the Potaro River. The height of the water fall is 226 meters, the width of the waterfall is about 100 meters. The maximum water flow is more than 1200 cubic meters per second (average annual flow is about 650 cubic meters). The waterfall is the largest in the world in many ways. But since it is located in a remote area, little is known about it. It is not visited by tourists.

The waterfall is located in the south of Iceland on the Hvitau River. The height of the waterfall is 32 meters, the average water flow is 125 cubic meters per second. But it should be noted that the waterfall consists of two steps, the first 11 meters high, the second 21 meters.

The highest waterfall on planet Earth. The height of the water fall is 979 meters, the height of the continuous water fall is 807 meters.
The waterfall is located in Venezuela on the Churun ​​River.

Yosemite Falls is located in eastern California, USA, on the Merced River. The total height of the waterfall is 739 meters. The waterfall consists of 3 cascades, the height of the upper waterfall is 435 meters, the middle one is 206 meters and the lowest one is 98 meters.

10. Huang Guoshu Waterfall

Huang Guo Shu Waterfall is located in China on the Baishui River in Guizhou Province. The waterfall consists of a complex of water flows. The main waterfall is 67 meters high and 83 meters wide.