Published 2nd Aug. 2022
Written by Evie Buller
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Although TLC famously sang ‘don’t go chasing waterfalls’, we really think you should. Whether you want to sail through them, clamber up them or sit beneath them, exploring waterfalls is a sure-fire way to get up close and personal with the power of Mother Nature. However, the competition for the title of ‘biggest waterfall in the world’ is a tricky one. Some are tall, some are wide and some are incredibly powerful. There’s no simple way to decipher which comes out on top, so we’ve included an array of Earth’s largest outpourings on our list of the world’s biggest waterfalls…
Zimbabwe and Zambia
The largest waterfall in the world by combined width and height.
While not the tallest by height alone, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world by sheer volume and width – creating the planet’s most massive curtain of falling water. Known by locals as the ‘smoke that thunders’, its billowing mist and impressive bellow can be seen and heard from over 25 miles away.
Soar overhead in an open-sided helicopter for the ultimate bird’s-eye-view, or take a plunge in Devil’s Pool for an up-close-and-personal experience. You can even perch at the top, watching as the world-famous spray rises high above the falls, engulfing you in its misty magic.
Image by Getty Images.
Guyana
The world’s tallest single-drop waterfall by volume of water.
Kaieteur Falls has a very special claim to fame. It holds the title of the world’s tallest single-drop waterfall, plunging 741ft in a mesmerising freefall. Make your way through the lush interior of Guyana with a guide until you find Kaieteur Falls, hidden in the middle of the rainforest, its royal blue waters crashing into the plunge pool below. Keep your eyes peeled for the sacred cave behind the white wall of water, or peek into tank bromeliads in search of the toxic golden frog. Just don’t stick your fingers inside…
Image by Getty Images.
South Africa
The second-tallest waterfall in the world.
Tugela Falls may appear as little more than a trickle among the thick fog, but this multi-tiered marvel in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains ranks among the tallest waterfalls in the world, plunging an astonishing 3,110ft.
A hike with an expert guide through emerald-green grass and up fog-filled cracks and crevices is the best way to see this wonderful waterfall. The view from the top is like no other. An amphitheatre of flat-topped mountains surrounds Tugela Falls, safely encasing its billowing mist and keeping it a secret for the next explorers to discover. Watch the skies for eagles, vultures and kestrels soaring overhead and keep your eyes peeled for cheeky rock hyraxes perched atop rocky mounds.
Image by Getty Images
USA and Canada
One of the most powerful waterfalls in the world by flow rate.
Although Niagara Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the world, it’s one of the most powerful, with over 3,000 tons of water thundering over its edge every second. If you’re on the American shore, don a poncho and hop aboard the Maid of the Mist to explore (and get soaked by) the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. If exploring from the Canadian side, launch yourself onto a thrilling zipline into the mist for the ultimate bird’s eye view of the falls.
Image by cinnamon87/Fotalia.
Argentina and Brazil
The largest waterfall system in the world.
Iguazu Falls (or Iguacu, depending on which country you’re in) begins where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay collide. As the largest waterfall system in the world, made up of roughly 275 different vertical drops, Iguazu is a bucket list topper. Some of these drops are taller than Niagara Falls, and the entire system spans nearly 1.8 miles – more than twice as wide – making it the largest waterfall system on Earth.
Grab your waterproofs and head to the lookout beneath the Garganta do Diabo (Devil’s Throat) to experience the immense power of this gigantic waterspout. Watch as chalk-white plumes of water flow through the verdant undergrowth, crashing into the river below, creating a misty breeze.
Image by Getty Images.
Iceland
The largest waterfall in Europe by volume.
Iceland is a geological wonder brimming with otherworldly landscapes. Gullfoss Falls, known as the ‘golden falls’ by locals, rushes through a mighty gash in the land and is the largest waterfall by volume in Europe. In the summer, its waters shimmer seductively in the sun, but come winter, its icy waters blend in with its white wonderland surroundings and transform into a glittering curtain.
Image by Getty Images.
Written by Evie Buller.
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