Let’s go chasing: Waterfalls ( 2 Min Read )
They are some of the most visually spectacular natural features on the planet. Here are just 10 of them in brief.
Angel Falls: Venezuela- is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall with a height of 979 m. Aviator Jimmy Angel was searching for gold near a certain river and since he was not sure of the exact spot, he decided to fly over the area and discovered the falls by accident. Later Angel’s ashes were scattered over the falls on 2nd July 1960.
Victoria Falls: Zambia & Zimbabwe- is considered to be the largest due to its width ( 1708 m). Dr David Livingstone was the first European to view the falls in 1855. As the sun sets on a full moon, the light from the moon bouncing off the spray gives life to a ‘moonbow’ – a rainbow during the night. This distinctive & striking spectacle lasts from sunset to sunrise.
Niagara Falls: USA & Canada- is known for its sheer grandness, magnitude and spectacular views. This oldest state park provides about 20% of US drinking water. There have been 5 Tightrope walks: first in 1859 by Charles Blondin, who went on to traverse several times including one trip blind folded.
Iguazu Falls:Brazil & Argentina - At 2.70 kms long and 275 individual falls, is largest in the world. The rainforest delta surrounding the falls boasts a whopping 2000 species of plants and is home to the ‘ Opossum’- the only marsupial found outside of Australia.
Tugela Falls: South Africa- is the second tallest in the world, with an uninterrupted drop of 948 m. It is located in the Drakensberg mountain range which forms the border between South Africa and Lesotho. Its towering basalt peaks and buttresses offer dramatic vistas.
Olo’upena Falls: USA- is located in Hawaii, is the highest waterfall in the United States. The islands of Hawaii offer jungle covered cliffs, canyons, ravines, rainforests, deserts, active volcanoes, unique flora & fauna and 5 of the world most intriguing waterfalls- Waimea Falls, Wailua Falls, Honokohau Falls, Hilawe Falls & Olo’upena Falls.
Yumbilla Falls: Peru- located in the northern Peruvian region of the Amazonas, it is considered the world’s fifth tallest waterfall at 895 m. It is immersed in an incredible high forest with a landscape of steep river, river gorges valleys and mountains. In the same valley there are 22 waterfalls.
Vinnufossen Falls: Norway-is the tallest waterfall in Europe and the sixth tallest in the world. Nine of the twenty tallest waterfalls are in Norway and all are important source of energy.
Sutherland Falls: New Zealand- is the tallest & mightiest waterfall in New Zealand located near Milford Sound. In order to visit the falls, visitors need to hike along the Milford Track which is one of the most exciting walking trails in the world.
Plitvice Falls: Croatia- located in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This falls consist of a network of 90 waterfalls cascading into 16 lakes. The lakes continuously change colours according to the amount of minerals and angle of sunlight. The colours range from bright emerald green, deep blue, faded grey etc.
“ Water is the driver of Nature”-Leonardo Da Vinci