Waterfalls are one of the great wonders of nature and adventurous sites that attract many tourists annually. The rumbling of water falling or the beautiful fog that forms the atmosphere around the waterfalls are so fascinating, leaving one dumb-founded. Since you will be hard-pressed to choose from tens of thousands of waterfalls spread across the face of the earth, selecting the most beautiful waterfalls in the world by any stretch of the imagination is challenging. In this article, I’ve tried to choose the ten most beautiful waterfalls because of their impressiveness, otherworldliness, and significance for the world around us.
1. Angel Falls, Venezuela: The highest Waterfall in the world.
Standing at 3,212 feet (979 meters), Angel Falls in Venezuela outcompetes other waterfalls in being ranked the highest. This breathtaking Waterfall was first spotted by an American pilot, Jimmie Angel, in 1933. It is located at the top of the Auyán-tepui in Guiana highland. The water drops almost vertically and hammers the lush rainforest below, and this spectacle leaves every observer spellbound. The beauty associated with Angel Falls and its great loom makes it among the most visited sites by tourists in South America.
2. Iguazu Falls is the world’s largest waterfall system.
Iguazu Falls is the largest waterfall system in the world. It is situated on the border of Argentina and Brazil and has a total of 275 falls. It has a width of approximately 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometres). The largest though more narrow one is named the Devil’s Throat; here, nearly 14,000 gallons – 53 cubic meters per second – of water cascades down through this U-shaped chasm. The beauty of this twenty-five-meter high Waterfall, as many as four hundred and fifty-five steps to the top, and surrounded by rainforest and various plants and animals that can only be found in this region make this site a favourite of tourists worldwide.
3. Ngonye Falls – Zambia
On the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is an amazing waterfall – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO object. Called by the explorer Dr Livingstone after Queen Victoria, the Waterfall has the local name Mosioa-Tunya, ‘the smoke that thunders.’ This stunning Waterfall is not only overwhelming with its size and power, with an average width of 5,604 ft (1,708 m) and height of 354 ft (108 m). The sight of so much load of water coming down forms mist, which, when viewed from a distance, forms part of the beauty of this world’s largest waterfalls.
4. The waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes are located in Croatia, a magical country with 16 joined lakes and stunning waterfalls.
These beautiful waterfalls are amid Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park and comprise sixteen clear, blue lakes linked by magnificent waterfalls nestled between the forest and its vibrant flora and fauna. Yes, it was formed through the process of natural travertine setting. The formations through water make it a heaven for photographers and natural eye lovers. Everyone visiting Eastern Europe should take the time to view this natural wonder of scenic beauty.
5. Sutherland Falls, USA – A great gorge and a waterfall in Yosemite National Park
Existing in the undisclosed area of Yosemite National Park in the USA, Sutherland Falls is amongst the highest waterfalls in the USA, with a total height of 2,425 feet (739 meters). This is one of the most imposing waterfalls on the face of the earth, and it owes this to the Merced River, which tumbles down the face of the Vernal and Nevada Falls, which are formed by granite cliffs. It is principally a natural wonder, and the wonderful might of Sutherland Falls makes it a landmark for those interested in natural attractions to tour across the globe.
6. Niagra Falls, USA/Canada – A symbol of people’s togetherness
Niagra Falls is one of the most toured and frequent waterfalls located in the United States of America and Canada. Niagara Falls can be divided into three distinct spills: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, all of which fall in the Niagara River. It has been mentioned that besides being the biggest attraction for Flint men, this Waterfall is associated with international goodwill and cooperation between the United States of America and Canada. Boating is preferred for viewing the falls or just standing on the viewing terraces in the towering falls and the force of falling water.
7. Taughannock Falls, USA – A fantastic hike to a 215-feet tall waterfall in upstate New York
Taughannock Falls is a breathtaking scenery formed by a 215-foot waterfall located in upstate New York, USA, and which flows down the walls of the gorge. This beautifully located Waterfall is in some of the most gripping forested areas, with roamed hiking tracks that attract many tourists. Being one of the most splendid waterfalls, Taughannock Falls speaks for the other falls in the United States.
8. Dettifoss, Iceland – Europe’s most powerful Waterfall
The most powerful Waterfall in Europe is situated in northeastern Iceland, releasing about 196,000 cubic feet (5,540 cubic meters) of water per second. This is one of the many branches of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River and is rather famous for its might and stunning beauty. This makes it a spectacular show of water thundering down and leaving behind a loud rumbling sound that people from several miles away around the falls can hear.
9. Gullfoss, Iceland – a magnificent waterfall consisting of two drops.
Gullfoss, or the Golden Falls, is a stunning double waterfall south of Iceland. “This impressive waterfall is formed by Hvítá river and gains its amber color from silt carried down from the glaciers.” Gullfoss remains one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, as two different waterfalls interlink and form an even more stunning view.
10. Kiyomizu-dera Waterfall, Japan – Japan’s most fantastic Waterfall temple site.
Tucked in at the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan, the Kiyomizu-dera Waterall is one of the most remarkable water features ever. This beautiful Waterfall, through which water tumbles in a 98-foot (30-meter) granite cliff, is enclosed by a thick forest and has been an object of Shinto and Buddhist adoration for centuries. Indeed, the mixture of religion and nature endow makes Kiyomizu-dera Waterfall a unique and breathtaking site.
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