The Biggest Waterfalls In The World

Waterfalls always make for spectacular tourist-attractions, exciting the senses with a combination of breathtaking sight, overpowering sound, exhilarating spray, impressive vibration, and often a unique potpourri of scents.

From the towering Angel Falls in Venezuela with an uninterrupted height of 979 metres (3,212 ft) to the broad 10783-metre (35,376 ft) span of the Khone Falls on the border between Laos and Cambodia, waterfalls have always amazed mankind since the dawn of time.

Whether you are at remote cataracts like Dyanjandi in Iceland or at crowded sightseeing favourites like the Niagara Falls on the USA/Canada border, you will be spellbound by the majesty and power of natural cascades. From the shocking deep-red Blood Falls in Antarctica to the brilliant multi-coloured hues of Colombia’s Caño Cristales Rapids and the eye-catching rainbows dancing about a myriad other waterfalls around the world, colours are part of the attraction when water tumbles from one level to another.

Our choice of the best waterfalls in the world are also the largest. The Victoria Falls that straddle the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia are the biggest singular waterfall in the world, with a width of 1.7 kilometres, a height of 108 metres, and an average flow of a massive 1 million litres of water per second!

On our visit to Zimbabwe, we learnt that these impressive waterfalls are most commonly known as “mosi-oa-tunya” or “the smoke that thunders”. Since ancient times, this tremendous natural phenomenon has been identified from miles away by the perpetual cloud of spray and the deep rumble of its cascading torrent. Considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, two-thirds of Victoria Falls lie within Zimbabwe, which also has the most vantage points.

For a variety of reasons, much of the Victoria Falls National Park has been left in its natural state, apart from broad cemented paths and a large Interpretive Centre at the entrance.  While families with small children need to be aware of the ‘wilderness environment’ awaiting them, we find that the lush natural habitat adds to the allure and adventure of the experience at Victoria Falls, the Largest Waterfalls In The World!

(Photographs by Andrew Ponnampalam)