Poppy BlaelochThere’s something truly enchanting about a waterfall. There’s so many of them in the world and it can definitely be hard to choose which one’s you should definitely go and see. Well, this list will hopefully help out just a little. Please remember, should anything from this list interest you – or if there’s another location that isn’t on this list but should be – you can always reach out to us and book travel or offer suggestions for future posts.
#1 – Yosemite Falls, California, United States of America
Asides from the beauty of this fall and the frequent appearance of “moonbows”, one of the biggest draws of Yosemite Falls is the Native American legends which surround it. Originally, the Ahwahneechee people’s lived at the base of the fall. They called it Cholock which means “the fall” and believed that the plunge pool was inhabited by the ghosts of witches called Poloti. One folktale tells of a woman who trespassed on their land in order to fill a pail with water. When she pulled the pail from the waters she found it full of snakes. Later that night, the spirits in the lake pulled the woman’s house into it’s depths with the woman and her newborn baby still inside.
#2 – Niagara Falls, Canada and United States of America
Perhaps the best known waterfall in the world is Niagara Falls. This fall is actually a group of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island. Niagara Falls has featured in movies such as 1953’s Niagara which starred Marilyn Monroe Joseph Cotten, in literature like H.G. Wells “The War in the Air”, has been the subject of fine art and music, and has been a cultural phenomenon with it’s history of people attempting to go over the side in a barrel or across via tight rope.
#3 – Angel Falls, Venezuela
As the fall that inspired Paradise Falls in Disney’s Up and the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall Angel Falls serves as one of Venezuela’s top tourist destinations. The waterfall has been known as Angel Falls since the mid-20th century as it was named for United States aviator Jimmie Angel who was the first person to fly over them.
Despite being such a popular destination a trip to Angel Falls can be complicated because of their location in an isolated jungle. A flight from Maiquetia Airport, Puerto Ordaz, or Ciudad Bolívar is required to reach Canaima camp, the starting point for river trips to the base of the falls. River trips generally take place from June to December, when the rivers are deep enough for use by the Pemon guides. During the dry season (December to March), the volume of water is less than in other months.
#4 – Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
At about four and half times the height of Niagara Falls Kaieteur Falls is the largest single-drop waterfall in the world. Like many others on this list these falls were long known about by those indigenous to the area. It was first noticed by Europeans in 1870. The name for the falls is debated. A Patamona Indian legend claims the Kaieteur Falls was name for a Tashao (chief) named Kai who paddled himself over the falls as an act of self-sacrifice to the great spirit Makoaima in order to save his people. Another legend though claims that the falls were named after an unpleasant old man who was placed in a boat and shoved in the fall by his relatives and thus the fall was named “Kaieteur” which means “old man fall”
#5 – Gullfoss, Iceland
Together with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, Gullfoss forms part of the Golden Circle, a popular day excursion for tourists in Iceland. During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors. However, the investors’ attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland, and is now protected.
#6 – Huangguoshu Waterfall, China
As one of the largest waterfalls in China and East Asia Huangguoshu Waterfall naturally draws tourists to it. A major draw of visiting this waterfall is that the point of view changes depending on the location of the viewer. One viewing spot, Guan Bao Ting (Waterfall-Viewing Pavilion), allows you to see that waterfall from a distance while another gives a birds-eye view and the final viewing platform allows visitors to raise their head to look at the fall.
#7 – Krka National Park, Croatia
Krka National Park has many features which are of interest to visitors. Some of the attractions include sightseeing tours, boat trips, museums, restaurants, the archaeological remains of fortresses which date back to Roman times and most importantly to this list – waterfalls. For instance, Skradinski buk is one of the parts of the park which attracts the most attention. This clear, natural pool has high waterfalls on one end and cascades at the other. Due to the wealth and variety of geomorphological forms, vegetation, and the various effects caused by the play of light on the whirlpools, Skradinski buk is considered to be one of the most beautiful calcium carbonate waterfalls in Europe.
#8 – Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
Iguaçu Falls are the waterfalls of the Iguazu River which are on the border of the Argentinian province Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. All of these falls together make up the world’s largest system of waterfalls. The name Iguazú comes from the Guarani or Tupi words “y” meaning “water”, and “ûasú” meaning “big”. Local legend of the falls follow a beautiful woman named Naipí whom had captured the attention of of a deity. This deity wished to marry her, but Naipí had a mortal lover, Tarobá. When the pair discovered the deities wishes they fled from him in a canoe. Upon discovering this, the deity became enraged and sliced the river which created the falls and condemned the lovers to an eternal fall.
The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. It was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013. Aerolíneas Argentinas has direct flights from Buenos Aires to Iguazu International Airport. Azul, GOL, and LATAM Brasil offer services from main Brazilian cities to Foz do Iguaçu.
#9 – Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Located between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is one of the world’s largest waterfalls, with a width of 5,604 ft (1,708 m). Archaelogical and oral histories show that the is a long record of African knowledge of the site, but discovery of it by Europeans is credited to Scottish missionary David Livingstone in 1855. He named the site for Queen Victoria. There are national parks on both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of the fall, each with their own tourism infrastructure. The best time to visit is from late November to early April when the river upstream from the falls, the Zambezi, experiences a rainy season. The annual flood is from February to May with a peak during April. During the flood season the base and the face of the falls cannot be seen.
#10 – Rainbow Falls, Hawaii, United States of America
Free to visitors, Rainbow Falls is located in Hilo, Hawaii. It is 80 ft (24 m) tall and almost 100 ft (30 m) in diameter. This waterfall earns it’s name from the fact that on sunny mornings around 10am, rainbows can be seen in the mist created by the fall. Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue (literally “rainbow water”), the falls flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess. The gorge which the waterfall cascades into is surrounded by non-native plants such as ginger and an abundance of monstera.
We hope that you enjoyed this list and found it helpful. If you are looking to visit any of these waterfalls please get in contact with us in order to book travel. Know of another spot that wasn’t on this list? Please let us know so we can add it to a future post!