Waterfalls are one of nature's most amazing wonders - found all over the world they've captivated man since the dawn of time.
The most famous waterfalls are often the tallest or widest, but there are actually lots of types of waterfall, from cascade to plunge to horsetail - they are all amazing in their own way.
So we searched and found some of the most spectacular waterfalls from around the world.
1) Known to locals for centuries, Gocta Falls was 'discovered' by the West in 2005.
Found in Nortern Peru it has two amazing drops.
The exact height of the falls is disputed, but it's somewhere in the region of 2500ft.
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2) The world's highest waterfall at a stunning 3,212ft, the mist from Angel Falls can be felt a mile away.
Despite being one of Venezuela's top tourist attractions, the falls are difficult to get to.
An overland flight is required before you embark on a river trip to the base of the falls.
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3) At 2822ft, Vinnufossen falls is also located in Norway.
The volume of water differs throughout the year, but at full flow four spectacular drops can be seen.
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4) The Langfoss Falls in Norway is over 2000ft high and 250ft wide, falling dramatically into a beautiful fjord.
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5) Found in the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, the Plitvice Waterfalls are a series of larger and smaller falls that link 16 lakes.
Formed by natural dams made of travertine, the falls range in colour from azure to green and grey.
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6) What list would be complete without Niagara Falls, Canada?
The most powerful waterfall in North America, it is actually made up of two falls - Horseshoe Falls and American Falls.
Many people have tried to conquer the falls over the years, including Maria Spelterini who crossed them by tightrope in 1876 and Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to go over the falls in a barrel in 1901.
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7) Another Venezuelan waterfall, the Kukenaam Falls have a single drop of over 2000ft.
Springing from a table mountain, they form the start of the Cuquenán River.
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8) Europe's largest waterfall at 1247ft, Krimmler Falls is a tiered waterfall with a seasonal flow.
The best time to see it is during June and July - the village of Krimml in Austria is a good nearby base.
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9) The tallest waterfall in New Zealand, Browne Falls is over 2500ft high with a single drop of 800ft.
Set against a lush backdrop, the falls plunge into the weirdly-named, Doubtful Sound.
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10) Located on the remote island of Molokai in Hawaii, Kahiwa falls is a tiered waterfall with a stunning 600ft drop.
Formed over the tallest sea cliffs in the world, the best way to see this waterfall is by helicopter tour.
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11) Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall is found in Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Iceland.
It may have a drop of just 144 feet, but the average water flow is over 200m^3/s.
Drawing its water from a glacier, Dettifoss can only be reached by a rough track, but the spectacular view is worth it.
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12) Japan's tallest waterfall, Hannoki-no-taki is a single horsetail waterfall that pours into a basin at the bottom of another tall waterfall, Shomyo-no-taki.
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13) Part of the Glacier National Park in Montana, Beaver Chief Falls is a spectacular tiered waterfall joining two beautiful lakes.
It's also known as the 'Diamond Falls' because the water splits into two channels, then converges again on the way down.
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14) Found on the Zambezi river in southern Africa, Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The falls are most powerful during the rainy season, when the spray is visible up to 30 miles away.
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15) The Cascades de Trou de Fer are found in the canyon of the same name (which means "Iron Hole"), on Reunion Island near Madagascar.
The falls are part of the Bras de Caverne river which flows through the canyon - with 4 drops, the falls are around 2380ft high.
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16) Over 2000ft high, Alfred Creek Falls runs off the Alfred Glacier in the Yukon, Canada into an alluvial fan - a fan-shaped deposit at the base of a canyon.
A truly spectacular waterfall, it is one of the tallest in North America.
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17) With a height of 2425ft, Yosemite falls is a major tourist attraction in Yosemite National Park, California.
According to Ahwahneechee legend, the pool at the bottom was inhabited by witches.
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18) The Kjerag mountain in Norway has some awe-inspiring scenery, not least of which is its 2345ft Kjeragfossen waterfall.
The waterfall plunges off a sheer cliff, but because the water volume is quite small it often turns to mist on the way down.
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19) Another Hawaiian gem, the area round Waihilau Falls has been abandoned since 1940, making it one of the few pristine places left in Hawaii.
The lush green valley is home to several waterfalls, but the Waihilau Falls are the tallest at 2600ft.
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20) Nestled in some of the most unspoilt rainforest on earth, the Kaietuer Falls in Guyana, South America, is a truly awe-inspiring sight.
It may not be the tallest, but it is the largest single-drop waterfall in the world by volume of water.
To give you an idea of scale, Kaieteur is about five times taller than the more famous Niagara falls.
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If you know of any more amazing waterfalls to add to the list then please add your suggestions in the comments below and we will get them included.
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Source: http://www.simonseeks.com
Date: 1 Nov 2009 | Author: mesmerX | Category: Pictures | Views: 21794
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