Most spectacular waterfalls of the world

Waterfall is the vivid example of the beauty of gravity. Besides, the most beautiful waterfalls are located in very spectacular places therefore the trips to such places are always exciting.

Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls. It is located on the border of USA and Canada. The width of the Canadian waterfall is 790 meters, while its American part is 320 meters. The waterfall is higher on the Canadian side. The water drops 57 meters. The guided hikes provide the breathtaking experience for the tourists. This tourist destination was often chosen in the 19^thcentury. People could not take photos then and sketched the pictures of it.

The Victoria Falls is the next in the list. It is also called “Mosi-oa-Tunya” on the language of local people, meaning “smoke that thunders”. But the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone did not know anything about it and called it in honor of Queen Victoria. Both names were enlisted to the World Heritage List. The waterfall is considered to be the largest in the world in spite of the fact that it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall. It was recognized the biggest based on its width. With height of 108 meters, the waterfall is 1708 meters wide. The water spray raises so high that you can see it even if you are several kilometers away from the place. The Victoria Falls divides Zambezi River into upper and lower Zambezi and serves as a barrier between them, which is rather effective if you compare the diversity of fish in upper (39 kinds of fish) and lower part of the river (89 species of fish).

The width and height of the Victoria Falls can be rivalled only by Iguazu Falls, which is located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Though this waterfall is not high, it has 275 cascades, which makes the waterfall impressive. Moreover, these cascades create the form of a horseshoe and this adds appeal to the place. They stretch for 2700 meters.

If you want to have a look at the highest uninterrupted waterfall, you should to Venezuela and visit Angel Falls. The water falls from the highest Venezuelan tepui (table-top mountain), which is 979 high therefore many drops of water evaporate in the plunge and form a thick fog. The waterfall is named to honor Jimmie Angel, American aviator as he was the first person who flew over the place. President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez wanted to change its name to original name. He said the nation’s most famous landmark should have indigenous name. Locals called it Kerepakupai Vená in the past. In Pemon language it means “waterfall of the deepest place”. However, the decree was never signed.

It is located in the Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The place enters the list of the most popular tourist attractions of Venezuela but it is not easy to get to Angel Falls as it is located in an isolated jungle. Tourists have to take a flight to Canaima camp. It is better to visit the place when the river is full – from June to December.

Plitvice Waterfalls are definitely worth visiting. Being the most spectacular though they are not large. You can see them in Plitvice Lakes National Park, where 16 cascading lakes with azure and turquoise water are interconnected between each other. Natural dams separate them.

A distinctive feature of the Plitvice Lakes is that they make a system of lakes that is constantly changing. Chalk tufa is washed away and new sediments are constantly formed. Everything that falls into water quickly becomes calcium-carbonate-encrusted and then the dams are created and new waterfalls appear due to the limestone origin of the mountains.

There are 140 waterfalls, 20 caves and unique forest in the national park. The total difference between the highest lake and the lowest lake is 133 meters. The flora and fauna of the place is so versatile that Plitvice Lakes became the most significant areas of Croatia. The area is heavily forested. The scientists listed over 1200 plants of 109 species there. 75 of them are endemic. There are 55 species of orchids at that place. As for the fauna, it is also rich: about 50 species of mammals, over 300 kinds of butterflies and so on.

Yosemite Falls can also be called one of the most impressive places on earth and the major attraction in Yosemite National Park. It is located in California, in the Sierra Nevada and includes three sections: Upper Yosemite Fall, Middle Cascades and Lower Yosemite Fall. If you decide to hike to the top of the Yosemite Falls, you should be ready for strenuous trip that will take the whole day. It is worth saying that there are many waterfalls in Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Falls is the highest among them 739 meters high. The amount of water varies depending upon the season as waterfalls in Yosemite National Park are fed by snowmelt.