Highest Waterfalls In The World

There are a lot of tall, extraordinary, and truly majestic waterfalls in the world! So, which among them are considered the highest? Check them out!

 

Angel Falls

The “Paradise Falls” on the Disney movie Up is obviously inspired by the real-life falls — the awe-inspiring Angel Falls, a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 meters (3,212 feet)! The waters fall off the edge of the Auyantepui, a flat-top mountain which is often shrouded by clouds.

It was found in 1933 when an American pilot was flying above it searching for the city of gold – El Dorado. It was named after the pilot, Jimmie Angels.

It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country.

Tugela Falls

Tugela Falls is the world’s second-highest waterfall, located in Natal National Park, South Africa. It has a cumulative height of 948 meters (3,110 feet); the waters drop from the Mont-aux-Sources plateau. The cascade is mostly ribbon-thin save for the rainy season. Its width is around 50 meters and the water flow averages at 1.4 m3 every second.

It’s height ranking, however, is controversial, some consider it to be the tallest waterfall instead of Angel Falls.

Its water flow is season dependent and so isn’t the same all year round. During the right season and after rains, it can be seen from the park. This makes it easily accessible from land and you can reach there by a long and difficult hike through the mountain. It’s a popular tourist attraction because it offers breathtaking views.

Tres Hermanas Falls

Tres Hermanas Falls is located in Otishi National Park, Junin, Peru. Reportedly it is the third highest waterfall at 914 meters (2,999 feet). The waters drop down on three tiers, hence the name tres hermanas (“three sisters”). It seems “3” is magic number for this waterfall.

The first two tiers collect into a basin, and the third-tier flows from the basin and into the Cutivireni River below.

It is only accessible by air since it is surrounded by dense rainforests. These rainforests are also home to the largest natural bridge in the world. Because of the rugged terrain and unusually tall trees, it is impossible to observe it completely from the ground.

Olo’upena Falls

Olo’upena Falls is a tiered waterfall in the island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States. It is unofficially the fourth highest in the world at 900 meters (2,953 feet). The action of the descending waters perhaps led to the formation of some groove on the face of a seaside cliff. The gentle trickles can be most appreciated when viewed from the ocean or the sky.

It is flanked by mountains on both sides, making it inaccessible via land. You can only get there by air or sea. Tourists flock to this waterfall in the rainy season, when it offers captivating views.

Yumbilla Falls

Yumbilla Falls is located in Cuispes, in Northern Peru. The Yumbilla Falls is the fifth highest waterfall at 896 meters (2,940 feet). Its height was unknown until 2007 until it was measured using laser techniques by IGN (National Geographic Institute of Peru). Yumbilla is a tiered waterfall which consists of four or five drops and the water flow originates from Caverna San Francisco – a cave. The width horse-tail cascade is season dependent, which widens in the rainy seasons and tightens during a dry spell.

It is a tourist attraction and it attracts hikers and wildlife watchers. There are some other waterfalls in its vicinity as well.

Vinnufossen

The Vinnufossen

The title for sixth tallest waterfall belongs to Europe – the Vinnufossen in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Obviously, it is the tallest waterfall on the continent. Another tiered waterfall, it has a height of 860 meters (2,820 feet) and has a total of four drops. The falls descend from the Vinnufjellet mountain and it is fed by a glacier.

The Balaifossen

Vinnufossen is followed by another Norwegian waterfall, the Balåifossen in the county of Hordaland. It has a height of 850 meters (2,789 feet), making it the seventh highest waterfall in the world and the second highest in Europe.

Pu’uka’oku Falls

The Pu’uka’oku Falls is located in the Hawaiian island of Molokai, same as the Olo’upena Falls. It has a height of 840 meters (2,756 feet), making it the eighth tallest in the world. The cascade is ribbon thin and it has worn down the volcanic basal bed on the cliff face over time, creating a cleft for water to flow. It’s subject to a unique natural phenomenon: strong winds can lift the cascade into the air, turning the cascade into a misty shower. This rare view is truly a remarkable sight.

Unfortunately, it is only accessible by air and if you don’t have a guide to point out where exactly to look, you might miss this fascinating vista altogether.

James Bruce Falls

The James Bruce Falls is in Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The waters originated from a “neve” or snowfield and cascade down to an inlet. It is the ninth highest in the world at 840 meters (2,756 feet). It is the ninth tallest waterfall in the world.

It is masked by more conspicuous rainfalls in its neighborhood making it a challenging task to spot it. It is accessible by both land and water. You can take a boat to the mouth of the inlet or hike through hills and get a better view.

Browne Falls

Browne Falls descend over from Doubtful Sound, a fjord in South Island, New Zealand. The waterfall’s source is Lake Browne, a mountain lake or “tarn.” It is the tenth highest waterfall in the world at 836 meters (2,743 feet). This waterfall isn’t easy to spot because of a number of reasons. The waterfalls flow into a fjord – a narrow and deep strip of the sea – which is a remote location. The nearest road is miles away and the closest city is even more far off. Another reason is the dense foliage that surrounds the falls, making the path almost impossible to catch sight of, if you don’t know where to look.