Waterfalls are a uniquely beautiful sight to behold. It is hard to imagine that the simple running of water could carve these magnificent waterfalls into the surrounding rock and stone.
This article will present the top ten highest waterfalls in the world.
- 1. Angel Falls
- 2. Tugela Falls
- 3. Tres Hermanas Falls
- 4. Olo'upena Falls
- 5. Yumbilla Falls
- 6. Vinnufossen
- 7. Balåifossen
- 8. Pu'uka'oku Falls
- 9. James Bruce Falls
- 10. Browne Falls
1. Angel Falls
The world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall is Angel Falls, with a total height of 979 meters. Angel Falls is located in Bolívar, Venezuela.
This waterfall leaps over Auyán-tepui mountain (Devil’s mountain) located inside Canaima National Park. It is also part of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in the Gran Sabana region.
Angel Falls were named after James ‘Jimmie’ Angel, who was an American adventurer and aviator who crashed his plane near the falls in 1937 searching for the Golden City.
2. Tugela Falls
The second tallest waterfall in the world in Tugela Falls, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Tugela Falls is a series of seasonal waterfalls located on Drakensberg, or the Dragon’s Mountains. These mountains can be found in the Royal Natal National Park of KwaZulu-Natal.
After the rainy season, the falls are easily visible from the main road into the national park. More experienced hikers can trek the trails of the national park to get a closer look. At the top of these falls there is a stretch of flat land, which is a campsite that has not yet been fully developed.
One controversy that surrounds Tugela Falls is the fact that some claim it is actually the tallest waterfall in the world, instead of the commonly cited Angel Falls. Supporters of the Tugela Falls say that the original 1949 measurements of Angel Falls do not portray its actual height.
3. Tres Hermanas Falls
No. 3 on our list is Tres Hermanas Falls located in Junin, Peru. This tiered waterfall reaches a total height of 914 meters.
The name of this waterfall means ‘Three Sisters Falls’, and was named for the three distinct drop sections. This waterfall is situated in the protected Otishi National Park, surrounded by a rugged landscape and lush tropical rainforests.
This area attracts many tourists due to its striking natural features, including the Pavirontsi Natural Bridge, which is currently the longest natural bridge in the world.
4. Olo'upena Falls
No. 4 is Olo'upena Falls located in Molokai, in the north-eastern part of Hawaii. This waterfall cascades from a height of 900 meters, and is the highest falls in the United States.
Olo'upena Falls is located on a cliff between the Pelekunu and Wailau valleys. It descends this cliff at a step angle, making a series of horsetail leaps before reaching the base.
5. Yumbilla Falls
No. 5 on our list of tallest waterfalls in the world is Yumbilla Falls. This waterfall is located in the Amazonas region, located in the north of Peru.
Yumbilla Falls tumbles down four tiers before cascading to the base. The final section of Yumbilla is a free fall, which means you feel its sheer force in the shower of mist that it produces.
This is a popular destination for hiking and wildlife tourism, and the region has a rich array of environmental wonders. This includes a beautiful variety of flora and fauna, as well as a number of other impressive waterfalls.
6. Vinnufossen
No. 6 on our list is Vinnufossen which is located in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. This waterfall reaches a total height of 860 meters, which makes it the tallest waterfall in Europe.
This is another tiered waterfall, which is part of the river Vinnu (fed from the Vinnufonna glacier). The slow flow of this waterfall means it is not one of the most forceful in the world. That being said, Vinnufossen is more easily accessible than some of the other falls on this list. So for enthusiasts just starting out, this might be an ideal destination.
7. Balåifossen
No. 7 on the list of tallest waterfalls in the world is Balåifossen, which has a total height of 850 meters. Balåifossen is located in Hordaland, Norway, which is only 6 km south of Osa, Norway.
This multi-step waterfall is part of the river Balåi and empties into the Osafjorden. Despite the immense height of these falls, they are rather low volume. This is in part because they are fed by seasonal snowfields, and so the volume of water passing through reduces greatly in late summer and fall.
Travellers interested in visiting Balåifossen will find a perfect place for viewing is the roadstop opposite the fjord, which is accessible by Osa.
8. Pu'uka'oku Falls
No 8. on our list is Pu'uka'oku Falls which reached a total height of 840 meters. This picturesque falls is located in Hawaii, United States. This waterfall appears as one thin stream etched into the wall of a cliff.
This area is home to some of the highest seaside cliffs in the world, which stretch along the coast of Moloka’i island. Due to this geography, Pu'uka'oku Falls is just one of the many waterfalls in the region.
This location means it is not accessible to tourists or photographers, so closeup images of the Pu'uka'oku Falls are rare. This being said, the falls can be observed from afar, and tour boats take travellers onto the open sea in order to get a view of this impressive natural site.
9. James Bruce Falls
No. 9 on our list is James Bruce Falls located in British Columbia, Canada. This waterfall cascades from a height of 840 meters into the Princess Louisa Inlet. At this height, it is the highest measured waterfall in North America
Travellers can find James Bruce Falls in the middle of Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park.
10. Browne Falls
No. 10 on our list is Brown Falls located in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. This waterfall reaches a total height of 836 meters. The falls are named after the photographer Victor Carlyle Brown, who first found the falls in 1940.
Browne Falls flows down the side of a mountain face, which is covered in a dazzling array of flora and fauna.