The most powerful waterfall in the world. The world's tallest waterfalls A post about the world's largest waterfall

Attractive in their dangerous beauty, waterfalls have always attracted attention and excited human imagination.

It is especially fascinating to realize that people have absolutely no control over the largest and most powerful of them, such as Niagara, Victoria or Iguazu. They show us the beauty and power of living nature.

Geographical object. The meaning of waterfalls

Powerful waterfalls are practically an inexhaustible source energy, which is widely used in the construction of hydroelectric power stations. Staying near waterfalls brings not only aesthetic pleasure, but also has a healing effect: water falling from a height forms water dust, in which negatively charged ions are formed under the influence of sunlight. Such dust, saturated with plant phytoncides, which are always in abundance near waterfalls, has a very great positive effect on the body.

However, there are also contacts with waterfalls that are unpleasant for humans. Waterfalls and rapids that cannot be controlled are a serious obstacle to navigation. Therefore, on many rivers where there are waterfalls, they lay shipping channels, allowing liners and ships to travel safely.

Characteristics and types of waterfalls

A waterfall is a stream of water falling from a steep cliff. Often large waterfalls consist of a chain of small rapids and cascades. One of the features of large waterfalls is their “movement”: the constant fall of water leads to the destruction of the ledge and the movement of the waterfall up the river.

It is noteworthy that almost all the powerful waterfalls in the world are located on the border of two or three states. And this is understandable, because a large waterfall is a natural insurmountable barrier that protects the territory of the state much more reliably than the most modern devices and weapons.

Types of waterfalls:

• cataract- a large waterfall in which the bulk of the water falls in a wide sheet from a relatively small height;
• water slide- a smooth, sloping waterfall without steep drops of water;
• cascade- a series of waterfalls located one after another.

Origin of waterfalls

The origin of waterfalls varies. For example, they may appear due to the fact that the river crosses a natural ledge that was formed before the appearance of water. In another case, the appearance of a waterfall may be a consequence of the activity of the river itself, eroding soft layers of rock.

In the mountains a large number of The waterfalls owe their appearance to tectonic activity. Also in the mountainous regions there are many waterfalls that arose in the hanging valleys due to an excess of water in the rivers that came down from the glaciers.

The largest waterfalls in the world

Since waterfalls vary in width, height and amount of water carried, there is no one that holds the title of largest. Let's list some of the most powerful and wide waterfalls that adorn our planet.

(Kon Waterfall)

So, the widest waterfall in the world is Con- located on the border of Cambodia and Laos on the Mekong River. The Kona drainage is more than 12.5 km wide. Actually, this is a cascading system of waterfalls located in an amazing beautiful place. By the way, Kon is also considered one of the calmest among the famous waterfalls. Opened in 1920.

(Iguazu Falls)

The title itself powerful waterfall belongs to the world Iguazu, aka "Devil's Throat", on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Every minute, over the ledge of the waterfall, such an amount of water pours down that it is difficult to even imagine - 700 thousand m 3! Iguazu, with 275 cascades, is not only dangerous and powerful, it is also breathtakingly beautiful. The waterfall was discovered in 1541.

(Niagara Falls)

And, of course, we cannot fail to mention the most famous waterfalls in the world - NiagaraVictoria. Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River on the border of the USA and Canada, is relatively low - its height is only 52 m. However, thanks to a huge number discharged water and great length, Niagara Falls is considered the most powerful in North America.

(Victoria Falls)

Waterfall Victoria, named after the Queen of Great Britain, was known to the local tribes under the name "Thundering Smoke", which, of course, more closely matches the impression it gives. The width of the waterfall is 1800 m and the height is 128 m.

Tallest waterfall

(Angel Falls)

The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel, located on the Churun ​​River in beautiful Venezuela. Overall height Angel is 1054 m, the height of the free fall of water is 979 m. In the language local residents its name translates to “Waterfall of the Deepest Place.”

Angel was discovered in 1935 by Juan Angel, a Venezuelan pilot who first flew over the waterfall, from whom it got its name.

Anyone who has seen the falls up close will agree that their beauty and majesty are almost indescribable. If even a small drop of water can be inspiring, imagine what it will feel like to see one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

This TOP 10 is based on the width of the falls, not the height or volume. Each waterfall on the list is wonderful in its own way.

10. Inga Falls, Democratic Republic of Congo

Inga Falls is 900 meters wide, located on the Congo River, in Democratic Republic Congo. It is one of a series of waterfalls and rapids that fall from a height of about 100 meters, but intermittently. However, in the main and most impressive part, the water falls from a height of about 20 meters in one breath. There are hundreds of channels on this waterfall, which are highlighted by many large rocks and small islands.

9. Niagara Falls, USA, Canada

Despite its relatively small height, Niagara Falls is undoubtedly the most famous waterfall on the planet. Every year 14-20 million people come to see the waterfall. At 1,200 meters wide, Niagara Falls is far from the largest waterfall, but it is the waterfall with the largest volume of water flowing through it. It has three distinct parts: Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls.

8. Stanley Falls, Democratic Republic of Congo

Stanley Falls stretches 1,400 meters across the Lualaba River, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite its width, it is not a very visually impressive waterfall.

7. Victoria Falls, South Africa

Victoria Falls is 1800 meters wide. It is located on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. The river falls into a gorge consisting of lateral volcanic dams that were formed due to river erosion. When the water enters the gorge, the mist and spray rise more than 30 meters high, compared to the top of the falls, giving the impression that the mist is rising from a deep hole in the ground.

6. Vermilion Falls, North America

Although this waterfall does not have an impressive height, it is the sixth largest waterfall in the world in terms of width, which is 1829 meters. It is located along the Peace River, in Northern Alberta, Canada.

5. Mocona Falls, South America

The waterfall is part of the Uruguay River in Argentina. This is one of the most unique large river waterfalls. Its width is 2065 meters.

4. Iguazu Falls, South America

The waterfall straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil. It has a width of 2682 meters. Most of the river falls in an area known as the Garganta del Diablo, or Devil's Throat, but the rest spreads out across a wide, flat shelf, splitting into hundreds of individual waterfalls. This waterfall can vary greatly in volume depending on how much rain has fallen. At times it is reduced to a fraction of its normal size, but in some cases it increases to 2896 meters in width.

3. Congo Falls, West Central Africa

The waterfall is 3,200 meters wide, making it the third largest waterfall in the world. The falling water is truly an unforgettable sight, and it is located among the dense equatorial forests. The waterfall is located in national park Ivindo, which was created to protect biodiversity.

2. Para Falls, Venezuela

Salto Para, or Para waterfall, 5608 meters. The waterfall is located on the Caura River in the state of Bolivar, Venezuela. It is shaped like a crescent and is formed at the point where two parts of the river converge. The waterfall is surrounded by lush, green jungle.

1. Khon Waterfall, Laos

This is the widest waterfall in the world. Almost twice more waterfall Pair, it has a width of 10,783 meters. The falls are part of the Mekong River in Laos, and occur where the river splits into seven major and many other smaller channels. It consists of several different thresholds.

Nature has given man many wonders, including the largest waterfall in the world. Its beauty can captivate everyone who sees this miracle. Falling water is a great natural phenomenon that has attracted human attention for many centuries.

In general, water is a miracle, and in the following publications we will answer the question, what is the largest river in the world, and we will definitely tell you why the most big lake in the world it is the sea.

The largest waterfall in the world

An interesting pattern is observed. Typically, large waterfalls can be located on the territory of several states. If you ever ask what it's called largest waterfall in the world, you can be sure that they will answer you: Niagara. Someone may remember Victoria Falls (Africa), and only experts in this matter will clarify whether it is longer or wider.

Therefore, based on more precise parameters, it is believed that the highest waterfall in the world is Angel. This is a true treasure of Venezuela (South America) and quite an impressive place. It was discovered by the famous treasure and adventure seeker Jimmy Angel. He never found gold, but history has preserved his name in a kinder light.

With “big”, everything is clear, but what is the tallest waterfall in the world

However, to the question: “What is the tallest waterfall in the world,” there is also a clear answer - Angel. It is located in the jungle of Gran Saban. It is difficult to get to the waterfall, because it is located in a remote place, which made it possible to preserve the natural untouched beauty of this place. Most of those who have visited the waterfall are airplane passengers, because this way you can see at least a glimpse of its beauty.

Getting to the waterfall is quite difficult. To begin with, you should swim for 5 hours in a canoe, then walk through the jungle. By the way, the path to the waterfall will become an interesting and exciting part of your trip. You will become familiar with Venezuela's flora and fauna, as well as stunning landscapes. The waterfall will be full-flowing when it rains, namely from May to November.

The highest waterfall in the world Angel

Every second, the tallest Angel Falls in the world flows three hundred cubic meters of water, which it receives from the Churun ​​River. The height of the water fall is so great that the water flying from above is sprayed into small particles before it has time to hit the ground. The height from which the waters descend is equal to height 3 Eiffel Towers. Even the skyscraper, which is considered the tallest on earth, is lower than the largest waterfall.

The jungle through which you can get to the waterfall is home to rare animals such as porcupines, huge otters and even jaguars. By the way, the huge grotto, which is located behind the huge water wall of the waterfall, can be seen in the film “The Last of the Mohicans”. The highest waterfall in the world can surprise you, and the path to it will complement your travel experience.

Since ancient times, waterfalls have delighted people. Powerful streams of water, fog and splashes are a spectacular, impressive phenomenon. Near some popular waterfalls, entire resort towns have already been built to attract more tourists.

What is the largest and highest waterfall on the planet?

Many are sure that Niagara Falls is the largest in the world, but this is not entirely true. There are still high waterfalls, which outperform Niagara in terms of vertical flow length.

Angel

The first place is occupied by the large Angel Falls, whose height is 979 meters, located in Venezuela. The discovery occurred in 1933 by pilot James Angel. A person can only get there by air or river. The height of the water fall is very high, so it is sprayed into small particles, turning into fog. A person can encounter fog several hundred kilometers away.

The place is not only very beautiful, but also mysterious. It makes a strong impression on travelers.

Tugela

Tugela Falls is slightly inferior to Angel. It is amazing because it consists of five cascades. It is also very long, the height of Tugela is 948 meters. The localization of this attraction is South Africa. To get to this place you need to walk. There are two routes that take at least six hours to complete. The adventure takes a lot of energy, so only the strongest and strongest travelers take advantage of the excursion.

Three sisters

Third place in the ranking belongs to the Three Sisters attraction. Location: Peru. The name comes from three tiers of water. Its height is 914 meters. This place is surrounded on all sides by forest, so it is very difficult to get to. Not all tourists decide to take on this adventure, so few people know about this attraction.

What is the widest drop in water called?

Typically, experts estimate the power of the waterfall's water flow, its height and width. Next, we will consider the most attractive waterfalls in terms of width.

Khon

The widest waterfall is Khon. It is located on the Mekong River. This is the border between two states: Kampuchea and Laos. The water passes through a deep gorge, at the exit the river floods a huge plain, forming an incredibly wide waterfall. The granite ledge in the river bed stretches for 12 kilometers. The sight of this phenomenon is mesmerizing, causing peace and tranquility. Travelers love this attraction very much.

Guaira

IN South America there is an equally impressive waterfall - Guaira. Its width is 4800 meters. Localization - border of Paraguay and. The waterfall was flooded during the construction of the reservoir. A powerful stream of water is still in this place.

The authorities are trying to restore the landmark, but managing so much water is almost impossible.

Victoria

Victoria Falls is also incredibly wide. Width - 1800 meters. The landmark was named after the queen in the mid-nineteenth century. It is located in South Africa.

When the rainy season comes, this place turns into rain stream, there is fog, so you can’t see the waterfall. People who love come here extreme species sports This place is very popular and there are regular excursions.

Full-flowing arteries - photo

A huge stream of water rushes down, this sight cannot but surprise. The largest water flows on our planet occur in Iguazu and Niagara falls.

Iguazu

In first place was Iguazu Falls. It is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. It was not by chance that Iguazu Falls received the status of the deepest waterfall. It consists not of one waterfall, but of several. This is real kingdom of waterfalls, there are 270 of them in total.

Brazil and Argentina attract travelers from all over the world. According to researchers, the Iguazu River erupts on average 1700 cubic meters of water per second. In the presence of such power, people often feel fear. However, its popularity is not decreasing.

Niagara

Well-known Niagara Falls is also incredibly deep. It is located between and Canada. In fact, this is not one waterfall, as many people believe, but several at once. The place fascinates tourists and attracts people from all over the world.

There is so much water in this place that hydroelectric power stations were built under the waterfall, whose total capacity can reach 4.4 gigawatts.

Little miracle of nature

The smallest waterfall in the world Sarkyrama. Its location is Western Kazakhstan. Features of the attraction:

• Located near forest area;
• Water drop height does not exceed 4 meters;
• Until 2008 called Red Falls.

The waterfall is located next to a small settlement, so tourists often visit its foot and it is not difficult to get to it.

There are many on the planet amazing places. Waterfalls have always attracted people. Their greatness and strength are frightening, but at the same time fascinates. Much time will pass, but these sights will not lose their grandeur. All more people are interested in excursions to such places.

Iguazu Falls is a fairly wide and rugged area of ​​falling water. The waterfall is located on the Iguazu River of the same name near the border of Brazil and Argentina.
It is believed that the formation of the waterfall occurred as a result of a strong earthquake caused by a volcanic eruption, as a result of which large cracks formed in the earth's crust.
During the rainy season in November - March, water flow can reach 12,750 cubic meters per second.
Iguazu Falls consists of many individual waterfalls, which are separated by islands, the total area of ​​the single complex is more than 2,700 square meters.
There are a total of 275 waterfalls in this area, the largest is called “Devil's Throat” - the water in this area falls from a height of 80 meters.
In the Guarani language, the term "Iguazu" means "big water". The waterfall was discovered in 1541 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and has been part of the natural heritage UNESCO world.

The waterfall is located in Africa, on the border of Zambia and Zambezi.
The waterfall was discovered in 1855, after David Livingston first saw this amazing natural phenomenon.
During the Jurassic period (150 - 200 million years ago), volcanic activity led to a thick layer of basalt covering most of the South Africa. As the lava cooled and crystallized, cracks appeared in the hard basalt crust, which were filled with clay and lime. The Zambezi River gradually washed away soft rocks, thus forming the waterfall.

The width of the water fall is 1700 meters, the height is 108 meters, in terms of the volume of falling water (during the rainy season) per unit time, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on the planet.
The volume of water ranges from 300 to 9000 cubic meters per second. On average for the year - about 1000 cubic meters per second.

The waterfall is located in the northeast of Iceland, on the Jökulsau au Fjödlum river, and is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of the volume of falling water - on average, approximately 200 cubic meters per second.
The width of the waterfall is 100 meters, the height of the water fall is 44 meters.

5. Shoshone Falls

The waterfall is located in the west of Guyana, on the border with Venezuela, on the Potaro River. The height of the water fall is 226 meters, the width of the waterfall is about 100 meters. The maximum water flow is more than 1200 cubic meters per second (average annual flow is about 650 cubic meters). The waterfall is the largest in the world in many ways. But since it is located in a remote area, little is known about it. It is not visited by tourists.

The waterfall is located in the south of Iceland on the Hvitau River. The height of the waterfall is 32 meters, the average water flow is 125 cubic meters per second. But it should be noted that the waterfall consists of two steps, the first 11 meters high, the second 21 meters.

The highest waterfall on planet Earth. The height of the water fall is 979 meters, the height of the continuous water fall is 807 meters.
The waterfall is located in Venezuela on the Churun ​​River.

Yosemite Falls is located in eastern California in the USA on the Merced River. The total height of the waterfall is 739 meters. The waterfall consists of 3 cascades, height upper waterfall is 435 meters, the average is 206 and the lowest is 98 meters.

10. Huang Guoshu Waterfall