Saturday, May 12, 2012

Five of the Greatest Waterfalls in the World

When we think of Waterfalls, most people in U.S. think of Niagara Falls. But while Niagara Falls might be the most famous waterfall in the U.S. there are plenty of other natural wonders that are more remote, beautiful, and left in an almost untouched state. 

The following are a list of five of the globes greatest waterfalls. This is just a starting point to discover some of the most beautiful natural wonders on earth:

  1. Angel Falls is the world’s tallest waterfall. Located in a remote jungle in Venezuela the falls can only be reached by an airplane ride followed a river trip and a subsequent hike. With a high of 3,212 ft and a plunge of 2,648 ft it is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall. It was named after an American adventurer named Jimmie Angel, who was the first to fly a plane over the now famed waterfall in 1933.
  2. Iguazu Falls are one of the world’s most expansive system of waterfalls. Located in Argentina near the border of Brazil. This amazing landmark is home to 150-275 smaller waterfalls depending on the time of year. On average, 462,301 gallons of water flow from the Iguazu river down the falls per second. If you’ve ever watched Pixar’s film Up, you’ll recognize the falls instantly.  
  3. Victoria Falls claims to be the largest waterfall in the world, not based on height or width, but on the fact that it is the largest single sheet of falling water not broken up by rocks or fed by different streams. Located between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is fed by the Zambezi River in southern Africa. A visit to the falls is relatively inexpensive, ranging between $20-50.00 USD, but you may need to buy a visa on both sides of the border. It is definitely worth a visit during the rainy or dry season.
  4. Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America, coming in at 2,425ft. Located in Yosemite National Park in California the falls is made up of three sections. The upper, middle and lower falls are fed by Yosemite Creek and can be seen from various viewpoints around the park. This waterfall is considered the 6th highest waterfall worldwide. 
  5. Niagara Falls is not the tallest or the largest waterfall by any means, but it is considered the most powerful in the world. Made of of three waterfalls, two in the US, one in Canada it is collectively known as Niagara Falls. The horseshoe-like shape forms a natural border between New York state and Ontario, Canada. It typically pours over 5.7 million liters of water over the edge per second depending on the elevation of Lake Erie’s water supply and is still a popular wedding destination. 

Avery Lane is a freelance writer from Portland, Oregon. When not writing about travel or lifestyles, she covers a wide spectrum of home improvement topics, such as guides to central air conditioner parts and Trane air conditioners.

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