What is the name of the largest waterfall in Africa? What is the tallest waterfall in Africa? What is the tallest waterfall in Africa

Africa is very diverse - on the one hand, it has a lot of deserts and simply arid places, and on the other, there is an abundance of rivers, lakes and beautiful waterfalls. Peculiarities geological structure mainland and its climatic conditions led to the fact that greatest number The most impressive waterfalls known throughout the world are located south of the equator, but there is also something to admire in the northern part of the mainland.

1. Tugela, South Africa (948 m)

Most high waterfall Africa - Tugela is the second highest in the world, although it is far from the power, beauty and popularity of the famous Victoria Falls. In fact, Tugela is divided into five cascades, the sum of the heights of which does not reach a kilometer. This waterfall is located in Drakensberg Mountains, which is in the Republic of South Africa. The royal ceremony was organized in this place national park Natal. Translated from the Zulu language, “tugela” means “sudden”, because the rock from which it falls ends in a sharp cliff, which winter time often covered with snow. The Tugela is quite picturesque along its entire length. The width of the falling jet is small, and the height of the highest cascade is 411 meters.


The territory of Russia is huge, so it is not surprising that dozens of waterfalls are scattered across it, in its most diverse corners. Some of them are so...

2. Mutarazi, Zimbabwe (762 m)

Another southern African country, Zimbabwe, in the Eastern Highlands, is home to the stunningly beautiful Nyanga National Park, with its invigorating humid climate, mountain meadows, green hills, picturesque valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. In the south of this national park there is the picturesque Mutarazi Falls, which is the second highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world. It is located on the river of the same name, the waters of which rush in a powerful stream from a rocky ledge that crosses the river bed. Water falls into the Honda Valley from a height of 762 meters.
The waterfall has two cascades, and the width of its stream is 15 m. In February-April, when summer reigns here, the rainy season begins, thanks to which the waterfall gains maximum power. But in dry winter period it becomes a fairly thin stream. But at any time of the year its background looks wonderful - forested valleys and slopes, as well as rocky mountains.

3. Jinba, Ethiopia (about 500 m)

The next highest African waterfall is already north of the equator - in the northern part of Ethiopia, where the Mount Simien National Park is located. It is fed by the waters of the short mountain river of the same name (only 9 km). Winding among the rocks, the river at some point collapses with a noisy stream into a narrow deep canyon, covering half a kilometer in flight. The height of the waterfall has been determined only approximately, since no one has yet decided to get there and take the necessary measurements. A powerful white water jet rushing down at the beginning of the fall resembles a thin line cutting sheer cliffs from gray basalt. But in the middle of the fall, the wind blows the stream towards the rocks, hitting which, the water turns into a myriad of splashes that form a cloud. The waterfall is especially beautiful during the rainy season, but even during the dry season it does not disappear at all. Unfortunately, Jinba is very difficult to access and therefore little known.

4. Kalambo, Zambia, Tanzania (427 m)

Another high waterfall is also located in southern Africa, this time on the border between Tanzania and Zambia. In terms of continuous fall height, this waterfall, with a width from 4 to 18 meters, is the second on the Dark Continent. It is part of the river of the same name, which flows into famous lake Tanganyika. Following the location of the waterfall, the river flows along the bottom of a 5-kilometer gorge, 300 meters deep and one kilometer wide, after which it enters the Tanganyika valley.
Europeans learned about this waterfall only in 1913. This is one of the most important places on the continent from an archaeological point of view - traces of human activity dating back 250 thousand years have been discovered here. In 1953, D. Clark was the first to begin excavations on the banks of a small lake located downstream of the waterfall along the river. He discovered hearths and stone tools there that were incredibly old. The presence of hearths suggests that already in that distant period our ancestors actively used fire.

5. Maletsuneyane, Lesotho (192 m)

This waterfall with an unpronounceable name is the pride of the small South African state of Lesotho. It is located in Maseru County, in the very center of the country. It may not seem like anything unique at first glance, but the striking geological contrast makes it truly unique. The waterfall is a single cascade, a powerful stream of which falls into the abyss of the canyon from almost two hundred meters high, turning into a cloud of spray noticeable from afar. Against the backdrop of the magnificent surrounding mountain landscape, all this looks incredibly impressive.
Although this part of the African continent is quite arid, due to the height of the mountain plateau, more precipitation falls here and more evenly throughout the year, due to which the Maletsuneyane waterfall is almost always full. In winter, it is often supplemented by huge ice growths. A lake has formed at the foot of the waterfall, which is always in the shade, so the ice on its banks lingers until summer.
Many travelers come here to see the waterfall itself, as well as the picturesque surroundings. The first European to see the Maletsuneiane waterfall in 1881 was a missionary from France, Francois Le Bihan.


On our planet, only 14 mountain peaks have a height of more than 8000 meters. Most of the peaks are located in the Himalayas and are known to everyone under the name "...

6. Augrabies, South Africa (146 m)

This waterfall is located on the famous Orange River in one of the South African national parks. In terms of water fall height, it leads the most famous waterfall Victoria. The name of the waterfall, translated from the language of the local Khoikhoi tribe, means “noisy place”, and there is no exaggeration here, because powerful jets of water fall here into the 200-meter depth of the gorge from a height of 146 meters, and the gorge then stretches for 18 kilometers.
The first European to use the name Augrabis was the Finn Hendrik Vikar in 1778, followed by the Boers, who settled here later. During a particularly powerful flood in 1988, the waterfall’s drainage volume reached 7,800 cubic meters. m/s, and in 2006 the flow rate during flood reached 6800 cubic meters. m/s, which is three times the average flood flow Niagara Falls(2400 cubic m/s) and is equal to the maximum flow rate for the entire observation period.

7. Ouzoud, Morocco (110 m)

There are also ones in northern Africa beautiful waterfalls, and Uzud is one of them. It is located 150 km north of Marrakesh. Its several cascades fall collectively from more than 100 meters in height and are divided into three main streams. In the Berber language, the name of the waterfall means “olive”, and this is no coincidence, since a hiking trail leads to it through a grove of olive trees.
The number and fullness of the waterfall cascades depend on the time of year. They look most impressive in spring, when the river on its way to the cliff has not yet dried up. At certain moments, a more than three cascades, while they unanimously overcome one step, after which they merge into a single stream, which collapses from the cliff. Below, the falling water washed out several natural reservoirs connected by short channels - people bathe in them with great pleasure, escaping the heat.


Seamounts, unlike land mountains, are isolated rises of the underwater bottom and are characterized by clearly defined peaks or peaks...

8. Victoria, Zimbabwe and Zambia (108 m)

This most famous and spectacular of African waterfalls has long become the most important attraction of the Dark Continent and is even included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. It is located between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi River in a place where they border National parks- Zambian “Rattlesmoke” and Zimbabwean “Victoria Falls”.
When the Scottish traveler David Livingstone visited this magnificent waterfall in 1855, he named it in honor of the reigning queen at that time. Local tribes call it “Thundering Smoke”. The width of the waterfall here is very long - 1800 meters, which makes this waterfall unique. Victoria is approximately twice the height of Niagara Falls and more than twice the width of the Horseshoe, its main part.
Tons of falling water every second in flight are broken into countless splashes, which form a cloud of fog rising 400 meters or more above the waterfall - it can be seen 50 kilometers away. Every minute during the rainy season, the waterfall brings down 500 thousand tons of water, and the record was set in 1958, when this value reached 770 thousand tons. The Zambezi collapses into a fault in the earth's crust about 120 meters deep. On the crest of the waterfall there are numerous islands that break the flow into separate streams, the number of which varies depending on different time of the year.
The river that fell into the crevice cut a rather narrow channel in its wall, which is only 30 meters wide and 120 meters long. Having escaped through it, the river falls into a winding gorge stretching 80 kilometers. After the first zigzag after the water fell, she washed out a deep basin 150 meters wide, which is called the “boiling cauldron”.


South America for us is something unattainable and exotic. A lot of literary works have been written about these places, a huge amount has been filmed...

9. Calandula, Angola (104 m)

One of the most notable attractions of another southern African country, Angola, is the Kalandula Falls, which is located north of the capital state of Luanda for 420 kilometers. The maximum flow of water is observed at this waterfall in June-August, when its powerful flow falls at a width of 600 meters. In terms of water flow, Kalandula is second only to Victoria Falls in Africa.
It has a horseshoe shape and consists of several multi-stage narrow streams cascading over rocks that are overgrown with luxurious tall tropical trees. At the top there is an excellent view of the Lukalu River feeding the waterfall, which, framed by lush jungle, stretches into the distance towards the hilly horizon. There is almost always a rainbow hanging over the waterfall, which tourists love to photograph.
The Angolan government recently organized travel company, one of the main attractions of which was this luxurious waterfall. The good thing is that you can admire this spectacle throughout the year, however, it is best to come there during the rainy season, during which the violent power is especially felt huge quantities rushing water.

10. Howick, South Africa (95 m)

There is another high waterfall in South Africa - Howick, which is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal on the fairly deep Umgeni River, 232 kilometers long. Back in 1497, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama entered the mouth of this river on his ship to replenish supplies of food and water. But he did not see the waterfall, and Europeans discovered it only in 1800. The water here falls from a steep cliff, forming a foaming, rumbling column. Locals The waterfall is called by a word meaning “high place.” As the water falls, a lot of white foam and clouds of spray are formed, and this whole picture is accompanied by a deafening roar that does not subside for a minute.

Hands to Feet. Subscribe to our group

Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the widest continuous flow waterfall. Its height is 120 meters (which is twice as high as Niagara Falls), and its width is approximately 1800 m.

Where is Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is located on the border of the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River in South Africa. The indigenous people of Zambia call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means "thundering smoke". Also from the local population you can hear the name Chongue (“place of the rainbow”).

Who discovered Victoria Falls in Africa

The waterfall first received widespread publicity in 1855. While traveling along the mouth of the Zambezi River, Scottish explorer David Livingstone saw "a beauty that cannot be compared with anything seen in England." The Scot named the waterfall in honor of Queen Victoria and dubbed it the most wonderful sight in Africa.

For exactly 50 years, Victoria Falls was heard only from travelers who described it in notes. In 1905, a bridge was built across the Zambezi River Railway towards Bulawayo city. Since then, the flow of tourists has only increased, and Zimbabwe has tourist town Livingston.

By the mid-19th century, the days of the British colonial empire were numbered and South Africa regained its independence. The wave of tourists to Victoria Falls resumed in the 1980s - by which time the annual number of tourists had increased to approximately 300 thousand people.

Description of the area

Above the Victoria Falls, along the Zambezi River, there are islands of different sizes; as you approach the abyss, their number increases. These islands divide the falls into four parts. The right bank of the river is known for “jumping water” - this is the name of the 35-meter wide stream. Behind the island of Boaruca, the width of the waterfall is approximately 460 meters. This is followed by the second main stream behind Livingston Island (530 m). And on the left bank of the Zambezi River there is an eastern waterfall.

The entire flow of Victoria Falls water falls into a narrow crevice and passes through it for about 120 meters, then flows into a zigzag gorge.

Devil's Font

On the Zimbabwean side, at the very precipice of Victoria Falls, there is a section where the water flow is relatively weak, and a narrow rocky ridge creates a so-called pool. This area is known to tourists as the "Devil's Font" and becomes popular from September to December when the water level is low. Desperate extreme sportsmen swim a couple of meters from the cliff. There have also been accidents where swimmers have been carried over the edge, so you should carefully weigh your decision before venturing into the “devil’s pool.”

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

In the Thundering Smoke Park in Zambia you can see such wild animals as elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, two white rhinoceroses, and hippos splash peacefully in the river. There are no predators here, so the animals are not shy and are accustomed to humans.

Tourist information

Entertainment and excursions on the territory of Victoria Falls

  • Explore the rapids of the Zambezi River behind the waterfall - for fans of kayaking and rafting. For less extreme tourists, boat trips are offered.
  • Experience an adrenaline rush by jumping from a bridge right above the gorge - bungee jumping to the sound of a thundering waterfall.
  • See all the beauty of Victoria Falls from a bird's eye view - helicopter and paragliding excursions.
  • Book a jeep safari in the national park.
  • Fly over the canyon on a zip line - Zip-line attraction.
  • Visit the Victoria Falls Museum to learn about how it has changed over its thousand-year history.

When is the best time to go?

Depending on the season, Victoria Falls can be seen in different states. From January to July, the water level in the Zambezi rises, the river flow becomes faster and more powerful (during this period extreme species sports at the waterfall are limited). From August to December, the river dries out significantly, its flow becomes less rapid and strong - this is the peak season for extreme travelers.

How to get to Victoria Falls

The best way is to fly to the capital of Zambia - Lusaka. Next you can use local airlines to get to the city of Livingston. The cheaper way is by bus, but the travel time is 7 hours.

It is better to book a hotel in Livingston in advance to take a break from the road, and in the morning visit Victoria Falls, half an hour’s drive from the city.

Where is Victoria Falls on the map of Africa:

Geographical coordinates: 17°55′28″ south latitude and 25°51′24″ east longitude.

Future scientist, traveler-researcher, missionary and preacher. Already a mature man, in 1841 Livingston received a missionary mission in a number of African provinces. Following his tasks, the brave traveler traveled the length and breadth of the African continent, and in 1855 he set off on another missionary trip. the rivers, as if enraged, rushed into the distance, and somewhere ahead, already invisible, fell somewhere down with a terrible roar. It was the most big waterfall, seen by the traveler throughout his life. He made a lasting impression!

David Linvingstone became the first European to see the great African waterfall Mozi-a-Tunya, or Thundering Smoke. Having looked closely, the traveler was able to appreciate the full power natural phenomenon. The waterfall spread out to the sides for a distance of about one and a half kilometers, and the height of the water fall was at least 120 meters.

The Scot was the discoverer of this miracle of nature, he used his right of pioneer and named the waterfall in honor of his revered Tak na geographical maps another natural phenomenon has appeared - And to this day, Victoria, as the largest waterfall, is the main attraction of the African continent, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this miracle of nature. In 1905, a railway was built to the site of the pilgrimage, and the attraction received the status of especially visited places. Directly at the edge of the cliff, a small depression had somehow formed in the rocky river bottom, about two meters deep and 50 meters across. The water in this depression is only slightly seething, unlike the rest of the cliff, which thunderously throws millions of tons of boiling water down.

This natural depression was immediately chosen by tourists and some daredevils, feeling relatively safe, swam to the very edge and photographed the flowing streams of water. Victoria's service staff categorically objected to such extreme entertainment, but without much success, since the curious could not be kept out, and it was impossible to fence off the natural pool. There have been several cases where a careless tourist has fallen down, but even the death of someone's attempt does not stop the rest. Africa's largest waterfall is not without casualties.

At Victoria Falls there is a monument to Livingstone, it is carved from a single stone to its full height. And a little further away there is an island named after the missionary. Once upon a time, ritual ceremonies took place there, and sorcerers, magicians and shamans gathered there. Nowadays the island is quiet and is a relaxing place for visitors. But on the Bridge of Danger, built relatively recently for tourists and hanging over the waterfall, it is quite noisy due to the piercing squeals of the fairer sex, drowning out even the sound of the water, although I would not mind taking a break from the noise.

For the bravest, a special path has been laid in the forest above the waterfall, along which a person feels alone with the elements. True, women don’t go there. And finally, there is a special air squad of several hang gliders and a helicopter, on which tourists are lifted into the air to view Victoria from a bird's eye view. However, flying on a hang glider is somewhat unnerving for the passenger, and he has no time for inspection, but in the helicopter cockpit it’s just right, you can calmly look around and see and appreciate the largest waterfall on the Zambezi River in all details.

Africa's largest waterfall

  1. Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest in Africa, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is the world's largest, most spectacular waterfall and one of the world's seven natural wonders. Named "Mosi-oa-Tunya" - "The Smoke That Thunders" by the Kololo people who lived here in the 1800s - Victoria Falls is a breathtaking spectacle of awesome beauty and magnificence.
    Victoria Falls stretches 1708 meters wide. It falls from a height of 120 meters into a gorge 30 meters wide. The waterfall was formed by the sharp fall of the Zambezi into a narrow chasm, carved by its waters in a fracture zone of the earth's crust. Numerous islands on the ridge of the waterfall divide the water flow into several branches. The dense fog and thunderous roar produced by the waterfall can be perceived from a distance of approximately 40 km. A boiling cauldron at the beginning of a winding gorge 80 km long, through which streams from the waterfall rush, is crossed by a bridge 198 meters long and 94 meters high. During flood power water flow is approximately 546 million liters of water per minute.
  2. Victoria Falls
  3. I think Victoria
  4. Victoria Falls
  5. Victoria Falls
  6. the highest is Victoria (900m), the widest is also Victoria (1800m)
  7. Victoria
  1. Loading... How old is Japan open country? 100 About 80-100 years 53 years For almost two millennia, she was isolated from the outside world and only...
  2. Loading... Why is *New York* called the _* Big Apple*_? Here is a link to the information http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/РСС-РРСР The symbol of New York is the “big apple”. Since the 30s of the last century for...
  3. Loading... The cleanest sea in Russia The cleanest sea in Russia White http://www.scanex.ru/ru/news/News_Preview.asp?id=n21025124 At the last lesson, the teacher told us that Chukotka, we just covered this topic !...
  4. Loading... can anyone tell us about how they serve in Givati? Givati ​​Brigade (Hebrew #1495;#1496;#1497;#1489;#1514; #1490;#1489;#1506;#1514;#1497;#8206;) Israeli infantry brigade. It was formed in December 1948 on...
  5. Loading... On which seven hills does Rome stand? The center of the Roman hill system is the Palatine (lat. mons Palatinus, 43 m above the Tiber), completely isolated,...

Africa is an interesting continent and part of the world. Despite the stereotypes that have developed about it, Africa is very multifaceted and interesting. Its nature can surprise you with both the driest places on the planet and gorgeous rivers, lakes, waterfalls and forests.

The peculiarities of the geological structure of the continent and its climatic conditions have led to the fact that the largest number of the most impressive, world-famous waterfalls are located south of the equator, but in the northern part of the continent there is something worth getting out of the house for.

Top 10 highest waterfalls in Africa

Tugela

This waterfall is the highest in Africa - Tugela is the second highest in the world, although it lags far behind the famous Victoria Falls in power, beauty and popularity. In fact, Tugela is divided into five cascades, the sum of the heights of which does not reach a kilometer. This waterfall is located in the Drakensberg Mountains, which are located in the Republic of South Africa.

The Royal Natal National Park is organized in this place. Translated from the Zulu language, “tugela” means “sudden”, because the rock from which it falls ends in a sharp cliff, which in winter is often covered with snow. The Tugela is quite picturesque along its entire length. The width of the falling jet is small, and the height of the highest cascade is four hundred meters.

Mutarazi

In another southern African country, Zimbabwe, which is located in the Eastern Highlands, lies the stunning Nyanga National Park, capable of surprising even a sophisticated viewer with its beauty. It combines a humid climate with life-giving properties, luxurious mountain meadows, valleys, green hills, rivers and lakes. In the south of this national park there is the picturesque Mutarazi Falls, which is the second highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world. It is located on the river of the same name, the waters of which rush in a powerful stream from a rocky ledge that crosses the river bed. Water falls into the Honda Valley from a height of seven hundred and sixty-two meters.

The waterfall has two cascades, and the width of its stream is fifteen meters. In the summer months, which fall from February to April, the rainy season begins, thanks to which the waterfall gains maximum power. But during the dry winter period it becomes a fairly thin trickle. But at any time of the year its background looks wonderful - forested valleys and slopes, as well as rocky mountains.

Jinba

The next highest African waterfall is already north of the equator - in the northern part of Ethiopia, where the Simien Mountains National Park is located. It is fed by the waters of the short mountain river of the same name. Its channel lasts only about ten kilometers. Winding among the rocks, the river at some point collapses in a noisy stream into a narrow, deep canyon, covering five hundred meters in flight. The height of the waterfall has been determined only approximately, since no one has yet decided to get there and take the necessary measurements.

A powerful white stream of water rushing down at the beginning of the fall resembles a thin line cutting steep cliffs of gray basalt. But in the middle of the fall, the wind blows the stream towards the rocks, hitting which, the water turns into a myriad of splashes that form a cloud. The waterfall is especially beautiful during the rainy season, but even during the dry season it does not disappear at all. Unfortunately, Jinba is very difficult to access and therefore little known.

Kalambo

The next highest waterfall is also located in the southern part of the mainland. This time it formed where the border between Tanzania and Zambia passes. In terms of the height of its continuous fall, this waterfall, which has a width of four to twenty meters (depending on the time of year), is the second on the Dark Continent.

Europeans learned about this waterfall only in the thirteenth year of the twentieth century. This is one of the most important places on the continent from an archaeological point of view - traces of human activity dating back two and a half thousand years have been found here. In the fifty-third year of the twentieth century, Archaeologist D. Clark was the first to begin excavations on the banks of a small lake located below the waterfall along the river. He discovered hearths and stone tools there that were incredibly old. The presence of hearths suggests that already in that distant period our ancestors actively used fire.

Maletsuneyane

This waterfall with an unpronounceable name is the pride of the small South African state of Lesotho. It is located in Maseru County, in the very center of the country. It may not seem like anything unique at first glance, but the striking geological contrast makes it truly unique.

The waterfall is a single cascade, a powerful stream of which falls into the abyss of the canyon from almost two hundred meters high, turning into a cloud of spray noticeable from afar. Against the backdrop of the magnificent surrounding mountain landscape, all this looks incredibly impressive.

Uzud

There are also beautiful waterfalls in northern Africa, and Ouzoud is one of them. It is located one hundred and fifty kilometers north of Marrakech. Its several cascades fall together from more than a hundred meters in height and are divided into three main streams. In the Berber language, the name of the waterfall means “olive”, and this is no coincidence, since a hiking trail leads to it through a grove of olive trees.

The number and fullness of the waterfall cascades depend on the time of year. They look most impressive in spring, when the river on its way to the cliff has not yet dried up. At certain moments, more than three cascades appear at the waterfall, and they simultaneously overcome one step, after which they merge into a single stream, which falls down the steep slope. Below, the falling water washed out several natural reservoirs connected by short channels - people bathe in them with great pleasure, escaping the heat.

Victoria

This most famous and spectacular of African waterfalls has long become the most important attraction of the Dark Continent and is even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi River in a place where the national parks border – the Zambian “Thunder Smoke” and the Zimbabwean “Victoria Falls”.

Calandula

Calandula Waterfall, which is located four hundred kilometers north of the capital of Luanda. The maximum flow of water is observed at this waterfall in June-August, when its powerful flow collapses at a width of six hundred meters. In terms of water flow, Kalandula is second only to Victoria Falls in Africa.

Howick

There is another high waterfall in South Africa - Howick, which is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal on the fairly deep Umgeni River, two hundred kilometers long. Back in the ninety-seventh year of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama entered the mouth of this river on his ship to replenish supplies of food and water. But he did not see the waterfall, and Europeans discovered it only at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

 

It might be useful to read: