Waterfalls are a gift of God to earth, making the land spectacular and enchantingly beautiful. They create a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision. It’s thick foamy water splashing down the cliffs partitions the land and the water fumes and droplets spread in air while producing amazing sounds. This list takes the readers on a tour to breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls around the globe.
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10. Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA
Ramona Falls is in Mount Hood Wilderness in Oregon, USA. This 120-foot long fall drapes across a stair-stepped cliff of columnar basalt. The amazing shape of the columnar basalt was formed due to eruption of lava. It is a renowned tourist spot and a famous hiking venue. 7.1 mile loop to the fall gains 1000 ft of elevation.
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9. Duden Waterfalls, Turkey
Duden Waterfalls are a group of waterfalls on the Duden River in the province of Antalya, Turkey. The water of the Lower Duden waterfall falls gracefully into the Mediterranean sea after sliding across a rocky cliff. It is a famous tourist attraction at a small distance of 10 Km from the beaches in the South East of Antalya.
8. Jog Fall/ Gerusoppe falls/ Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi, India
Jog Fall is the highest waterfall in India. It is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters. The waterfall is a famous tourist attraction as well as a source of energy. A power station is operational since 1948 using the water of this waterfall. With a capacity of 120 MW, it is one of the largest hydro-electric stations in India.
7. Yosemite Firefall or Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Firefall or horsetail firefall in Yosemite village, Mariposa County, is a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision, a sight which must be relished once in a lifetime. Under perfect conditions, it gives the vision of 1500 ft long firefall flowing down the cliff. In reality it is not lava or fire but water marvelously flowing down. This firefall finds it’s explanation in science which supports it’s formation. This waterfall in Yosemite looks like a firefall if it meets two conditions. Firstly, it should be the end of winters and the ice should be melting. The weather should be all misty and cloudy. Secondly, the sun must set at a perfect angle. Once the conditions are met, the waterfall glows like fire.
It seems that the water suddenly transformed into fire or the cliff is on fire. All these conditions are met in the last two weeks of February when the snow melts and sun sets at the desired angle. Curious nature loving tourists and photographers come from all over the world to have a look at this remarkable sight. It is best viewed from a picnic area along Northside Drive.
6. Godafoss, Iceland
Godafoss waterfall or the waterfall of gods is the most beautiful waterfall of Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters spreading to a width of 30 meters. It has a very interesting story behind it’s name. In 999 Christianity was made the official religion of Iceland. At this point Þorgeir threw his Norse gods into the river. This act of his gave the fall it’s name, Waterfall of gods. An Icelandic ship was named after the fall, which was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II. This caused great loss of life.
5. Huangguoshu Waterfall/Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall, China
Huangguoshu Waterfall is one of the largest waterfalls in China and East Asia located on the Baihe River in Anshun, Guizhou Province. It is 77.8 m (255 ft) high and 101 m (331 ft) wide. The waterfall can be viewed from different places but the most famous spot is Waterfall-Viewing Pavilion (Guan Bao ting), from where the tourists can see the whole waterfall. It curtains a 134 m long naturally formed cave known as Water-Curtain Cave or “Shuiliandong”.
4. Detian Falls/ Ban Gioc Falls/ Banyue Falls , Vietnam – China
Detian Waterfall is a very beautiful and spectacular waterfall at China-Vietnam border. The waterfall is 30 meters long. It makes deep thundering sounds by hitting the cliffs which beautifully partition the waterfall into 3. These cliffs used to be a hideout of local bandits whose treasure is occasionally still found in the cliff-side caves. It is the 4th largest fall shared by two countries after Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls, and Niagara Falls.
3. Victoria Falls / Mosi-oa-Tunya , South Africa, Zambia – Zimbabwe
Victoria falls, also known as the Smoke that Thunders, is a 108 meters long waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the 3rd largest waterfall beautifully straddling the borders of the two countries. The waterfall is neither the highest, nor the widest yet the biggest waterfall of the world in terms of area with a height of 108 meters and a width of 1,708 meters. It was given the name, The Victoria falls in honor of the Queen Victoria by it’s first visitor David Livingstone.
2. Iguazu Waterfalls, Argentina – Brazil
Iguazu Waterfall is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. It’s system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 km of the Iguazu River. According to a legend, the fall was created by a god who wanted to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. The god condemned the lovers to an eternal fall by slicing the river into 275 falls.
1. Niagara Falls, Canada – America
The Niagara Falls are 175 ft long, milky and voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. This captivating and enchanting waterfall has two sections: The Horseshoe falls on the Canadian side and the American falls on the American side of the border. It is a famous tourists attraction as well as a huge source of hydroelectric power generation.
This feature originally appeared in Smashing Lists.
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