Waterfalls

Block	Water descends from a wide stream or river
Cascade	Water descends in a series of rock steps
Cataract	A large waterfall
Fan	Water spreads as it descends in contact with the bedrock
Horsetail	Descending water maintains some contact with the bedrock
Plunge	Water descends vertically, with no contact with the bedrock
Punchbowl	Water descends in a constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool
Segmented	Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends
Tiered	Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls
Multistep	A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own plunge pool

Waterfall	Country	Source/River	Height
Salto Angel	Venezuela	Rio Caroni	3212 ft
Tugela	South Africa	Tugela River	3110 ft
Utigordsfoss	Norway	Glacier fed	2625 ft
Mongefoss	Norway	Mongebeck	2540 ft
Gocta	Peru	Unknown	2532 ft
Mutarazi	Zimbabwe	Mutarazi River	2499 ft
Yosemite	California USA	Yosemite Creek	2425 ft
Espelandsfoss	Norway	Opo River	2307 ft
Mardolafoss	Norway	Mardals Stream	2151 ft
Tyssestrengene	Norway	Tyssa River	2123 ft
Salto Kukenan	Venezuela	Cuquenan River	2000 ft
Dudhsagar	India	Khandepar River	1969 ft
Sutherland	New Zealand	Arthur River	1904 ft
Kjellfossen	Norway	Gudvangen Glacier	1841 ft
Kahiwa	Hawaii USA	Unknown	1750 ft
Takkakaw	B C Canada	Takkakaw Creek	1650 ft
Ribbon	California USA	Ribbon Stream	1612 ft
King George VI	Guyana	Courantyne River	1600 ft
Mardalsfossen	Norway	Mardals Stream	1536 ft
Kaliuwaa	Hawaii USA	Kalanui Stream	1520 ft
Della	B C Canada	Della Lake	1444 ft
Gavarnie	France	Gave de Pau	1384 ft
Cachoeira da Fumaça	Brazil	Unknown	1378 ft
Giessbach	Switzerland	Giessbach River	1312 ft
Krimmler	Austria	Krimmler Ache	1250 ft
Vettisfoss	Norway	Utla	1215 ft
Papalaua	Hawaii, U.S.	Kawai Nui Stream	2001 ft
Tin Mine	Australia	Tin Mine Creek	1182 ft
Silver Strand	California, U.S	Silver Strand Creek	1170 ft
Honokohau	Hawaii, U.S.	Honokohau Stream	1120 ft
Wallaman	Australia	Wallaman Creek	1001 ft
Staubbachfalle	Switzerland	Staubbach Brook	984 ft
King Edward VIII	Guyana	Courantyne	850 ft
Jog	India	Sharavati	830 ft
Hunlen	B C Canada	Atnarko River	830 ft
Waipio	Hawaii, U.S.	Kekee Stream	800 ft
Kaieteur	Guyana	Potaro	740 ft
Kalambo	Tanzania/Zambia	Kalambo River	726 ft
Wollomombi	Australia	Wollomombi	722 ft
Feigum	Norway	Feigumelvi	715 ft

Largest Waterfalls in the World

Waterfall	Country	Source/River	Volume	Width
Inga	Congo	CongoRiver	1,500,000cf/s	Unknown
Livingstone	Congo	CongoRiver	1,240,000cf/s	15840ft
Boyoma	Congo	LualabaRiver	600,000cf/s	4500ft
AugrabiesFalls	SouthAfrica	OrangeRiver	500,000cf/s	80ft
SaltodelGuaira	Brazil	RioParan	470,000cf/s	15840ft
SaltodeIguacu	Argentina/Brazil	RioIgua	450,000cf/s	8,858ft
ChutesdeKhone	Laos	MekongRiver	410,000cf/s	35,376ft
VictoriaFalls	Zimbabwe/Zambia	ZambeziRiver	320,000cf/s	5,700ft
NiagaraFalls	USA/Canada	NiagaraRiver	300,000cf/s	3,948ft
CeliloFalls	USA	ColumbiaRiver	191,215cf/s	10,560ft
Jog	India	SharavatiRiver	120,000cf/s	1,550ft
PauloAfonso,	Brazil	RioFrancisco	100,000cf/s	60ft
SaltoUrubupunga	Brazil	RioParan	97,000cf/s	6,600ft
ShoshoneFalls	USA	SnakeRiver	53,000cf/s	1,000ft
PatoseMaribondo	Brazil	RioGrande	53,000cf/s	6,600ft
VirginiaFalls	Canada	NahanniRiver	35,300cf/s	850ft
GrandFalls	Canada	HamiltonRiver	35,000cf/s	150ft
CauveryFalls	India	CauveryRiver	33,000cf/s	2,784ft
KongouFalls	Gabon	IvindoRiver	31,783cf/s	10,500ft
WilliametteFalls	USA	WillametteRiver	30,849cf/s	1,550ft
KaieteurFalls	Guyana	PotaroRiver	23,400cf/s	370ft
Shivasamudram	India	KaveriRiver	19,000cf/s	2,500ft
EpupaFalls	Namibia	KuneneRiver	17,657cf/s	Unknown
HiddenFalls	Tibet	YarlungTsangpo	15,000cf/s	Unknown
Dettifoss	Iceland	Unknown	14,800cf/s	328ft
SanRafae	Ecuador	RioCoca	14,125cf/s	Unknown
Rheinfall	Switzerland	RheinRiver	13,066cf/s	370ft
GreatFalls	USA	PotomacRiver	11,406cf/s	150ft
KootenaiFalls	USA	KootenayRiver	10,941cf/s	845ft
MurchisonFalls	Uganda	VictoriaNile	10,594cf/s	23ft
RuacanaFalls	Namibia/Angola	CuneneRiver	10,000cf/s	2,280ft
SandstoneFalls	USA	NewRiver	7,847cf/s	1,500ft
GreatFalls	USA	MissouriRiver	7,558cf/s	Unknown
Hafragilsfoss	Iceland	Unknown	7,062cf/s	300ft
Selfoss	Iceland	Unknown	7,062cf/s	600ft
SpokaneFalls	USA	SpokaneRiver	6,731cf/s	400ft

AKAKA FALLS Situated in the Akaka Falls State Park
Location	Hawaii
River	Kolekole River
Height	442ft
Width	25ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	442ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

AMICALOLA FALLS The tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains
Location	Georgia USA
River	Amicalola Creek
Height	729ft
Width	50ft
Number of drops	Multiple
Tallest single drop	175ft
Class	Cascade
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

ANGEL FALLS The tallest waterfall in the world with the tallest single drop. Ernesto de Santa Cruz, found the falls in 1910. The falls were discovered by Jimmy Angel in 1937 after whom they were named.
Location	Venezuela
River	Rio Guaja
Height	3212ft
Width	350ft
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	2648ft
Class	Plunge/cascade
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

AUGRABIES FALLS
Location	Cape of Good Hope South Africa
River	Orange River
Height	183ft
Width	80ft
Number of drops	Multiple
Tallest single drop	183ft
Class	Punchbowl
Time	Perennial
Volume	11,000-500,000 cu ft/sec

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS
Location	Provo Canyon Utah USA
River	Spring fed
Height	607ft
Width	85ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Double Cataract
Time	Seasonal
Volume	Not known

BRIDALVEIL FALLS

This is probably the most famous waterfall in California with El Capitan and Half Dome mountains nearby. This is the only waterfall in Yosemite Valley that flows all year.

Location	Yosemite California USA
River	Bridalveil Creek
Height	620ft
Width	40ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	620ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

CHILNUALNA FALLS

It is located in the Yosemite National Park but outside the Yosemite Valley. The total drop is over half a mile

Location	Yosemite California USA
River	Chilnualna Creek
Height	690ft
Width	50ft
Number of drops	5
Tallest single drop	240ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

COHOES FALLS

It is found 10 miles north of Albany

Location	New York State USA
River	Mohawk River
Height	65ft
Width	1300ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	65ft
Class	Block
Time	Perennial
Volume	6,000-32,000 cu ft/sec

EBOR FALLS

Location	New South Wales Australia
River	Guy Fawkes River
Height	377ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	3
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Block Block Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

GAVARNIE FALLS

The tallest waterfall in France

Location	Hautes-Pyrenees France
River	Gave du Pau
Height	1384ft
Width	50ft
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	922ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	200cu ft/sec

GOCTA FALLS

The third highest waterfall in the world. It was not discovered until 2002 because local people feared the curse of a beautiful blond mermaid who lived in its waters if they revealed its whereabouts.

Location	Amazonas region Peru
River	Cocahuayco
Height	2532ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

HELMCKEN FALLS

Helmcken Falls are Canada's fourth highest waterfall. In winter a bizarre ice cone forms at its base which produces a mound of snow and ice up to 200ft high.

Location	British Columbia Canada
River	Murtle River
Height	462ft
Width	75ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	462ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

HOWICK FALLS

There is a legend that a giant serpent lives in the pool at
the bottom of the falls.

Location	Natal South Africa
River	Umgeni River
Height	364ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	364ft
Class	Horsetail
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

IGUACU FALLS

Most of the waterfall is in Argentina but access to the falls is from Brazil. Half of the river plunges deep into a gorge, known as the "Devil's Throat".

Location	Brazil/Argentina
River	River Igua
Height	269ft
Width	8858ft
Number of drops	Multiple
Tallest single drop	210ft
Class	Tiered/segmented
Time	Perennial
Volume	61,000-450,000 cu ft/sec

JIM JIM FALLS

It only runs in the wet season

Location	Northern Territory Australia
River	Jim Jim Creek
Height	700ft
Width	80ft
Number of drops	3
Tallest single drop	590ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Seasonal
Volume	Not known

JOGG FALLS

This waterfall swells enormously in monsoon season. There are four segments of the falls named the Raja(King), the Roarer, the Rocket, and the Rani(Queen).

Location	Karnataka India
River	Sharavati River
Height	829ft
Width	1550ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	829ft
Class	Segmented
Time	Perennial
Volume	5,000-120,000 cu ft/sec

KAIETEUR FALLS

One of the most powerful waterfalls in the world with great height and great volume.

Location	Guyana Highlands Guyana
River	Potaro River
Height	741ft
Width	370ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	741ft
Class	Block
Time	Perennial
Volume	23,000 cu ft/sec

KALAMBO FALLS

One of the more famous waterfalls in Africa. It is located at the very southern end of Lake Tanganyika

Location	Zambia
River
Height	726ft
Width	15ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	726ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

KEGON FALLS

This is one of the most famous waterfalls in Japan.

Location	Japan
River	Kegon River
Height	330ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	330ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

KHANDADHAR FALLS

Location	Orissa India
River	Korapani Nala
Height	800ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	800ft
Class	Horsetail
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

KING GEORGE VI FALLS

Discovered in 1938 by Paul Zaul (a Dane)

Location	Guyana
River	Rio Oshi
Height	524ft
Width	100ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	524
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

MARDALSFOSSEN FALLS

This is the highest waterfall in Europe

Location	Norway
River	Mardala River
Height	2154ft
Width	80ft
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	1174ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Seasonal
Volume	Not known

MARIA CHRISTINA FALLS

One of the “Majestic” waterfalls of the Phillipines

Location	Phillipines
River	Not known
Height	320ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	320ft
Class	Block
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

MINNEHAHA FALLS

Location	Minnesota USA
River	Minnehaha Creek
Height	52ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	52ft
Class	Curtain
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

MULTNOMAH FALLS

The tallest waterfall in Oregon

Location	Oregon USA
River	Multnomah Creek
Height	611ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	542ft
Class	Plunge
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

MURCHISON FALLS

It is located at the outlet of Lake Victoria

Location	Uganda
River	Victoria Nile
Height	141ft
Width	23ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	141ft
Class	Cascade
Time	Perennial
Volume	10,500 cu ft/sec

NIAGARA FALLS

The most famous waterfall in the world. It has of 3 falls: the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in the US, and Horseshoe Falls in Canada.

Location	USA Canada Border
River	Niagara River
Height	167ft
Width	3948ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	167
Class	Segmented Block
Time	Perennial
Volume	85,000-300,000 cu ft/sec

NUNOBIKI FALLS

This waterfall is of great cultural significance in Japan

Location	Kobe Japan
River	Ikuta River
Height	394ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Tiered
Time	Not known
Volume	Not known

OUZOUD FALLS

Found in the Atlas mountains

Location	Morocco
River	El Abid River
Height	300ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Tiered
Time	Not known
Volume	Not known

POWERSCOURT FALLS

This is the tallest waterfall in Ireland. These falls can be seen in the movie "Excalibur".

Location	Wicklow Ireland
River	Not known
Height	398ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	398ft
Class	Horsetail
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

REICHENBACH FALLS

Famous in Sherlock Holmes story

Location	Switzerland
River
Height	656ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Plunge/Cascade
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

RHAEADR FAWR

The name means the great waterfall

Location	Bangor Wales
River	Rhaeadr Fawr
Height	300ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	260ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

SHOSHONE FALLS

The most powerful falls in the Northwest USA

Location	Idaho USA
River	Snake River
Height	212ft
Width	1000ft
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Tiered
Time	Seasonal
Volume	10,000-53,000 cu ft/sec

SIPISOPISO FALLS

Location	Sumatra Indonesia
River	Toba Lake
Height	360ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	Not known
Class	Not known
Time	Not known
Volume	Not known

SNOQUALMIE FALLS

This waterfall appeared in the TV series “Twin Peaks”

Location	Washington State USA
River	Silver Creek
Height	268ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	268ft
Class	Curtain
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

SUTHERLAND FALLS

The falls drop directly out of Lake Quill

Location	South Island New Zealand
River	Arthur River
Height	1904ft
Width	90ft
Number of drops	3
Tallest single drop	885ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	400-5,000 cu ft/sec

TAKAKKAW FALLS

The Daly Glacier feeds this waterfall

Location	British Columbia Canada
River	Unnamed
Height	1248ft
Width	100ft
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	853ft
Class	Horsetail/Cascade
Time	Perennial
Volume	100 cu ft/sec

TUGELA FALLS

The second tallest waterfall in the world

Location	Natal South Africa
River	Tugela River
Height	3110ft
Width	50ft
Number of drops	5
Tallest single drop	1350ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Not known
Volume	50 cu ft/sec

VICTORIA FALLS

The falls are a mile wide. There are 4 elements - The Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and the Eastern Cataract

Location	Zambia Zimbabwe border
River	Zambesi River
Height	350ft
Width	5700ft
Number of drops	1
Tallest single drop	350ft
Class	Segmented / Block
Time	Perennial
Volume	38,000-250,000 cu ft/sec

WALLAMAN FALLS

The second drop is the highest in Australia

Location	Queensland Australia
River	Stony Creek
Height	1109ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	2
Tallest single drop	879ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

WHITEWATER FALLS

Location	North Carolina USA
River	Whitewater River
Height	411ft
Width	Not known
Number of drops	3
Tallest single drop	220ft
Class	Tiered
Time	Perennial
Volume	Not known

YOSEMITE FALLS

The tallest waterfall in North America. The falls start with a 1430 foot plunge, then 675 feet of cascades and then a 320 foot horsetail

Location	California USA
River	Yosemite Creek
Height	2425ft
Width	93ft
Number of drops	3
Tallest single drop	1430ft
Class	Plunge/ Cascade/ Horsetail
Time	Seasonal
Volume	1700 cu ft/sec

Waterfalls

Types of Waterfalls

Highest Waterfalls in the World