Top 10 World's Largest Waterfalls (+Volume and Height)

The largest waterfalls in the world are great in width, height, volume, and flow rate. Waterfalls are spectacular because of their beauty and power.

They are beautiful places you can spend quality time with your loved ones and behold the wonders of nature.

 

The largest waterfalls in the world are massive and breathtaking. Scientific research shows visiting waterfalls improves one's health, for both physical and mental health. 

Waterfalls make you feel relaxed and take away your worries. 
Researches also show that waterfalls can improve respiration. 

Let's travel around the world to see the top 10 world's largest waterfalls (+volume and height) you can add this falls to your bucket list,

1. Victoria Falls-The largest Waterfall In The World
2. Kongou Falls
3. Iguazu Falls
4. Niagara Falls
5. Salto Para Falls
6. Shivasanasmudram Falls
7. Khone Fall 
8. Kalandula Waterfalls
9. Kaieteur Falls
10. Virginia Falls

10. Virginia Falls  

Virginia Falls. Image credit: Paulo Gierszewski/Wikimedia

Width: 259m (850 ft) 
Height: 90m (294 ft)
Country: Canada (North America)
Flow  rate: 1000 m3/s (35, 300 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: June to September
River: South Nahanni 

Virginia Falls is one of the biggest waterfalls in the world located in the remote part of Canada. Virginia Falls is named after the daughter of Fenley Hunter in 1928. He got to know about the fall while making research for the Geological Survey of Canada. His daughter's name is Virginia Hunter.

The fall has two other names, Na'ili Cho and Mahoney Falls. Dene is the native language of local people around the falls. In Dene language, Na'ili Cho means "big water falling down". Virginia flows beside a massive limestone known as Mason's Rock. 

The fall has both south and north segment that later join in the river below the fall. Mahoney's is not a popular name for the fall. The fall is among the first four UNESCO world heritage sites in the 1970s.

 9.Kaieteur Falls  

Kaieteur Falls. Image credit: Sorenrise/Wikimedia 

Width: 113m (370ft)
Height: 226m (741ft)
Country: Guyana (South America)
Flow rate: 663 m3/s (23,400 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: May to July
River: Potar

Kaieteur Falls is among the spectacular largest waterfalls in the world. The fall is called after a man, called kai, who is an Amerindian chief. He sacrificed his existence by sailing over the fall, to please the spirit Makonaima, believing that his act will keep his tribe safe. Teur means fall in the Amerindian language.

One thing that is unique about this fall is that it is a constant voluminous tall singledrop waterfall. It is not the tallest waterfalls nor the widest, but a waterfall in the middle of the two. 

The fall can be the view from three stops, Boy Scout’s view (the major view), Rainbow view, unblocked view. Boy Scout’s view gives the frontal look from the land. From the Rainbow view, Rainbow can be seen in the midst of the fall. The third, unblocked view is at the edge of the ledge, next to Kaieteur Falls. On the verge of the fall, you will experience the thunderous sound of this fall. 

Guyana shield is the area where the waterfalls are located. In the shield, there are a lot of rare wild animals such as golden frogs and rare plant species such as a plant that attracts and digests insects. The shield is also devoid of some insects such as mosquitoes and other biting insects, possibly because of the plant-eating insect in the area.

 8.Kalandula Waterfalls  

Image credit: Paulo Cesar Santos/Wikimedia 

Width: 411m (1350ft)
Height: 105m (344ft)
Country: Angola (Africa)
Flow rate: 566 m3/s (20,000 cubic ft/s) for 5 months
River: Lucala 

Kalandula waterfalls also known as Calandula Falls is a beautiful horseshoe shape waterfall. The fall was divided into countless beautiful small trickles. It is one of the biggest waterfalls in the world but its beauty makes it unique. The mist of the fall can be seen from far.

The magnificence of the fall is more obvious during the rainy season, between February to April. There is no fencing, it is possible to walk to the edge and look directly down the falls.

 7.Khone Fall  

Khone Falls. Photo credit: rainforestcruises

Width: 10,783m (35376 ft)
Height: 21m (69 ft)
Country: Laos (Southeast Asia)
Flow rate: 11,610 m3/s (410,000cubic ft/s)
Best flow: August and September
River: Mekong 

Khone Falls is also referred to as Chutes de Khone is located in Laos, on the Cambodian border. Khone Falls is known to be the barrier between the upper and lower Mekong River. The fall is not as popular as the other largest waterfalls in the world.

Yet, Khone is the widest waterfall in the world and the fall with one of the highest flow rates in the world. Though Khone Falls is not one of the highest falls in the world, still it is the second voluminous waterfall in the world. From far, the fall seems not to be large because the height is just 21 meters tall. 

What makes it large is the rapid succession that stretches 9.7 km across the river. There are thousands of islands in the river, the area is known as Si Phan Don, meaning, "the 4,000 Island". Khone Falls are not easily accessible like other waterfalls.

There have been so many attempts for sailors and travelers to sail through the Mekong river to china, Khone Fall was the barrier for decades. It was when Don Det-Don's narrow-gauge portage was constructed across the two islands, Don Det and Don Khone. With it, they were able to bypass through the fall. 

 6. Shivasanasmudram Falls  

Barachukki (left) and Gaganachukki Falls. 

 

Width: 305m (1,000ft)
Height: 98m (320ft)
Country: India (Southern Asia)
Flow rate: 934m3/s (33,000 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: July to October
River: Cauvery

Shivasanamudram (also spelled Sivasamudram or Shivasamudram). Shivasanamudram means shiva's sea. It is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. 

Not only that, Shivasanamudra Falls is a beautiful twin waterfall, it is divided into two. Namely,  Barachukki and Gaganachukki Falls. Barachukki is wide and more popular than Gaganachukki. 

Shivasanamudra Falls is a segmented waterfall because the fall is divided into different paths before dropping over the vertical rock surface. This brings about the multiple side waterfalls. 

The first hydroelectric power in Asia was located near the waterfalls. Tourist can really enjoy their trip as they can get closer to the waterfalls in a safe fenced with guard rails and when tired, there are benches you can sit on. 

If you visit this fall, you can ride a boat or canoe to the mouth of this impressive waterfall to actually see the beauty of the fall.

However, tourists are advised to be careful near the waterfalls because there are vicious ants there. Shivasanasamudram Fall is more fascinating to sight during the wet seasons. 

 5.Salto Para Falls  

Width: 5600m (18400 ft)
Height: 60-64m (200 ft)
Country: Venezuela (South America)
Flow rate: 3540 m3/s (125,000 cubic ft/s)
Best  flow: Year-round
River: Caura

Salto Para or Para Falls is the second widest waterfall in the world. Salto para Falls shape is like a half-moon shape. The fall got the shape because the river split into two and later converge.

In the middle of the fall is a green vegetation island. Salto para Fall is one of the biggest waterfalls in the world by volume and width, but also one of the powerful waterfalls in the world. 

 4.Niagara Falls  

American Falls(left), Bridal Veil Falls (middle, small fall), and Horseshoe Falls (right). Photo credit: Saffron Blaze/Wikimedia

Width: 1204m (3,950ft)
Height: 51m (167ft)
Country: United States and Canada borders (North America)
Flow rate: 2407m3/s (85, 000 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: Year-round
River: Niagara

The word Niagara originated from indigenous tribes of southwestern Ontario Canada, around 1300 and 1400 A.D. Niagara Falls is an impressively powerful waterfall. The fall attracts almost 30 million visitors annually. It is well-known and one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

Niagara Falls is sited between the borderline of New York State, the United States, and Ontario Province, Canada. The special feature is shared by the two nations. This beautiful fall comprises of three falls, Canadian Falls (Horseshoe Falls), American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.

At the duo countries' borderline is the Horseshoe Fall. Moreover,  the other falls area is within the United States. The Horseshoe is the broadest with a breadth of 823 meters (2700feet). The American Falls has a breadth of 286.5 meters (940feet) and the Bridal Veil is the smallest width is 14 meters (45 feet). The total width of the Niagra fall is 1,204 feet (3950 feet). 

The Canadian Falls, 51meters (167 feet) is the tallest area of the fall. Niagara Falls has a great force, with a flow rate of 2400m3/s. No wonder, It is a great resource for electric power to the citizens through the New York Power Electricity. It is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. 

 3. Iguazu Falls  

Aerial view of Iguazu Falls. Photo credit: Enaldo Valadares/Wikimedia

Width: 2682m (8,800ft)
Height: 64-82m (210-269ft)
Country: Argentina and Brazil borders (south America)
Flow  rate: 1756m3/s (61,660 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: Year-round
River: Iguazu 

Iguazu Falls have two other names, Iguassu Falls and Iguaçu Falls. Iguazu is derived from the Guarani language (spoken by the native people of Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil). When translated, it means, "big water". It is sited on the borderline of Brazil and Argentina. In 1984, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site.

The waterfall features are shared by the two countries. The waterfalls have 3 side views. It can be viewed from the Brazillian side, Argentina side, and the Devil throat side. The Argentina side enables tourists to walk across water flowing over the edges and gives the best close-up views of the fall. 

The Brazilian side provides a wide view of the falls. While, the Devil's throat side, shows the U-shaped side of the waterfalls. The throat is actually the boundary between the two countries and it is impressive. Half of the river diverts into the throat. It is the highest point of the fall, 82 meters (269 ft). 

This fall is not just one of the largest waterfalls in the world, but also one of the most massive and powerful waterfalls. It is one of the waterfalls with the highest flow rate in the world. Not only that, but the waterfalls are also beautiful to behold, with 275 cascades and steps.

The fall is so impressive that the late U.S first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt said "poor Niagara". Tourists also said everything about Iguazu waterfalls is purely natural because there are wild animals such as monkeys, jaguars, and so on, on the way to the falls.

 2. Kongou Falls  

Photo credit: cifor.org

Width: 3200m (10, 500 ft)
Height: 56m (185 ft)
Country: Gabon (Central Africa)
Flow rate: 900 m3/s (31,783 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: September to November
River: Ivindo

Kongou Falls are not only among the biggest waterfalls in the world but also one of the most beautiful waterfalls. It is located in Ogooué-Ivindo, on Ivindo River, in Ivindo National Park, Gabon. Even, in the middle of Kongou falls, there are trees.

There are also numerous smaller islands diving into the falls. There are special species of fish along the Ivindo River. Kongou Falls is sacred to people living nearby to the fall. It has countless cascades, small and large streams. 

 1. Victoria Falls: The Biggest Waterfall In The World  

Width: 1707m (5600 ft)
Height: 108m (354 ft)
Country: Zimbabwe (Africa)
Flow rate: 1088 m3/s (38,430 cubic ft/s)
Best flow: Year-round
River: Zambezi 

There is no doubt, Victoria Falls is awe-inspiring to sight. It is one of the most wonders of nature in the world. Victoria Falls is located between Zambia and Zimbabwe's borders. The falls existed as a result of the fourth largest river in Africa, Zambezi, river flowing and drops over cliff. Yes, Victoria Falls is the biggest waterfall in the world. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. 

Aerial view of Victoria Falls. 

It has a width close to 2 kilometers and its height is more than a hundred meters. Between April and May, the falls are more voluminous, during those months, the foot cannot be seen. Water sprays can rise to over 400m (1300 ft), their sound can be heard 40 kilometers away and can be seen from 50 km (30 miles) away. 

Victoria Falls strikes everyone with its power. No wonder the people living around the falls were so scared by it that none of the local people visit the place for centuries. 

Indigenes call it, Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning, " the smoke that thunders". David Livingstone, a European, first discover this falls in 1855. He named it with regard to the queen of England then, Queen Victoria. 

He was really amazed by the waterfalls that he wrote, "no one in England can ever imagine the beauty of this scene, that even angels are probably also admiring the scenery while flying nearby".

Even, after Livingstone went to the waterfall, local people were still scared to go there not until 1905 and by the end of 1990, more than 300,000 people were visiting the fall yearly. Today, roughly one million people visit the fall each year.

 + Angel Falls

Width: 107m (351 ft)
Height: 979m (3211 ft)
Country: Venezuela (South America).
Best flow: June and July
River: Churún River

Another name for Angel Falls is Kerepakupai-merú in the indigenous Pemón language. Kerepakupai-merú when translated means “falls from the deepest place”. The fall slide and descend over the Auyán-Tepuí, meaning Devil's Mountain, a table like a mountain. 

In 1937, Jimmy Angel took his plane with his wife and his two friends to show the world that the fall exists. He was the first man to flew to the fall. The plane land on the Devil's Mountain, close to the fall but couldn't take off thereafter. So, they left the plane and trek down which took them about 11 days. The plane was later removed. Since then, the fall is referred to as Angel Falls. 

This fall, is the highest waterfall in the world, the Angel Fall. Though being the highest, it can still be categorized among the largest waterfalls in the world as well. There is also a cloud of mist around the fall. It is amazing to see that the waters from the fall atomized as mist, then drip down vertically back at the bottom. This striking appearance of Angel Fall may be due to its height, which is almost 1 kilometer.