Words Dolores O’Donoghue
Mother Nature has graced our planet with many spectacular creations and of these, waterfalls hold a particular fascination. There’s something mesmerising about watching water cascade down into deep pools, generating clouds of spray and mist. Powerful and roaring, yet serene and calming, waterfalls are beautiful and often utterly breathtaking.
Here are some of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls, one from each of the seven continents.
Africa
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
This UNESCO World Heritage site is part of the mighty Zambezi River, which forms a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls were named after Queen Victoria in 1855 by the Scottish explorer David Livingstone. The pre-colonial name was Mosi-oa-Tunya – the ‘smoke that thunders’ – and this name is still used by locals. It describes the dazzling cloud of mist that appears high above the falls during the high-water season and the thunderous roar created by the falling water.
The rainy season, which runs from about February to July, is also the best time to get a glimpse of the magical Lunar Rainbow, which occurs when light from the full moon refracts through the spray of the water.