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.
Australia
Liffey Falls, Tasmania
These beautiful tiered waterfalls, situated within the dense rainforests of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area, are created by water that runs off the Great Western Tiers into the Liffey River. Downstream, the soft mudstone sediment has been eroded, exposing the sandstone steps that give rise to the spectacular waterfalls, collectively known as Liffey Falls. When the weather is right, rays of sunlight burst through the towering eucalyptus and giant tree ferns, making the pristine water pools sparkle.
Liffey Falls are accessible via two walking trails through cool, temperate rainforest and are best viewed towards the end of winter through to spring (July–October in the southern hemisphere) as heavier rainfall in the Great Western Tiers can cause parts of the river to flood.
Europe
Gullfoss, Iceland
Iceland has many spectacular waterfalls, each with its own fascinating features. Perhaps the most magical is Gullfoss, meaning ‘Golden Falls’, which gets its name from the beautiful golden colour revealed when the light hits the water on a sunny day.
The Hvítá River travels south from the Langjökull glacier before cascading down Gullfoss in two stages that are aligned almost at right angles, creating the illusion that the falls stretch to infinity. It’s a truly breathtaking sight set against Iceland’s lush, velvet-green landscape, or when dusted with snow in winter.
The falls are part of Iceland’s ‘Golden Circle’, the popular scenic route that takes in stunning landmarks and places of historical significance in a circular sightseeing tour.
South America
Iguazú Falls, Argentina/Brazil
Cutting across the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazú Falls is a chain of cascades that encompass approximately 275 waterfalls arranged in a horseshoe shape covering 2.7 km.
About half of the Iguazú river’s flow plunges into Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), a gorge that appears to be a bottomless abyss. This is because the mist that bounces back up is so dense that it’s impossible to see the bottom. On a summer’s day a beautiful rainbow forms in the mist, adding to an already magical vista.
Visitors often wonder which is the best side to view from, Brazil or Argentina. If time allows, visit both as they each have their own charm and offer unique experiences.
North America
Niagara Falls, USA/Canada
This iconic waterfall straddles the border between the USA and Canada, where the Niagara River connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario. The cascade of water falls 50 metres into the Niagara Gorge.
It is made up of three separate waterfalls, the Horseshoe Falls being the largest and most recognisable. The smaller waterfalls are the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
With viewpoints in both countries, there are many ways to experience the splendour of Niagara Falls, including cruises that venture right out to the bottom of the waterfalls.
The Niagara generating stations produce an incredible amount of electricity, supplying one quarter of all power used in New York State and Ontario.
Asia
Huai Mae Khamin Waterfalls, Thailand
These falls are situated in the Khuean Srinagarindra National Park in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The Huai Mae Khamin River, also known as the ‘Emerald River’ because of its green colour, runs from the Kala Mountain Range, an area of dry, evergreen forest. There’s more than a kilometre of cascades, consisting of seven tiers that tumble through a jungle of exotic plants and trees.
Each of the seven levels is uniquely striking and have individual names. When visiting, don’t forget your swimsuit as swimming is permitted in the shimmering pools at the base of the falls, apart from at level four where there is a very large drop. Walking trails trace the route of the falls so that each level can be seen. From the very top, there is a magnificent view of where the river finally flows into the Srinagarindra Reservoir below.
Antarctica
Nansen Ice Shelf, Victoria Land
When crossing this ice shelf in 1909, Ernest Shackleton and his fellow explorers were surprised to find that they had to traverse flowing streams and lakes. Scientists who have studied photographs taken by military aircraft from 1947 and satellite images from 1973 have identified almost 700 seasonal networks of ponds, channels and streams flowing as close as 600 km to the South Pole.
Named after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian Arctic explorer, this ice shelf is 50 km long and 25 km wide, and has (worryingly) developed a fracture in recent years, where meltwater flows through. Although it’s a sensational sight, the flowing water has the potential to enlarge the crevasses and trigger the collapse of the ice shelf, leading to the loss of masses of Antarctic ice.
As witnessed by Shackleton and his team, large pools of meltwater have long existed in many areas of Antarctica. The flow of water is naturally slow and it refreezes each season, so the ice shelf would not be in danger of fracturing in normal circumstances. However, ice shelves are particularly susceptible to climate change as they can melt from both the warming waters beneath and the warmer air above.
- ‘The world’s most spectacular waterfalls’ is published in Anthology Volume 19. Read more features from this volume or buy it now.
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