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Famous Waterfalls Of The World
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sometimes runs across a sudden ains.com. drop in the level of the land, and a waterfall is born. Just as coastlines are vulnerable to erosion by water, so are river Most people can visualize a beds, hillsides and cliffs, and waterfall, but might find it more the fast-flowing nature of difficult to define. It's waterfalls means that over time, probably fair to say that a even the hardest rock is worn waterfall's defining feature is away and reshaped by the water. that at some point the water Two areas in particular are sure descends, or falls, vertically, to have gradually evolved over rather than just cascading down a the years - the area near the steep gradient. edge of the waterfall, where the water is at its fastest, and the But it is probably best not to be "plunge pool" at the base of the overly concerned with the waterfall, so-called because the semantics of waterfalls, but riverbed has usually been worn instead to appreciate the away by the impact of the water imposing spectacle they create, to form an abnormally deep area. and the way in which they have evolved over hundreds and Waterfalls are perennial tourist thousands of years. You can also attractions, and many people are purchase artificial waterfalls willing to travel considerable made of fiberglass at
world's most famous waterfalls in famous waterfall in the world.
action. While aficionados and Straddling the border between the
tourist authorities might like to United States and Canada, Niagara
debate the relative merits and Falls is actually made up of
heights of different waterfalls, three falls - the Horseshoe Falls
the reality is that all big (sometimes called the Canadian
waterfalls have their own unique Falls), the American Falls and
character and setting, and any the Bridal Veil Falls.
large waterfall presents a truly
spectacular and dramatic sight. The landscape seen today at
You can add artificial waterfalls Niagara Falls was formed by
to your own backyard at href="http://www.garden-fountains age. When the ice retreated and
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title="http://www.garden-fountain the changed landscape forced the
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derive from the old Iroquois word
We've taken a look at a few of for the river - Onguiaahra - "The
the world's most famous Strait", and the Horseshoe Falls
waterfalls, to see what makes are reputed to hide the spirit of
them so special. He-No, the Iroquois thunder god,
who rescued his true love
Niagara Falls Lelawala as she paddled her canoe
over the falls in an attempt to
Known by schoolchildren and escape from a forced marriage.
adults all over the world, The falls are said to mask caves,
Niagara Falls is perhaps the most where He-No and Lelawala lived
together happily thereafter. width means that at peak flow
more than 6 million cubic feet of
Today, Niagara Falls is split water pass over its edge every
between two cities - Niagara minute - a true giant among
Falls, Ontario, and Niagara waterfalls.
Falls, New York. Both cities play
host to many thousands of Victoria Falls
tourists each year, and both the
Americans and Canadians benefit The widest waterfall on Earth,
from the hydroelectric generation Victoria Falls undoubtedly ranks
potential of the falls, each as one of the most spectacular
operating two hydroelectric power waterfalls in the world. Indeed,
generation facilities that when Scottish explorer David
generate up to 4.4GW of power in Livingstone first set eyes on it
total. in November 1855, he was so
impressed that he renamed the
Indeed, the scale of the falls after his Queen, Victoria.
hydroelectric facilities is such
that flow to the falls is reduced Known locally as the
each night and throughout the Mosi-oa-Tunya - "The Smoke That
summer as greater volumes of Thunders" - the falls are an
water are diverted towards the amazing 1,708 meters wide, with
power plants, to be returned to an average drop of around 100m.
the Niagara River downstream, In the wet season, more than 19
below the Falls. million cubic feet of water flow
over the falls each minute,
Niagara Falls is undoubtedly one dropping down into the Zambezi
of the world's greatest waterfall Gorge below. The resulting spray,
complexes, despite its relatively or smoke, can sometimes be seen
modest height, its exceptional from up to 25 miles away.
The Angel Falls is located in the
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Canaima National Park, in
Victoria Falls sits on the Venezuela, and gained its name in
Zambezi River, dividing the 1937 when an adventurous American
African states of Zambia and aviator, James Angel, discovered
Zimbabwe. Both countries have it. Although his plane became
national parks named after the stranded upon landing in some
falls - the Mosi-oa-Tunya marshy ground at the top of the
National Park in Zambia and the falls, he and his companions made
Victoria Falls National Park in it on foot through the jungle to
Zimbabwe. the nearest village and announced
their discovery.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Today, tourists can take
The Angel Falls, in Venezuela, is sightseeing flights over the
the tallest waterfall in the falls, but for those who would
world, standing a total of 3,212 like to see them on foot, the
feet tall. Unlike some very tall Angel Falls are still several
falls, water falls freely for the days' trek through the
majority of this distance, with rainforest, making it a
an uninterrupted fall of 2,648 relatively undisturbed natural
feet. marvel.
About the Author:
To learn more about the famous waterfalls of the world, visit our information section: "Famous Waterfalls"
Read more articles by: Elizabeth Jean
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