Waterfalls have that uncanny ability to instil serenity and terrifying awe all at the same time.
Here’s our run down of the world’s 10 most breathtaking waterfalls.
Featured image: Iguazu Falls by Marissa Strniste
10) Dettifos – Iceland
Dettifos. Photo by Neil D’Cruze
Europe’s most powerful waterfall (also features in the opening scene of Prometheus)
9) Detian Falls / Ban Gioc – China and Vietnam
Detian. Photo by B_cool
The thundering sound of water on rock can be heard from miles afar
8) Yosemite Falls – USA
Yosemite. Photo by *~Dawn~*
The native Ahwahneechee tribe believed the plunge pool was home to the spirits of petrifying witches
7) Kaieteur Falls – Guyana
Kaieteur Falls. Photo by sorenriise
Three times taller than Niagara, twice as a high as Victoria, Kaieteur is one of world’s most powerful falls
6) Plitvice Lakes – Croatia
Plitvice Lakes. Photo by Valerii9116
This seriously photographic national park contains 16 lakes all interconnected in one long cascade
5) Sutherland Falls – New Zealand
Sutherland Falls. Photo by chiropractical
Situated way out in a remote corner of South Island, Sutherland is the tallest falls in New Zealand
4) Niagara Falls – Canada and USA
Niagara Falls. Photo by Diego3336
With more than six million cubic feet of water passing over it every minute, Niagara has the highest flow rate of any falls in the world
3) Victoria Falls – Zambia and Zimbabwe
Victoria. Photo by jurvetson
The falls are also known by the indigenous name Mosi-oa-Tunya, which literally translates to “the smoke that thunders”
2) Angel Falls – Venezuela
Angel Falls. Photo by Erik Cleves Kristensen
At 3,212 ft (979 m) high, Angel Falls is the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world
1) Iguazu Falls – Argentina and Brazil
Iguazu. Photo by SF Brit
Paseo Garganta del Diablo – one of the planet’s coolest observation decks – allows visitors to get up close and personal with this undeniably epic waterfall
We also have to share…
Gocta Cataracts – Amazon, Peru
Gocta Cataracts. Photo via Wikipedia
Lying deep within Amazonian Peru, these falls only came to the world’s attention as recently as 2005.
