![]() These gorges take a zigzag course of a distance of about 150 km along the Zambezi River below the falls. The gorges are an outstanding example of river capture and the erosive forces of the water still continue to sculpture the hard basalts. A direct frontage viewing of the falls is possible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe.Ĭriterion (viii): The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls and associated eight steep sided gorges have been formed through the changing waterfall positions over a geological time scale. The riverine 'rainforest' within the waterfall splash zone is a fragile ecosystem of discontinuous forest on sandy alluvium, dependent upon maintenance of abundant water and high humidity resulting from the spray plume of about 500 m (at maximum height) that can be seen from a distance of 50 km and 30 km from Bulawayo and Lusaka roads respectively. ![]() comprising basalts) and several islands in the core zone serve as breeding sites for four endangered and migratory bird species, such as the Taita Falcon and Black Eagle. Eight spectacular gorges of igneous origin (i.e. The basalts of the Victoria Falls World Heritage property are layered unlike those of the Giants Causeway World Heritage site which are vertical and columnar.Ĭriterion (vii): The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world it is 1708 m wide and with up to 500 million litres per minute descending at 61 m (Devil’s Cataract), 83 m (Main Falls), 99 m (Rainbow Falls), 98 m (Eastern Cataract). Basalts have been cut by a river system producing a series of eight spectacular gorges that serve as breeding sites for four species of endangered birds. Sprays from this giant waterfall can be seen from a distance of 30 km from the Lusaka road, Zambia and 50 km from Bulawayo road, Zimbabwe. The waterfall stands at an altitude of about 915 m above mean sea level (a.m.s.l.) and spans to about 1708 m wide with an average depth of 100 m and the deepest point being 108 m. A riverine strip of the Zambezi National Park extending 9 km west along the right bank of the Zambezi and islands in the river are all within the Park as far as Palm and Kandahar Islands, with the Victoria Falls being one of the major attractions. This transboundary property extends over 6860 ha and comprises 3779 ha of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia), 2340 ha of Victoria Falls National Park (Zimbabwe), 741 ha of the riverine strip of Zambezi National Park (Zimbabwe). "World's Tallest Waterfalls." (Dec.The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls is the world’s greatest sheet of falling water and significant worldwide for its exceptional geological and geomorphological features and active land formation processes with outstanding beauty attributed to the falls i.e. "The tallest waterfalls in the world." July 29, 2008. "Plane Pilot Sights Highest Waterfall in World." April 1938. "The World's Third Highest Waterfall Discovered in Peru." Dec. Merco Press South Atlantic News Agency."World's Most Spectacular Waterfalls." Travel and Leisure. ![]() "River: World Distribution of Waterfalls." 2012. Because of the plunge's tremendous height, gusts of wind create massive mists and spray around the plateaus, and rains mixing in with the cascading water can create extra limbs off of the falls. Adding to the beauty, Angel Falls can play dramatic tricks with the local microclimate. A myriad of plants and flowers can be found near the plateau, including the orange and yellow lantana, the purple Princess Flower, the pink Mimosa and many types of orchids and bromeliads. While waterfall enthusiasts may head to Angel Falls to view the drop alone, the area surrounding the falls is also noted for its particular beauty. The falls were a well-known landmark, however, for the Pemón, the people native to the region Looking for the world's tallest waterfall was the last thing on Angel's mind at the time - the bush pilot had been searching Venezuela for famed gold ore mines and happened to fly over the location. After a short drop of about 100 feet, Angel Falls drops 2,648 feet off of a flat-topped plateau known as Auyan-Tepui ("Devil's Mountain").Īngel Falls was "discovered" accidentally by an American aviator, Jimmie Angel, in 1933. Nichols/National Geographic/Getty ImagesĪngel Falls, located in the Bolivar province of Venezuela, not only claims the distinction of being the highest waterfall in the world at an astonishing 3,212 feet tall (979 meters), but it also has the single highest plunge in the world.
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