What is the largest waterfall in Africa. African waterfalls

Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the widest continuous flow waterfall. Its height is 120 meters (which is twice as high Niagara Falls), and the width is approximately 1800 m.

Where is Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is located on the border of the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River in South Africa. The indigenous people of Zambia call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means "thundering smoke". Also from the local population you can hear the name Chongue (“place of the rainbow”).

Who discovered Victoria Falls in Africa

The waterfall first received widespread publicity in 1855. While traveling along the mouth of the Zambezi River, Scottish explorer David Livingstone saw "a beauty that cannot be compared with anything seen in England." The Scot named the waterfall in honor of Queen Victoria and dubbed it the most wonderful sight in Africa.

For exactly 50 years, Victoria Falls was heard only from travelers who described it in notes. In 1905, a bridge was built across the Zambezi River Railway towards Bulawayo city. Since then, the flow of tourists has only increased, and Zimbabwe has tourist town Livingston.

By the mid-19th century, the days of the British colonial empire were numbered and South Africa regained its independence. The wave of tourists to Victoria Falls resumed in the 1980s - by which time the annual number of tourists had increased to approximately 300 thousand people.

Description of the area

Above the Victoria Falls, along the Zambezi River, there are islands of different sizes; as you approach the abyss, their number increases. These islands divide the falls into four parts. The right bank of the river is known for “jumping water” - this is the name of the 35-meter wide stream. Behind the island of Boaruca, the width of the waterfall is approximately 460 meters. This is followed by the second main stream behind Livingston Island (530 m). And on the left bank of the Zambezi River there is an eastern waterfall.

The entire flow of Victoria Falls water falls into a narrow crevice and passes through it for about 120 meters, then flows into a zigzag gorge.

Devil's Font

On the Zimbabwe side, at the very precipice of Victoria Falls, there is a section where the water flow is relatively weak, and a narrow rocky ridge creates a so-called pool. This area is known to tourists as the "Devil's Font" and becomes popular from September to December when the water level is low. Desperate extreme sportsmen swim a couple of meters from the cliff. There have also been accidents where swimmers have been carried over the edge, so you should carefully weigh your decision before venturing into the “devil’s pool.”

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

In the Thundering Smoke Park in Zambia you can see such wild animals as elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, two white rhinoceroses, and hippos splash peacefully in the river. There are no predators here, so the animals are not shy and are accustomed to humans.

Tourist information

Entertainment and excursions on the territory of Victoria Falls

• Explore the rapids of the Zambezi River behind the waterfall - for fans of kayaking and rafting. For less extreme tourists, boat trips are offered.
• Experience an adrenaline rush by jumping from a bridge right above the gorge - bungee jumping to the sound of a thundering waterfall.
• See all the beauty of Victoria Falls from a bird's eye view - helicopter and paragliding excursions.
• Book a jeep safari in the national park.
• Fly over the canyon on a zip line - Zip-line attraction.
• Visit the Victoria Falls Museum to learn about how it has changed over its thousand-year history.

When is the best time to go?

Depending on the season, Victoria Falls can be seen in different states. From January to July, the water level in the Zambezi rises, the river flow becomes faster and more powerful (during this period extreme species sports at the waterfall are limited). From August to December, the river dries out significantly, its flow becomes less rapid and strong - this is the peak season for extreme travelers.

How to get to Victoria Falls

Most The best way- fly by plane to the capital of Zambia - Lusaka. Next, you can use local airlines to get to the city of Livingston. The cheaper way is by bus, but the travel time is 7 hours.

It’s better to book a hotel in Livingston in advance to take a break from the road, and in the morning visit Victoria Falls, half an hour’s drive from the city.

Where is Victoria Falls on the map of Africa:

Geographical coordinates: 17°55′28″ south latitude and 25°51′24″ east longitude.

Moreover, most of them are concentrated in South Africa (the Kingdom alone boasts 3,000 waterfalls).

Victoria Falls

Those who come here (Victoria has a height of more than 100 m and a width of about 1800 m) will be able to jump on a rubber rope from the highest point of the waterfall or canoe or kayak on the Zambezi, go on a walking or auto safari through the national park, and also visit museum (the exhibits will “tell” about the history of the waterfall).

Those who wish will be able to admire Victoria on a helicopter tour over the waterfall, during a cruise along the Zambezi River, from the railway bridge or after lifting any of the many observation platforms, equipped in VictoriaFalls National Park (entrance costs $10).

Location - on the border and. A visit will cost $20.

Tugela Falls

It is represented by a 5-stage cascade ( maximum height- more than 400 m, width - 15 m), and you can get here by choosing one of 2 paths: the first route will take 5 hours, and the second will take the whole day. In any case, the journey will be accompanied by spectacular views and climbing steep mountains (metal stairs are provided for climbing).

Address: national park Natal, .

Kongu Falls

Kongu are the most beautiful waterfalls in Central Africa: their waters fall from a 56-meter height, and the total width of successive cascades reaches 3 km. They were located at a distance from tourist routes, so you can go on an excursion to them from Makoku, where hotels are open for tourists.

Address: Kongou National Park, Gabon.

Blue Nile Falls

They are represented by several small cascades, which are located at the foot of a large waterfall (its width ranges from 100-400 m, and its height is 37-45 m).

Ethiopia, near the village of Tis Abbay; cost of visiting – 20 birr.

Boyoma Waterfalls

In terms of water consumption (17,000 cubic meters/sec), they are included in the Guinness Book of Records. The waterfalls have 7 rapids (they are separated by reaches) and stretch for 150 km.

Future scientist, traveler-researcher, missionary and preacher. Already a mature man, in 1841 Livingston received a missionary mission in a number of African provinces. Following his tasks, the brave traveler traveled the length and breadth of the African continent, and in 1855 he set off on another missionary trip. the rivers, as if enraged, rushed into the distance, and somewhere ahead, already invisible, fell somewhere down with a terrible roar. It was the most big waterfall, seen by the traveler throughout his life. He made a lasting impression!

David Linvingstone became the first European to see Africa's great waterfall, Mozi-a-Tunya, or Thundering Smoke. Having looked closely, the traveler was able to appreciate the full power natural phenomenon. The waterfall spread out to the sides for a distance of about one and a half kilometers, and the height of the water fall was at least 120 meters.

The Scot was the discoverer of this miracle of nature, he used his right of pioneer and named the waterfall in honor of his revered Tak na geographical maps another one appeared natural phenomenon- To this day, Victoria, as the largest waterfall, is the main attraction of the African continent; hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this miracle of nature. In 1905, a railway was built to the site of the pilgrimage, and the attraction received the status of especially visited places. Directly at the edge of the cliff, a small depression had somehow formed in the rocky river bottom, about two meters deep and 50 meters across. The water in this depression is only slightly seething, unlike the rest of the cliff, which thunderously throws millions of tons of boiling water down.

This natural depression was immediately chosen by tourists and some daredevils, feeling relatively safe, swam to the very edge and photographed the flowing streams of water. Victoria's service staff categorically objected to such extreme entertainment, but without much success, since the curious could not be kept out, and it was impossible to fence off the natural pool. There have been several cases where a careless tourist has fallen down, but even the death of someone's attempt does not stop the rest. Africa's largest waterfall is not without casualties.

At Victoria Falls there is a monument to Livingstone, it is carved from a single stone to its full height. And a little further away there is an island named after the missionary. Once upon a time, ritual ceremonies took place there, and sorcerers, magicians and shamans gathered there. Nowadays the island is quiet and is a relaxing place for visitors. But on the Bridge of Danger, built relatively recently for tourists and hanging over the waterfall, it is quite noisy due to the piercing squeals of the fairer sex, drowning out even the sound of the water, although I would not mind taking a break from the noise.

For the bravest, a special path has been laid in the forest above the waterfall, along which a person feels alone with the elements. True, women don’t go there. And finally, there is a special air squad of several hang gliders and a helicopter, on which tourists are lifted into the air to view Victoria from a bird's eye view. However, flying on a hang glider is somewhat unnerving for the passenger, and he has no time for inspection, but in the helicopter cockpit it’s just right, you can calmly look around and see and appreciate the largest waterfall on the Zambezi River in all details.

Victoria Falls is famous all over the world and constantly attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world. He is the most big waterfall in Africa. Locals His name is "Mosi-oa-Tunya", which means "Thundering Smoke". Victoria represents one of the most significant and unique spectacles of the African continent.

The territory of the waterfall belongs simultaneously to two countries - Zambia and Zimbabwe. To understand where Victoria Falls is located, you need to look at where the border between these two states lies. It divides the countries directly along the bed of the Zambezi River, passing through the territory of the waterfall.

History of the name Victoria Falls

This waterfall received its name thanks to the English discoverer and traveler David Livingston. He was also the first white man to witness the incredible sight of the waterfall in 1885. Local residents took the explorer to the highest waterfall in Africa. David Livingston was so fascinated and amazed by the view that he immediately christened the waterfall in honor of the English queen.

Geography of Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is not actually the tallest waterfall in the world. The laurels of the highest water flow went to the waterfall (979 m). But the fact that the wall of water extends over a distance of almost two kilometers makes this waterfall the widest continuous stream in the world. The height of Victoria Falls is almost twice that of . This figure varies from 80 to 108 meters at different points in the stream. Splashes from rapidly falling masses of water scatter throughout the natural pool formed by the waterfall and can rise to a height of 400 m. The fog they create and the roar of the stormy stream are visible and audible even at a distance of 50 km.

Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River approximately in the middle of its course. A water avalanche breaks off a cliff in the place where a wide river abruptly flows into a relatively narrow mountain gap, the width of which is 120 m.

Entertainment at Victoria Falls

In autumn, when the rainy season recedes, the water level in the river decreases noticeably. During this period of time, you can take walks along a certain part of the waterfall. For the rest of the time, the waterfall is an endless, powerful stream that throws down 546 million liters of water every minute.

The dry season attracts many tourists to the waterfall also because it is during this period of the year that you can swim in a unique natural pool, which is called the devil's pool. And this is not surprising, because the “Devil’s Font” at Victoria Falls is located on the very cliff. Swimming in it, you can observe how seething water streams rush down from the mountain at a distance of just a few meters. This small ten-meter pool is separated from the waterfall only by a narrow lintel. However, when the water in the Zambezi returns, the Devil's Font is closed because visiting it could pose a threat to the lives of tourists.

Bungee jumping is also a popular form of entertainment among extreme sports enthusiasts. It's nothing short of ziplining straight to the rushing waters of Victoria Falls in Africa. Bungee jumping is carried out from a bridge located in close proximity to the waterfall. A person who wants to take a risk is put on special elastic cables and asked to step into the abyss. After a free flight almost at the very surface of the water, the cables spring back and soon stop. And the fearless tourist gets a lot of new and incomparable sensations.

Africa is an interesting continent and part of the world. Despite the stereotypes that have developed about it, Africa is very multifaceted and interesting. Its nature can surprise you with both the driest places on the planet and gorgeous rivers, lakes, waterfalls and forests.

Peculiarities geological structure The mainland and its climatic conditions have led to the fact that the largest number of the most impressive, world-famous waterfalls are located south of the equator, but in the northern part of the mainland there is something worth getting out of the house for.

Top 10 highest waterfalls in Africa

Tugela

This waterfall is the highest in Africa - Tugela is the second highest in the world, although it lags far behind the famous Victoria Falls in power, beauty and popularity. In fact, Tugela is divided into five cascades, the sum of the heights of which does not reach a kilometer. This waterfall is located in the Drakensberg Mountains, which are located in the Republic of South Africa.

The Royal Natal National Park is organized in this place. Translated from the Zulu language, “tugela” means “sudden”, because the rock from which it falls ends in a sharp cliff, which in winter is often covered with snow. The Tugela is quite picturesque along its entire length. The width of the falling jet is small, and the height of the highest cascade is four hundred meters.

Mutarazi

In another southern African country, Zimbabwe, which is located in the Eastern Highlands, lies the stunning Nyanga National Park, capable of surprising even a sophisticated viewer with its beauty. It combines a humid climate with life-giving properties, luxurious mountain meadows, valleys, green hills, rivers and lakes. In the south of this national park there is the picturesque Mutarazi Falls, which is the second highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world. It is located on the river of the same name, the waters of which rush in a powerful stream from a rocky ledge that crosses the river bed. Water falls into the Honda Valley from a height of seven hundred and sixty-two meters.

The waterfall has two cascades, and the width of its stream is fifteen meters. In the summer months, which fall from February to April, the rainy season begins, thanks to which the waterfall gains maximum power. But during the dry winter period it becomes a fairly thin trickle. But at any time of the year its background looks wonderful - forested valleys and slopes, as well as rocky mountains.

Jinba

The next highest African waterfall is located north of the equator - in the northern part of Ethiopia, where the Mount Simien National Park is located. It is fed by the waters of the short mountain river of the same name. Its channel lasts only about ten kilometers. Winding among the rocks, the river at some point collapses in a noisy stream into a narrow, deep canyon, covering five hundred meters in flight. The height of the waterfall has been determined only approximately, since no one has yet decided to get there and take the necessary measurements.

The powerful white water jet rushing down at the beginning of the fall resembles a thin line cutting steep cliffs of gray basalt. But in the middle of the fall, the wind blows the stream towards the rocks, hitting which, the water turns into a myriad of splashes that form a cloud. The waterfall is especially beautiful during the rainy season, but even during the dry season it does not disappear at all. Unfortunately, Jinba is very difficult to access and therefore little known.

Kalambo

Next high waterfall also located in the southern part of the mainland. This time it formed where the border between Tanzania and Zambia passes. In terms of the height of its continuous fall, this waterfall, which has a width of four to twenty meters (depending on the time of year), is the second on the Dark Continent.

Europeans learned about this waterfall only in the thirteenth year of the twentieth century. This is one of the most important places on the continent from an archaeological point of view - traces of human activity dating back two and a half thousand years have been found here. In the fifty-third year of the twentieth century, Archaeologist D. Clark was the first to begin excavations on the banks of a small lake located below the waterfall along the river. He discovered hearths and stone tools there that were incredibly old. The presence of hearths suggests that already in that distant period our ancestors actively used fire.

Maletsuneyane

This waterfall with an unpronounceable name is the pride of the small South African state of Lesotho. It is located in Maseru County, in the very center of the country. It may not seem like anything unique at first glance, but the striking geological contrast makes it truly unique.

The waterfall is a single cascade, a powerful stream of which falls into the abyss of the canyon from almost two hundred meters high, turning into a cloud of spray noticeable from afar. Against the backdrop of the magnificent surrounding mountain landscape, all this looks incredibly impressive.

Uzud

There are also ones in northern Africa beautiful waterfalls, and Ouzud is one of them. It is located one hundred and fifty kilometers north of Marrakech. Its several cascades fall together from more than a hundred meters in height and are divided into three main streams. In the Berber language, the name of the waterfall means “olive”, and this is no coincidence, since it leads to walking trail through a grove of olive trees.

The number and fullness of the waterfall cascades depend on the time of year. They look most impressive in spring, when the river on its way to the cliff has not yet dried up. At certain moments, more than three cascades appear at the waterfall, and they simultaneously overcome one step, after which they merge into a single stream, which falls down the steep slope. Below, the falling water washed out several natural reservoirs connected by short channels - people bathe in them with great pleasure, escaping the heat.

Victoria

This most famous and spectacular of African waterfalls has long become the most important attraction of the Dark Continent and is even included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. It is located between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi River in a place where they border National parks– Zambian “Rattlesmoke” and Zimbabwean “Victoria Falls”.

Calandula

Kalandula waterfall, which is located north of the capital state of Luanda for four hundred kilometers. The maximum flow of water is observed at this waterfall in June-August, when its powerful flow falls at a width of six hundred meters. In terms of water flow, Kalandula is second only to Victoria Falls in Africa.

Howick

There is another high waterfall in South Africa - Howick, which is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal on the fairly deep Umgeni River, two hundred kilometers long. Back in the ninety-seventh year of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama entered the mouth of this river on his ship to replenish supplies of food and water. But he did not see the waterfall, and Europeans discovered it only at the beginning of the nineteenth century.