Waterfalls are some of the most impressive natural landmarks on earth. Created naturally over time by rivers, it’s hard not to stop in awe when seeing them for yourself. From hearing the thunder of the water falling over its crest to feeling the spray in your face, there is so much to love about them.
Across our world there are countless waterfalls that would be fantastic to add to your bucket list. To help narrow down the list we’ve short-listed some of our favourites. Some of these aren’t necessarily the biggest waterfalls but may have something else which makes them a must-see.
Here are some of the most incredible and beautiful waterfalls to see around the world.
1. Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Brazil
Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil the Iguazu falls are mighty and impressive. The water flows along the Iguazu River before falling over 82 meters to the plunge pool below. What’s more the total width of this waterfall stretches across 2700 meters. To enjoy these falls you’ll find various walkways and trails allowing you to see the spectacle from different angles.
2. Skógafoss, Iceland
Iceland is a wonderful place for nature lovers and has some must-see waterfalls too. This includes Skógafoss located at the south of the island. The water comes from the Skógá River before falling over the 25-meter crest from a height of 60 meters. For photographers, this waterfall should be high on your list.
3. Ban Gioc Detian Waterfalls, Vietnam/China
The Ban Gioc Detian Waterfalls are located along the Vietnam China border and consist of several small waterfalls which flow and merge into the pool at its base. The falls are incredibly pretty and hovering above them you’ll be able to view the Karst mountains in the background. The water for the falls comes from the Quay Son River which starts in Vietnam and then after the falls it continues along the border before leading into China. For a cool experience enjoy a boat tour with a local where they’ll take you closer to the falls.
4. Havasu Falls, USA
Located in the USA and not far from the Grand Canyon National Park you’ll find the Havasu Falls. The falls form part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation and the land is looked after by the tribe that still lives there.
The particular waterfall you see is not the widest in this list but falls 30 meters into a beautiful blue-green plunge pool and the surrounding landscape is also spectacular to see. Note that to visit this waterfall you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.
5. Niagara Falls, Canada/USA
Straddling the border between Canada and the USA, Niagara Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. The falls actually consists of several waterfalls with the most famous and iconic being the Horseshoe Falls. The others include the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The various waterfalls are at heights of 57 meters (Horseshoe Falls), and between 21-34 meters for the American Falls.
During some of the peak hours, an impressive 168,000 cubic meters of water falls over the crest every minute. The falls can be easily visited from Toronto (Canada) as well as Buffalo (USA) and you can also stay in the small cities located at the falls on either side, where there is also lots of other entertainment to enjoy, such as theme park rides, casinos and more.
6. Multnomah Falls, USA
The Multnomah Falls is an incredibly scenic waterfall located in Oregon in the USA. It has an upper and lower tier with the top tier having a 542-foot drop and the lower a 69-foot drop. What makes this waterfall even more beautiful is the arched bridge built over the middle section and creating a great scene.
7. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Croatia is famous for its beautiful coast and as a summer holiday destination, but within the mainland the country also has some gems. One of those is the spectacular Plitvice Lakes which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is actually a national park and consists of 16 lakes with various waterfalls, some small, some big, and with the highest being 78 meters. The park serves as a popular place for a day trip and is accessible from the capital Zagreb as well as Split and Trogir along the coast (among some of the options).
8. Sunwapta Falls – Canada
Located in Jasper, Canada the Sunwapta Falls form a stunning scene. You’ll find them along the famous Icefields Parkway which runs between Banff and the town of Jasper. The water is fed from the Athabasca Glacier and then falls around 18 meters. Depending on when you visit you may see slightly different conditions with snow in the winter and a more steady flow, whilst in the spring or early summer the river should be faster and more rapid.
9. Ouzoud Falls, Morocco
Located around 2 hours 40 from Marrakech the Ouzoud Falls is a beautiful collection of waterfalls which then plunge down three tiers into the El-Abid River’s gorge. The falls have a height of 110 meters and along with the waterfall the surrounding landscape is beautiful and a must-see when visiting Morocco.
10. Yosemite Falls, USA
The Yosemite National Park is one of the USA’s top nature spots and perfect for hikers and nature lovers. Within the park you’ll find the Yosemite Falls which drops a mighty 2,425 feet from top to bottom and is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.
There are three tiers to the waterfall with the upper Yosemite Fall being the tallest at 1,430 feet. Within the Yosemite National Park you’ll find various other waterfalls too including the Sentinel Falls falling 2,000 feet and the Horsetail fall which falls 1,000 feet.
11. Kuang Si Falls, Laos
Kuang Si Falls are a popular attraction in Laos, South East Asia. The waterfall isn’t the biggest and consists of around three height tiers along with a beautiful turquoise plunge pool at its base. These particular waterfalls are a popular excursion from nearby Luang Prabang.
12. Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls is an incredibly tall waterfall with a total drop of approx 807 meters. The falls are set on the Auyán-tepu mountain and it’s official name is Kerepakupai Merú. The main plunge is one of the largest uninterrupted drops in the world and then leads to a further cascade and rapids further down followed by a shorter 30-metre drop.
13. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia you’ll find the Victoria Falls, which is one of the most impressive waterfalls on our planet. The water flows along the Zambezi River before hitting the 1,708 meter wide crust and tumbling 108m to the pool below. During peak time in the rainy season an incredible five hundred million cubic meters of water falls over the crest every minute.
If you’re visiting from Zambia then you’ll want to travel to Livingstone and if you’re travelling from Zimbabwe the town is called Victoria Falls.
14. Godafoss, Iceland
Goðafoss is located in Iceland and along the river Skjálfandafljót towards the north of the island. The water falls from a height of 12 meters and it’s crest is 30 meters wide. This is probably one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland and certainly a must-visit.
15. Nachi Falls, Japan
At 133 meters Nachi Falls is Japans highest uninterrupted waterfall. One thing in particular we like about the Nachi Falls is the accompanying pagoda of Seigantoji which when combined with the waterfall forms a striking scene.
Summary
These are some of the most beautiful and impressive waterfalls from around the world and we’d recommend adding to your bucket list. There is of course many others that may not have made this shortlist so wherever you travel to, if you like us love waterfalls, then keep an eye out for these wonderful and natural creations.
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