Here we showcase the five highest waterfalls in the World with stunning pictures and videos.
Yumbilla Falls – 896 metres (2,940 ft)
South America’s recently discovered (2007) Yumbilla Falls is located in the remote Amazon region of northern Peru’s Cuispes district. Although it currently stands at number five on the list, the waterfall’s height is disputed by several officials: Peru’s National Geographical Institute (ING) claims a height of 2,937 feet (895.4 meters), but other sources say it’s slightly shorter at 2,854 feet (870 meters) [source: WorldWaterfallDatabase].
Yumbilla Falls is a tiered waterfall with four large drops. It’s classified as a horsetail flow: The falls maintain some contact with the underlying bedrock. Like a number of other falls on our list, this low-volume cascade is often affected by seasonal weather conditions. The width increases in the rainy season and narrows during drier months.
Surrounded by a lush rainforest in remote mountains, it is accessible to adventurous nature lovers who hike in on an unmarked trail with a local guide.
Olo’upena Falls – 900 metres (2,953 ft)
The fourth-highest waterfall in the world, Olo’upena Falls, is found on the remote Hawaiian island of Moloka’i. Olo’upena Falls is a tiered, ribbon-thin stream plunging over the side of one of the world’s tallest seaside cliffs, Haloku Cliffs. Surrounded by huge mountains on either side, this magnificent waterfall is so remote that there are no access trails to reach it; like Pu’uka’oku Falls, it is only accessible by air or sea. The best time to view Olo’upena Falls is during the rainy season (November through March), and numerous guided boat and aerial excursions offer breathtaking views of the falls plummeting over the vertical cliff face directly into the sea
Three Sisters Falls – 914 metres (2,999 ft)
The third highest waterfall in the world is Three Sisters Falls, found in the remote Ayacucho region of Peru. The falls, also known as Cataratas las Tres Hermanas (literally meaning “Waterfalls of the Three Sisters,”) rises an astonishing 3,000 feet (914 meters) and is named for the three distinctive tiers, or steps, that interrupt the flow. The top two tiers fall into a large, natural catch basin of water. The third tier, which is nearly impossible to see, emerges from the basin and falls into the Cutivireni River below. The Three Sisters Falls are surrounded by lush, tropical rainforest where trees routinely grow to 100 feet tall. The rugged area is located in the protected Parque Nacional Otishi national forest, and neighbors striking natural features in the surrounding area including the Pavirontsi Natural Bridge, the largest natural bridge in the world.The Three Sisters Falls are only visible from the air. Although there are rough trails leading to them, the area’s dense vegetation makes it impossible to view the entire length of the falls from ground level.
Tugela Falls – 948 metres (3,110 ft)
With a total height of 3,110 feet (948 meters), the five-tiered Tugela Falls in South Africa’s Kwazulu Natal region is the second-highest waterfall in the world. Its tallest single drop in the five tiers is 1,350 feet (411 meters).Tugela Falls begins at the top of an amphitheater-like mountain known as Mont Aux Sources. Except for times when rainfall is higher than normal, the flow of water over the falls is thin: The cascade averages 50 feet (15 meters) wide and has a typical volume of 50 cubic feet (1.41 cubic meters) per second. Tugela Falls is much easier to access than many of the other waterfalls on this list. It’s a well-known tourist stop, and there are marked trails originating from a nearby parking lot. There are two trails to the falls that offer impressive views: One is a challenging 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) hike to the top of the mountain — the elevation and thinner air make this a contest for the physically fit. The other path is a more level 4.3-mile walk through the Royal Natal National Park of South Africa to view the bottom of the falls
Tallest Waterfall In The World – Angel Falls – 979 metres (3,212 ft)
At number one needs little introduction -Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world with a total height of 3,212 feet (979m) and a clear drop measuring 2,648 feet (807m). Located in the Canaima National Park in the Gran Sabana region of Bolivar State, Venezuela. The falls consist of a 2,648 foot plunge, where the water comes out of the face of Auyan Tepui, then it cascades down steep talus before dropping over another 100 foot cascade. No one seems to know what the stream the falls occur on is called.
For the longest time, there have been references to Angel Falls being known in Pemon (the local language) as Churún Merú, and the falls subsequently being on Rio Churún. However, the real Pemon name of the falls is Kerepakupai Merú, which means “fall from the deepest place”.
To further clear this issue, Churún Merú is a totally different waterfall of about half the height of Angel Falls, located further up the large canyon by-secting Auyan Tepui. The top of the Tepui from which the falls drop is heavily fractured and jointed sandstone.
The waters above the falls drop into a series of cracks, crevices, and gorges and burst out of the cliff face about 50 feet below the brink. The waterfall segments in periods of highest water.
Pilot Jimmy Angel is widely credited for discovering the falls in 1937, but the true discoverer was one Ernesto de Santa Cruz, who found the falls in 1910. The falls were subsequently named for Jimmy Angel, since he was the first westerner to view the falls.
