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Waterfalls are fascinating sites! Aren’t you curious enough to know about the top 10 highest waterfalls in the world? Continue reading, and locate the treasured knowledge on this page. Waterfalls are generally formed when a river or a similar water body falls over the mountains. The water from such a source keeps moving and flowing while plunging from the height.
The survey conducted by the World waterfalls Databases finalized that there are no specific set standards or parameters for identifying the height of the waterfall. The waterfall is located in a specific area that is a part of the mountain range. The water flows over a vertical direction or as steep drops from the origin point. The waterfall can also originate from the meltwater drops of the iceberg. Read further to know the list of waterfalls by height and more.
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List of Highest Waterfalls of the World 2021
This article will let you know the list of the top 10 highest waterfalls in the world. The height of the waterfalls cannot be measured on any specified parameters. Here is the name of the waterfalls, location and the total height of the waterfalls.
| Name of the waterfall | Total height | Locality in(ft) | Country |
| Angel Falls | Bolívar | 979 metres (3,212 ft) | Venezuela |
| Tugela Falls | KwaZulu-Natal | 948 metres (3,110 ft) | South Africa |
| Mattenbachfälle | Interlaken-Oberhasli | 930 metres (3,051 ft) | Switzerland |
| Tres Hermanas Falls | Junin | 914 metres (2,999 ft) | Peru |
| Olo’upena Falls | Hawaii | 900 metres (2,953 ft) | United States |
| Yumbilla Falls | Amazonas | 896 metres (2,940 ft) | Peru |
| Skorga | Møre og Romsdal | 875 metres (2,871 ft) | Norway |
| Vinnufossen | Møre og Romsdal | 860 metres (2,822 ft) | Norway |
| Balåifossen | Vestland | 850 metres (2,789 ft) | Norway |
| Pu’uka’oku Falls | Hawaii | 840 metres (2,756 ft) | United States |
List of Highest Single-Drop Waterfalls in the World
Here is the list of the highest single-drop waterfalls across the globe. The table given below will give you the name of the waterfalls, height and the country in which the waterfall is geographically located.
| Waterfall | Height in meters | Country |
| Angel Falls | 807 | Venezuela |
| Kjeragfossen | 715 | Norway |
| Kukenaam | 674 | Venezuela |
| Cascade de Ventisquero Colgante | 549 | Chile |
| Catarata Gocta | 540 | Peru |
Highest Waterfalls in India 2021
| SL | Waterfall | Height | Location | Remarks |
| 1 | Kunchikal Falls | 455 metres (1,493 ft) | Shivamogga, Karnataka | Cascade type |
| 2 | Barehipani Falls | 399 metres (1,309 ft) | Mayurbhanj district, Odisha | 2 tiered waterfalls |
| 3 | Nohkalikai Falls | 340m (1115 feet) | East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya | tallest plunge type waterfalls |
| 4 | Nohsngithiang Falls or Mawsmai Falls | 315 metres (1,033 ft) | East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya | segmented type waterfalls |
| 5 | Dudhsagar Falls | 310 metres (1,020 ft) | Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka and South Goa District, Goa | 4 tiered waterfalls |
| 6 | Kynrem Falls | 305 metres (1,001 ft) | East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya | 3 tiered waterfalls |
| 7 | Meenmutty Falls | 300 m (984 feet) | Wayanad district, Kerala | 3 tiered waterfalls |
| 8 | Thalaiyar Falls | 297 metres (974 ft) | Batlagundu, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu | horsetail type waterfalls |
| 9 | Barkana Falls | 259 metres (850 ft) | Shimoga district, Karnataka | tiered waterfalls |
| 10 | Jog Falls | 253 metres (830 ft) | Shimoga district, Karnataka | segmented waterfalls |
Types of Waterfalls
There are different types of waterfalls across the globe. The waterfalls have many symbolic and literal meanings associated with them.
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Ledge Waterfall
- Water falling vertically over the vertical cliff.
- Niagara Falls
- Three types of Ledge waterfalls namely, Block/ stream- water originates from a wide stream or river
- Classical- Height of falling is equal to stream width
- Curtain- Height of falling is over the width of falling water stream
Plunge
- Water descending vertically
- No contact with the bedrock surface
- Originates from a narrow stream
- Angel Falls
Punchbowl
- The water originates in a constricted form
- It spreads as a wider pool
- Punch Bowl Falls
Horsetail
- The flowing water comes in contact with the bedrock
- Jog Falls
- They can be a slide, ribbon, chute, fan
Cascade
- Descends into a series of rock steps
- Numa Falls
Tiered
- A series of waterfalls.
- Ebor Falls
- Also known as multi-step/ staircase
- It is the plunge pool
Cataract
- Large and powerful water
- Victoria Falls
Segmented
- Distinct separate flows of water
Frozen
- Waterfall with elements of ice or snow
Moulin
- Waterfall in a glacier
Ephemeral
- Waterfalls only after rainstorm or snowmelt
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Formation of Waterfalls
Waterfalls are formed in the steep mountains where the upper course of the river where the lake flows into the valleys. The landscape position can determine the formation of the waterfalls. The waterfalls can form over bedrock fed. The overflow will only be occurring during the rainstorms or snowmelt occurring times. The waterfall can be perennial when moving downstream. The erosion happens slowly when the river flows over bedrocks, while downstream it occurs more rapidly. The depth and width of the waterfalls are beyond measures. Each waterfall is unique in its ways.
The waterfalls are one of the major tourist attractions of the countries blessed with the perennial flow. Some waterfalls consist of a single drop. Many of the waterfalls are a cascading run of rapid drops. There are waterfalls which can be seen as the combination of both single and rapid flow of drops.
The first highest waterfall in the world is none other than Angel Falls. The Angels fall is otherwise named Kerepakupai Meru, the meaning of which is the “waterfall of the deepest place”. The Angel Falls is located in Venezuela and is flowing at a height of 979m.
Top Most Stunning Waterfalls
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
- Kawasan Falls, Cebu Island, Philippines
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
- Havasu Falls, Arizona, USA
- Bridalveil Fall, California, USA
- Shoshone Falls, Idaho, USA
- Ruby Falls, Tennessee, USA
- Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Bali, Indonesia
- Gullfoss (Golden Falls), Iceland
- Angel Falls, Venezuela
- Bridalveil Fall, California, USA
- Ban Gioc Waterfall, Vietnam
- Niagara Falls, USA/Canada
- Dudhsagar Falls, India
- Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
- Yosemite Falls, California, USA
- Plitvice Waterfalls, Croatia
- Weeping Wall, Kauai, USA
- Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee, USA
Waterfalls are the mesmerizing sites to be watched. As per the different types of waterfalls, each holds its own unique features. Waterfalls also account to the tourism developments of a Country. Thus, it lays its own prominence in nature as well as in economical development of a country. Usually, such site visits and tourisms are encouraged by every country for the betterment of tourism department and exploration of nature. If you haven’t yet visited any of these, grab the wish and start the quest!
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