The largest waterfall, rivers in Africa. The Largest and Famous Waterfalls in Africa Africa Waterfalls Post

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

Features of the geological structure of the mainland and its climatic conditions led to the fact that the largest number of the most impressive, world-famous waterfalls were 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 a little. This waterfall is located in the Dragon Mountains, which are located in the Republic of South Africa.

In this place the royal national park Natal. Translated from the Zulu language, "tugela" means "sudden", because the rock from which it collapses ends in a sharp cliff, which in winter time often covered in snow. Tugela is quite picturesque throughout its length. The width of the falling jet is small, and the height of the highest cascade is four hundred meters.

Mutarazi

In another South African country, Zimbabwe, which is located on Eastern Highlands, the stunning Nyanga National Park is spread, capable of surprising even the most sophisticated viewer with its beauty. It combines a humid climate with life-giving properties, gorgeous mountain meadows, valleys, green hills, rivers and lakes. In the south of this national park there is the picturesque Mutarazi waterfall, 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 down in a powerful stream from a rocky ledge that crosses the riverbed. 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 in February - April, the rainy season begins, thanks to which the waterfall is gaining maximum power. But in the dry winter period, it becomes a rather thin stream. But at any time of the year, its background looks great - forested valleys and slopes, as well as rocky mountains.

Jinba

The next highest African waterfall is already 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, overcoming five hundred meters in flight. The height of the waterfall is determined only approximately, since no one has yet dared to get there and make the necessary measurements.

A powerful white water jet rushing down at the beginning of its fall resembles a thin line cutting sheer cliffs from 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 it does not disappear at all during the dry season. Unfortunately, Jinba is very difficult to access, and therefore little known.

Calambo

The next high waterfall is 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 the continuous fall, this waterfall, which has a width of four to twenty meters (depending on the time of year), is the second on the Black 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 the point of view of archeology - traces of human activity, which are two and a half thousand years old, 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 there hearths and stone tools of incredible age. The presence of hearths indicates that already in that distant period, our ancestors actively used fire.

Maletsyuneyane

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

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

Ouzoud

There are also beautiful waterfalls in northern Africa, and Ouzoud 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 high and are divided into three main streams. In the Berber language, the name of the waterfall means "olive", and this is not accidental, since a hiking trail leads to it through a grove of olive trees.

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

Victoria

This most famous and spectacular of African waterfalls has long become the most important attraction of the Black Continent and has even been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi River in a place where the national parks border - the Zambian "Thunder Smoke" and the Zimbabwean "Victoria Falls".

Calandula

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

Howick

In South Africa, there is another high waterfall - Howik, which is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal on a fairly full-flowing 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 the Europeans discovered it only at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

In addition to the powerful Victoria and the highest Tugela and Mtazari, Africa has such a miracle as the Lofoi waterfall in Zaire, in national park Kundelungu, in the province of Shaba, in the very southeast of the country. The Lofoi River rushes down like a water ram from a height of 340 meters.

Kalambo waterfall

At the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika, on the Kalambo River, which forms the border between Tanzania and Zambia, is the 221-meter-high Kalambo Falls. Like a water sword, it cuts through a sheer rock wall, plunging into the abyss in a powerful stream. The Kalambo waterfall has gained wide popularity since 1953, when archaeologists discovered one of the oldest African cities of the Paleolithic era in its area. The oldest iron objects on the continent, made by Africans, were also found there.

Augrabis Falls in Africa.

AT South Africa, in the desert part of the Kalahari, on the Orange River, there is a waterfall Augrabis with a height of 146 meters. Augrabis is located in a wild rocky area. In this place, the Orange River flows between a heap of lifeless rocks and islands, forming a delta up to 7 km wide. The waters of the river along the main channel break through a narrow crevice and fly down into a deep gorge. In a gigantic cauldron, the depth of which is about 45 meters, the river frantically rushes about, swirls, raising waves of six meters in height. A cloud of water dust rises a hundred meters, almost to the crest of the waterfall, and gives birth to a bright rainbow. The roar of the waterfall gives a booming echo in the surroundings. The flow of water during the flood is hundreds of cubic meters per second. During the rainy season, it is generally impossible to approach Augrabis on foot, it can only be viewed from a helicopter. If Victoria Falls is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, then the surroundings of Augrabis, especially in the dry season, look harsh and gloomy. The waterfall was opened in 1778.

African Kabarega Falls in Uganda.

One of the wonders of the world is the Kabarega Falls on the Victoria Nile in Uganda. At one time it was named after the outstanding English geographer, geologist and traveler of the century before last, R. Murchison. The waterfall is unique in that the waters of the Nile break here with great force through a tiny crevasse, only 6 meters wide, and giant waves at an angle of 50 ° roll down through a series of ledges into a gorge 120 meters deep. This spectacle exudes primal power and leaves a lasting impression. A rainbow is constantly shining over the waterfall. The rays of the sun dissolve into a sparkling cascade with the roar of rushing foam, and the waterfall seems like a sparkling stream of precious stones. The waterfall was discovered by the Englishman S. Baker in 1864, and named after R. Murchison, who at that time held the post of chairman of the British Royal Geographical Society.

Calandula waterfall in Angola.

Calandula Falls is the second widest after Victoria. It is located on the Lucala River in Angola. This is a stunning sight. The river rushes down with a roar. The width of its launch pad is about a kilometer. One hundred and five meters it is in free flight, having lost its earthly support. During this time, its greenish waters turn into a boiling white mass. Myriads of tiny splashes are born when Lucala meets the stone bed of Kalandula. The many-voiced organ roar of falling water creates a fabulous, festive mood. The Kalandula waterfall gives tourists the unusual beauty of light music.

Waterfalls in Africa are small.

Waterfalls of Calais on the Samu River in Guinea, they look like an avalanche of water at least 600-700 meters wide, falling from a height of 50-60 meters.

In Ethiopia, on the river Ganale-Doriya is located Barattieri waterfall 140 meters high. In the same country, the Blue Nile forms the fourth largest African waterfall(after Victoria, Kalandula, Calais) - Tiss Abbay. With a span of 300 meters, it has a height of 50 meters, and in appearance resembles the American part of Niagara. A hydroelectric power station was built near the Tiss-Abbay waterfall.

Waterfalls in Africa numerous and very picturesque. Naturally, there are lesser known ones. In the south of the continent, in the state of Lesotho, there are many mountain rivers. The country is located on a plateau up to 3 thousand meters high. This country is perhaps the only one on the continent where Africans wear fur coats. In Lesotho, on one of the tributaries of the Orange River, is Maletsunyane waterfall 192 meters high.

A very interesting waterfall in the upper reaches of the Komoe River, in the south West Africa- wide type, with subsequent cascades, spread out on stone slabs. Curious boilers Felu waterfall in Upper Senegal. The multi-stage cascade of Boyali near the capital of the Central African Republic is impressive. Waterfalls 100 meters high are located on one of the left tributaries of the Rbia River in southern Morocco and southern Africa. Popular in South Africa Albert Falls on the Karkluf River - "a waterfall that flows into a bowl."

Rainbows shine over the waterfalls of Africa, whose peoples are still struggling with colonialism and neo-colonialism. In the struggle for their daily bread, they naturally, far from always being able to admire the wonders of nature. It should be noted that in most developing countries, interesting nature parts of the territories are declared nature reserves. A large waterfall is always an element of the national wealth of any country. It is in Africa, at the entrance to one of the reserves there is an inscription: “Remember, we are not the owners natural resources, but only trusted representatives of the descendants!

Future scientist, explorer, missionary and preacher. Being already a mature man, in 1841 Livingston received missionary work 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 along the coast. the rivers, as if enraged, were carried away into the distance, and somewhere ahead, already invisible, with a terrible roar they rushed down somewhere. It was the most big waterfall seen by a traveler in his entire life. He made a lasting impression!

David Linvingston became the first European to see the African great waterfall Mozi-a-Tunya, or Thundering Smoke. Looking closely, the traveler was able to appreciate the full power natural phenomenon. The waterfall spread 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 to be a pioneer and named the waterfall in honor of Tak on 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, to the place of the pilgrimage that had begun, a Railway, and the attraction received the status of especially visited places. Directly at the edge of the cliff, somehow a small depression formed in the rocky bottom of the river, about two meters deep and 50 meters across. The water in this depression is only slightly seething, unlike the rest of the cliff, which thunders down millions of tons of boiling water.

This natural recess was immediately chosen by tourists and individual daredevils, feeling relatively safe, swam to the very edge and photographed the streams of water falling down. The attendants of Victoria categorically objected to such extreme entertainment, but without much success, since the curious could not be kept, and it was impossible to enclose the natural pool. There have been several cases when a careless tourist fell down, but even the death of someone's attempt does not stop the rest. The largest waterfall in Africa is not without victims.

At the Victoria Falls there is a monument to Livingston, it is carved from a single stone in full growth. A little further away is an island named after the missionary. Once upon a time, ritual ceremonies took place on it, sorcerers, magicians and shamans gathered. Currently, the island is quiet and is a resting place for visitors. But on the Bridge of Dangers, built relatively recently for tourists and hanging over the waterfall, it is quite noisy due to the piercing squeal of the fairer sex, blocking even the sound of water, although I would not mind taking a break from the noise.

For the most daring, a special path has been laid in the forest above the waterfall, passing along which a person feels alone with the elements. True, women do not go there. And, finally, there is a special squadron 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 is not up to inspection, but in the cockpit of a helicopter - just right, you can safely look around and see and appreciate the largest waterfall on the Zambezi River in all details.

largest waterfall in africa

1. Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest in Africa, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is the world's largest, most spectacular waterfall and one of the world's seven natural wonders. Named by the Kololo tribe who lived here in the 1800s, "Mozi-oa-Tunya" - "Smoke that thunders", Victoria Falls is a breathtaking spectacle of awesome beauty and splendor.
   Victoria Falls stretches 1708 meters wide. It falls from a height of 120 meters into a gorge 30 meters wide. The waterfall is formed by the sharp fall of the Zambezi into a narrow abyss carved by its waters in the zone of a fracture in the earth's crust. Numerous islands on the crest of the waterfall divide the water current into several branches. The dense fog and thunderous roar produced by the waterfall can be perceived from a distance of about 40 km. The boiling cauldron at the beginning of a winding gorge 80 km long, through which streams rush from the waterfall, is crossed by a bridge 198 meters long and 94 meters high. During a flood, the water flow rate is approximately 546 million liters of water per minute.
2. Victoria Falls
3. I think Victoria
4. Victoria Falls
5. Victoria Falls
6. the highest is Victoria (900m.), the widest is also Victoria (1800m.)
7. Victoria

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Victoria Falls is listed as World Heritage UNESCO and is the widest continuous stream 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 the Victoria Falls in Africa

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

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

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

Description of the area

Above the Victoria Falls, along the Zambezi River, there are islands of various sizes, as they approach the abyss, their number increases. These islands divide the waterfall into four parts. The right bank of the river is known for "jumping water" - this is the name of a stream 35 meters wide. Behind the island of Boaruka, 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 water from the Victoria Falls 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 abyss of the Victoria Falls, there is an area where the flow of water is relatively weak, and a narrow rocky bridge creates a so-called pool. The area is known to tourists as the "Devil's Pool" and becomes popular from September to December when the water level is low. Desperate extremals swim a couple of meters from the cliff. There were also accidents when swimmers were carried over the edge, so you should carefully weigh your decision before climbing into the "devil's font".

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, two white rhinoceros, and hippos splashing peacefully in the river can be seen in Thundering Smoke Park in Zambia. There are no predators here, so the animals are not shy and accustomed to humans.

Information for tourists

Entertainment and excursions on the territory of Victoria Falls

• Experience 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 over the gorge - bungee jumping to the sound of a roaring waterfall.
• Explore the beauty of Victoria Falls from a bird's eye view - excursions by helicopter and paragliders.
• Book a jeep safari in the national park.
• Fly over the canyon on a cable - 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 becomes faster and more powerful (during this period, extreme sports are limited at the waterfall). From August to December, the river dries up 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 is better to book a hotel in Livingston in advance to relax from the road, and in the morning visit Victoria Falls, half an hour from the city.

Where is Victoria Falls located on a map of Africa:

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