Have you ever wondered what makes waterfalls so enchanting? Why do so many people go to see this masterpiece of Mother Nature and freeze in amazement at its energy and splendor?
Whether you like waterfalls or not, you can hardly deny their impact on the travel industry. They are among the top tourist destinations under UNESCO or national protection. Let’s face it: There’s something magical about watching a water stream flowing into a pool or a river and listening to its sheer noise, demonstrating its power and greatness.
Travel bloggers don’t get tired of writing about the most beautiful waterfalls, crafting lists of must-see places to witness the hypnotic energy of this creation of nature. Click here if you want to find responsible essay writers describing these wonders of the world.
But here’s something we can both agree on:
With thousands of waterfalls strewn across the globe — from the volcanoes of Iceland to the hills of Australia — not all are equal. Some are extra special (highest, lengthiest, or most powerful) and slightly more magnificent than others.
In this article, we’ll share the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world, according to the ratings and reviews from savvy travelers.
1. Iguazú Falls — Argentina and Brazil
It’s a chain of hundreds of individual waterfalls marking the border between Argentina and Brazil on the Iguazu River. (You can view it from both sides.) Iguazu Falls stretch for almost three kilometers and tumble down 70 meters, being the largest waterfall in the world.
Its waters flaw around rocks and lush green terrain, surrounded by the jungly rainforest and creating visual and sound effects you’ll never forget. And don’t miss the largest waterfall of this chain — the horseshoe-shaped Devil’s Throat!
2. Angel Falls —Venezuela
While Iguazú Falls is the largest waterfall, Venezuela’s Angel Falls is the highest: 979 meters (3,212 feet); it’s 15 times higher than the famous Niagara Falls in the US! Its waters are stunning, capturing the imaginations of everyone who sees them:
It comes from the Churun River and falls over the edge of a mountain into water rapids, then spilling over into a second drop of 30 meters. Angel Falls is hard to reach (due to its enormous height). Clouds often surround it, so your way to Venezuela’s Canaima National Park would be by a small plane first and a one-day boat ride afterward.
3. Seljalandsfoss — Iceland
The land of ice and fire, Iceland is a beautiful country to visit! With around 10,000 waterfalls to see there, you still need to catch Seljalandsfoss, which water cascade originates under a glacier. It’s narrow yet boisterous and spectacular, and you can easily encircle it and see its remarkable sights from different angles.
Seljalandsfoss is easy to reach by car: It’s on the Ring Road, a popular route connecting most inhabited parts of the country.
4. Niagara Falls — US and Canada
We bet you heard of this one. Niagara Falls isn’t the tallest waterfall, yet it’s impressive and awe-inspiring, flowing 3,160 tons of roaring water every second.
Located on the US-Canadian border, it’s a chain of three waterfalls, with Horseshoe Falls being the largest. (You can view it from the Hurricane Deck in Cave of the Winds: The water cascades 50 meters, i.e., 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge, so remember a rain jacket!)
5. Kaieteur Falls — Guyana
Kaieteur Falls is the world’s highest single-drop waterfall. Hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest, it’s hard to reach yet definitely worth visiting:
It’s four times taller than Niagara Falls, pouring tons of water over a cliff’s edge and dropping 225 meters (741 feet). You can take a small plane from Georgetown to enjoy the best views of Kaieteur Falls when flying in and out. A walk to the top of the falls is also possible.
6. Victoria Falls — Zambia and Zimbabwe
This one is an iconic waterfall on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe; locals call it “The Smoke that Thunders.”
Surrounded by lush terrain, its water flows like curtains off the cliff’s edge. The best views come from the trail on the Zimbabwe side, but the Zambian side welcomes you to be a real daredevil and take a swim in Devil’s Pool:
It’s on the top of the falls, with water plunging to a more than 100-meter-deep precipice.
7. Tukad Cepung Waterfall — Bali, Indonesia
This waterfall is one of Bali’s most unique, and it’s easy to reach: A short jungle hiking trail takes about 15 minutes to walk and see the waterfall’s most beautiful part — the sun’s rays shining through the landscape.
The rays create a magical view: They fall through the top, making the illusion of rock formations across the canyon.
Tukad Cepung is kid-friendly, and you can swim in the surrounding pool.
8. Plitvice Waterfalls — Croatia
Plitvice Waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) is a perfect symphony of blue and green to delight your eye. It’s a chain of 16 cascading lakes connected by falls set among tree-covered hills. The 256-foot (almost 80 meters) Veliki Slap is the most renowned one, dropping its waters down the rock to the crystal-clear pool below.
Plitvice Waterfalls is picture-perfect: The distinct shades of blue and green — from aquamarine to emerald — look stunning, attracting over a million visitors annually.
9. Gullfoss — Iceland
Another one from Iceland is on this list, but we couldn’t ignore it. This 105-foot (32 meters) waterfall sits on the Hvita River and is gorgeous: The glacial sediment in the river makes its waters glow gold in the sun, and its two stages aligned at nearly right angles create an illusion as you’re listening to the thunder stretching from the end of the Earth.
Iceland’s velvet-green landscape around Gullfoss makes this sight look magical.
10. Jim Jim Falls — Australia
Located in the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia, this waterfall drops over a rock and is 200 meters (656 feet) high. If you travel by car, the best time to visit it is during the dry season (May-October). Jim Jim Falls is at its full strength during the tropical season (November-April), but it is only available to see from the air then.
Ready to Go?
Have you visited any of the waterfalls from this list? How many? Or do you plan to travel to see others we forgot to mention? Please don’t hesitate to share your top waterfalls in the comments and tell about your experience or emotions to inspire others to discover the world’s wonders.
