Waterfalls, both small and large, thrill and mesmerize people.
If you were making a bucket list of waterfalls in the world to see, which ones would you include?
No two lists would be exactly the same, but the ones here will more than satisfy you and will likely leave you wanting to see even more!
Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
Set in a lush rainforest, Iguazu is the world’s largest waterfall (not the same as the highest). For almost 2 miles, a series of waterfalls crashes its way along the Argentina/Brazil border, creating one of nature’s greatest spectacles.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls has the distinction of being the world’s highest waterfall, with a total height of 3,212’ over two drops. Since the lower drop is only about 100’, almost all of it is in a single towering drop.
Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
This waterfall is the highest waterfall in the world that falls as a single drop only (741’). Other falls on this list have longer individual drops, but they consist of two or more in their entirety. Kaieteur isn’t broken up at all.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria has a combined width, volume, and force unrivaled anywhere else in the world. In the local language, it’s called “The Smoke That Thunders.”
Tugela Falls, South Africa
Over 5 cascades, this waterfall in the mountains of South Africa drops 3110’. It’s Africa’s highest, and some argue that by some measures, it’s taller than Angel Falls.
Havasu Falls, Arizona (U.S.)
Most of the waterfalls on this list are grand in scale. Havasu Falls isn’t. It is, however, one of the prettiest waterfalls you’ll ever see. In Havasu Canyon, a tributary of the Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls is the most spectacular of 5 waterfalls that drop over orange-red cliffs into beautiful turquoise pools below.
Yosemite Falls, California (U.S.)
The highest waterfall in North America and the fifth-highest in the world, Yosemite Falls is one of the highlights of world-famous Yosemite Valley. In three drops, it falls a total of 2,425’. Late spring is the best time to see it because snowmelt feeds this waterfall; by late summer, it can be all but dried up.
Bridalveil Fall, California (U.S.)
Millions of people have seen this waterfall in Ansel Adams’s iconic photo of Yosemite Valley. At 617’, it’s plenty tall, but what it’s known for, and what gives it its name, is how the mists and falling water will blow sideways when there’s a strong breeze.
Horsetail Fall, California (U.S.)
This is a small waterfall in Yosemite Valley that flows off the top of El Capitan, one of the world’s largest sheer rock faces, and it typically only flows in the winter. So what’s so special about it, then? It’s this: for about two weeks every February, if the sky is totally clear and the water is flowing, the setting sun backlights the waterfall and makes it glow an intense orange.
McWay Falls, California (U.S.)
Like Havasu Falls, McWay Falls is not exceptionally tall or large but is nevertheless surreally beautiful. This waterfall in California’s Big Sur country drops over a cliff and onto a sandy beach just yards away from the Pacific Ocean.
Niagara Falls, Canada/U.S.
This famous waterfall is on the Ontario/New York border. It’s a very touristy destination, but the waterfall itself is still amazing, and all it takes to enjoy it is to turn your back to the crowds. The roaring of the falls will drown out most of the other noise.
Dudhsagar Falls, India
In four tiers, this waterfall drops over 1,000’ and it’s 100’ wide on average, making it both tall and big. One of India’s highest waterfalls, its waters are sometimes compared to a “sea of milk” because of the look their speed and force create.
Ban Gioc Waterfall, China/Vietnam
This is actually the Vietnamese name; the Chinese call it Detain. By either name, it’s the largest waterfall in Asia, and it falls in three tiers.
Gullfoss, Iceland
The name means “golden falls,” and it refers to glacial sediment in the water that can take on a golden glow in the sun. This wide waterfall has two drops almost perpendicular to each other, with the second seeming to drop into a pit in the earth.
Plitvice Waterfalls, Croatia
16 cascading lakes make up this series of waterfalls. The limestone and chalky rocks the water flows over creates colors of aquamarine, emerald, and turquoise. A lush landscape surrounding the falls only enhances the beauty.
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