13 Waterfalls of the World with the Tallest Single Drops

The world’s tallest waterfalls are incredible sights, but many of them consist of multiple drops, sometimes 10 or more.

Another way of categorizing waterfalls is by their highest single drop rather than their total drop. Following are some of the world’s waterfalls, organized by continent, with the highest single drops.

Ribbon Fall, United States– 1611’

Spilling from the top of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, Ribbon Fall is the tallest single-drop waterfall in North America. Seeing it depends on when you visit, though, as the waterfall is fed entirely by melting snow. Once the snow is gone or it’s too cold up high for it to melt, the waterfall is gone, too.

Lake Frances Falls, United States– 1558’

Lake Frances is deep in the backcountry of Glacier National Park in Montana, and there are two ways of getting there. One is via a long backpacking trip. The other is to go across the border to Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park and take a boat cruise to the southern end of Upper Waterton Lake. There, you’ll be back in Montana at Goat Haunt, where there’s a ranger station and a campground. Lake Frances is a reasonable day hike from there.

Angel Falls, Venezuela– 2648’

Angels Falls has a continuous drop of 3212’, making it the highest waterfall in the world. Its main plunge is a straight drop 2648’ high, which is also the tallest single drop in the world.

Cascada de Ventisquero Colgante, Chile– 1801’

Also called Hanging Glacier Falls, this Andean waterfall is in Queulat National Park. As its alternative implies, it’s fed by the meltwaters of a glacier, in this case the Ventisquero Colgante Glacier.

Catarata Gocta, Peru– 1772’

This waterfall has two plunges, with the lower drop being the taller one. Most of the rest of the world didn’t know of this waterfall until explorers on a German-led expedition saw and documented it.

Mongefossen, Norway– 2536’

This single-drop waterfall in the Norwegian countryside is the fourth-highest single-drop waterfall in the world. Unfortunately, its flow is usually much diminished in the peak summer tourist season because the water source feeding it is used for hydroelectric power generation.

Kjeragfossen, Norway– 2346’

Usually only active for less than half the year, Kjeragfossen is among Norway’s and the world’s highest waterfalls when it’s running. Its single plunge drops over cliffs edging the south side of the Lysefjorden, a beautiful fjord.

Langfossen, Norway– 2008’

This massive waterfall isn’t as vertical as most others on this list, but it’s definitely steep enough to count as a waterfall, and it’s also a single plunge to its base. Access is very easy because a good paved highway runs along the base.

Vinnufossen, Norway– 1886’

This waterfall is considered a horsetail waterfall for its narrowness and shape. Its total drop is 2772’, but its highest single drop qualifies as one of the highest of its type in the world. Vinnufossen also checks in at #8 for total drop among the world’s waterfalls.

Hannoki Falls, Japan– 1640’

The tallest waterfall in Japan, Hannoki is a seasonal waterfall because it’s fed by snowmelt from the plateau above. Nearby Shomyo Falls, at 1148’, is the tallest permanently flowing waterfall in the country.

Mutarazi Falls, Zimbabwe– 1572’

Located in Mutarazi National Park, this waterfall has two drops, with one of them qualifying for this list. The waterfall results from the Mtarazi River abruptly pouring over the edge of a highlands escarpment.

Waihilau Falls, United States– 2598’

This waterfall on Hawaii’s Big Island has a single drop of 2598’. Not many people ever see it, though, as there are no roads into its valley and the hike in is long and difficult.

Wall of Tears, United States– 1601’

Located on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the Wall of Tears is a series of ribbon-like waterfalls on the side of Mount Waialeale. The name refers to the sheer number of waterfalls in close proximity to one another here, giving the impression of streams of tears on the face of the mountain.