15 Magnificent Natural Waterfalls

Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful nature phenomena in the world. It is a place where water flows rapidly & drops in elevation over a cliff. There are many type of Waterfalls, including “Block” where water descends from a relatively wide stream or river; “Cascade” where water descends a series of rock steps; etc. Nevertheless, most of them are magnificent & beautiful.

1. Virginia Falls, Northwest Territories (Canada)

Virginia Falls, Nahanni NP [ Photo by NileGuide.com / CC BY 2.0 ]

Virginia Falls (Slavey: Nailicho) is a waterfall in Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the South Nahanni River, at an elevation of 500 m (1,600 ft). It has a total drop of 96 m (315 ft), making it about twice the height of Niagara Falls. It consists of a single drop with an average width of 259 m (850 ft). The rock in the centre of the falls is called Mason's Rock, named after Bill Mason, the famous Canadian canoeist, author, and filmmaker.

2. Wapta Falls (Canada)

Shot of Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park, British Columbia [ Photo by Mary Ann Arildsen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Wapta Falls is a waterfall located in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest waterfall of the Kicking Horse River, at about 30 metres (98 ft) high and 150 metres (490 ft) wide. Its average flow can reach 254 cubic metres per second (9,000 cu ft/s). The name stems from a Stoney Indian word meaning "river".

3. Niagara Falls (Canada & USA)

Pearce took this picture at Niagara Falls in early September 2007 from the official observation tower. Niagara Falls, USA. [ Photo by Kag427 / public domain ]

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which–two-thirds according to the US Geological Survey–lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

4. Shoshone Falls (USA)

Shoshone Falls [ Photo by stephenhanafin / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Shoshone Falls ( or ) is a waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet (64.7 m) high — 36 feet (10.97 m) higher than Niagara Falls — and flows over a rim 900 feet (274 m) wide. A park overlooking the waterfall is owned and operated by the City of Twin Falls. Shoshone Falls is best viewed in the spring as diversion of the Snake River for irrigation often significantly diminishes water levels in the summer and fall. Shoshone Falls has existed for 2,000 to 4,000 years. It is a total barrier to the upstream movement of fish. The falls were the upper limit of sturgeon, and spawning runs of salmon and steelhead could not pass the falls. Yellowstone cutthroat trout lived above the falls in the same ecological niche as Rainbow Trout below it.

5. Havasu Falls (USA)

Beaver Falls in the Havasupai reservation in the Grand Canyon. [ Photo by Gonzo fan2007 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Havasu Falls is the second waterfall in the Grand canyon and it is accessed from a trail on the right side (left side when heading upstream) of the main trail. The side trail leads across a small plateau and drops into the main pool. Havasu is arguably the most famous and most visited of all the falls, and is considered one of the most photographed waterfalls in the world. The falls consist of one main chute that drops over a 120-foot (37 m) vertical cliff (due to the high mineral content of the water, the falls are ever-changing and sometimes break into two separate chutes of water) into a large pool. The falls are known for their natural pools, created by mineralization, although most of these pools were damaged and/or destroyed in the early 1990s by large floods that washed through the area.

6. Akaka Falls (USA)

Akaka Falls Hawaii [ Photo by Quake20044 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

It includes ʻAkaka Falls, a 422 feet (129 m) tall waterfall. ʻAkaka in the Hawaiian language means "A rent, split, chink, separation; to crack, split, scale". The accessible portion of the park lies high on the right shoulder of the deep gorge into which the waterfall plunges, and the falls can be viewed from several points along a loop trail through the park. Also visible from this trail is Kahūnā Falls. Local folklore describes a stone here called Pōhaku a Pele that, when struck by a branch of lehua ʻāpane, will call the sky to darken and rain to fall. Lehua ʻāpane or ʻōhiʻa ʻāpane is an ʻōhiʻa tree (Metrosideros polymorpha) with dark red blossoms. ʻAkaka Falls is located on Kolekole Stream.

7. Yosemite Falls (USA)

California Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus californicus and Yosemite Falls at a very early morning. [ Photo by Mila Zinkova / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America. Located in Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak. The total 739 metres (2,425 ft) from the top of the upper falls to the base of the lower falls qualifies Yosemite Falls as the sixth highest waterfall in the world, though with the recent discovery of Gocta Cataracts, it appears on some lists as seventh. In years of little snow, the falls may actually cease flowing altogether in late summer or fall. A very small number of rock climbers have taken the opportunity to climb the normally inaccessible rock face beneath the falls, although this is an extraordinarily dangerous undertaking; a single afternoon thunderstorm could restart the falls, sweeping the climbers off the face.

8. Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil)

Panorama of Iguazu Waterfalls [ Photo by Martin St-Amant / CC BY 3.0 DEED.FR ]

Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls (Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu ; Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú ) are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. Their name comes from the Guarani or Tupi words y (water) and ûasú (big). Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to find the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541, after whom one of the falls in the Argentine side is named.

9. Laja Falls (Chile)

Salto del Laja, Chile [ Photo by Warko / public domain ]

The Laja Falls (Spanish: Salto del Laja) is a waterfall located in the Laja River in southcentral Chile. It lies next to the old Pan-American Highway, between the cities of Los Ángeles and Chillán. It flows into a rocky canyon which has become very commercialized because of its location.

10. Kaieteur Falls (Guyana)

Kaiteur in September 2007. Note the relative size of the people standing near the top of the falls. [ Photo by Merlinthewizard / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kaieteur Falls is a high-volume waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana, Potaro-Siparuni region. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It is 226 meters (741 ft) when measured from its plunge over a sandstone and conglomerate cliff to the first break. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 251 meters (822 ft). While many falls have greater height, few have the combination of height and water volume. This has given Kaieteur Falls the misleading label of "largest single drop" waterfall in the world which is often misinterpreted as "tallest single drop." However, it is likely one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.

11. Gocta Cataracts (Peru)

Upper part of the Gocta waterfalls, Peru [ Photo by Martin St-Amant / CC BY 3.0 ]

The Gocta Waterfall (Spanish: Catarata del Gocta), a perennial waterfall with two drops, has been known for centuries to the local residents in Peru's province of Chachapoyas in Amazonas, which is approximately 700 kilometres (430 mi) to the north-east of Lima and flows into the Cocahuayco river. Its existence was made public following an expedition made in 2005 by a German, Stefan Ziemendorff, with a group of Peruvian explorers. At the time of his discovery he successfully persuaded the Peruvian government to map the falls and to measure their height. On 11 March 2006, following his third expedition to the falls, he held a press conference, the contents of which were published by several of the world's wire services.

View of the Salto Angel (Angel Falls, named after Jimmie Angel) from the path overlooking the right bank of the creek created by the falls. Picture taken during dry season, when the falls have a small discharge. Angel Falls are the highest falls on earth. They are 979m high, including a 807m free fall. [ Photo by Berrucomons / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Angel Falls (Spanish: Salto Ángel; Pemon language: Kerepakupai merú, meaning "waterfall of the deepest place", or Parakupa-vena, meaning "the fall from the highest point") is a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world's highest waterfall, with a height of 979 m (3,212 ft) and a plunge of 807 m (2,648 ft). The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyantepui mountain in the Canaima National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Canaima), a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gran Sabana region of Bolívar State, Venezuela. The height of the fall is so great that before getting anywhere near the ground, much of the water is evaporated or carried away as a fine mist by the strong wind.

Pihtsusköngäs waterfall in Enontekiö, Finland. [ Photo by MattiPaavola / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Pihtsusköngäs is the largest waterfall in Finland. Its maximum height is 17 metres. It is located about 45 kilometres from Kilpisjärvi village. You can get there by following the Nordkalottleden Trail.

14. Dettifoss (Iceland)

View of Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe, in its entirety with a person next to it for scale. The waterfall is located in the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in the northeast of Iceland. [ Photo by Tim Bekaert / public domain ]

Dettifoss is a waterfall in Jökulsárgljúfur National Park of Northeast Iceland, not far from Mývatn. It is situated on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, which flows from the Vatnajökull glacier and collects water from a large area in Northeast Iceland. The falls are 100 m wide and have a drop of 44 m down to the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. It is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, having an average water flow of 200 m3/s. The waterfall can only be reached by a rough road. On the west bank there are no facilities and the view on the waterfall is somewhat hindered by the waterfall's spray. On the east bank there is an information panel maintained by the staff of Vatnajökull National Park (Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður) and a maintained track to the best viewpoints.

15. Selfoss (Iceland)

Selfoss, Jökulsárgljúfur national park, Iceland [ Photo by Andreas Tille / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Selfoss is a waterfall in the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the north of Iceland which drops over some waterfalls about 30 km before flowing into Öxarfjörður, a bay of the Arctic Sea. A few hundred meters downstream of the Selfoss waterfall (11 m high), the Dettifoss waterfall is situated, the most powerful waterfall of Europe. The river originates as melt water from the glacier Vatnajökull and therefore the water flow varies depending on the season, the weather and volcanic activity. The river falls 44 m over a width of 100 m. Below the falls, the river passes through a gorge which is part of the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.

OUACHITA MOUNTAIN AND SOZARK MOUNTAINS

 West-central Arkansas

Photo Facts Little Missouri Falls, Ouachita National Forest

Little Missouri Falls - Relatively small but scenic cascading waterfalls on the Little Missouri River. From Hot Springs, go west on U.S. 70 to Glenwood, then continue on to Salem. At Salem, turn right (west) on Ark. 84 to Langley. At Langley, head north on Ark. 369 where you'll find signs directing you to the falls. Several miles of gravel roads are required to reach the area but the walk to the falls is easy. Located in the Ouachita National Forest near Albert Pike campground.

Cedar Falls- The best-known natural waterfall in the state, Cedar Falls is the focal point of Petit Jean State Park atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. This 95-foot gusher spills into Cedar Creek and can be accessed via the Cedar Falls Trail, which winds through Cedar Creek Canyon to the "splash down." The trip is 2-1/4 miles round trip and is classified as moderate-to-strenuous. The park is located on Ark. 154 southwest of Morrilton.

Cossatot River State Park Natural Area - Cossatot Falls is a series of smaller water falls on the rugged, upturned rocks of the Cossatot River. The park extends from the Ouachita National Forest near the Ark. 246 bridge on the north to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property on Gillham Lake, south of Ark. 4. The falls can be reached via Weyerhaeuser Road 52200 which runs between Ark. 4 and Ark. 246 on the east side of the river. From Road 52200, turn west on 52600, which leads to Cossatot Falls. During peak flow time, these falls are floatable, but only by the most experienced canoeists or kayakers. The trip to reach these impressive falls is considered to be moderate to strenuous.

Photo Facts Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton

The Falls at Lake Catherine State Park - These wide, beautiful waterfalls drop about 10 feet and into a blue pool in a scenic, wooded setting not far from the lake. From I-30, take exit 97 near Malvern and go north 12 miles on Ark. 171. This road will dead end at Lake Catherine State Park. Follow the park signs to the Falls Branch Trail. This trail begins near the campground, winds through the wooded area of the park, and crosses Little Canyon Creek in several places. The waterfall is located approximately 1/4-mile from the trailhead - when hiking clockwise around the loop. This two-mile trail is considered to be easy to moderate in difficulty.

 Northwest and north-central Arkansas

Haw Creek Falls - These are wide, shallow falls that drop about five feet from a rock ledge very near the picturesque Haw Creek Falls campgrounds in the Ozark National Forest. From Scenic 7 Byway, turn west at Pelsor, which is located 35 to 40 miles north of Russellville, on Ark. 123. The falls will be found adjacent to a small U.S. Forest Service campground of the same name, just a little beyond the Big Piney Creek Bridge. The campground is located 14 miles north of Hagarville on Ark. 123, or 12 miles west of Pelsor on Ark. 123, and is marked with a sign. Access to this living waterfall is considered very easy.

Natural Dam - One of the easiest accessed waterfalls in Arkansas is at Natural Dam. Located approximately 15 miles north of Van Buren in the Boston Mountain range of the Ozark Mountains, the dam is so perfect it looks man-made but is an all-natural rock wall. It’s nearly 200 feet wide, spans the entire width of Mountain Fork Creek and is viewable from your vehicle. It’s a great place to have a picnic while surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Take Exit-5 off I-40 at Van Buren and go north on Ark. 59. Turn left at the Natural Dam Community – the picnic area and waterfalls come into sight after making the turn.

Triple Falls

Triple Falls – Located in the Buffalo National River Wilderness Area of the Arkansas Ozark Mountains near Camp Orr, a Boy Scout facility. From Jasper, go west on Ark. 74, turning right at the Camp Orr Boy Scout Camp sign. Follow the steep dirt road to the bottom of the valley. There you’ll find a sign for Twin Falls – the waterfall is called Twin and Triple Falls – yet the sign says TWIN FALLS. It is then a short and easy hike to see another Natural State wonder. Usually, there are only triple falls when there has been a lot of rainfall. Otherwise, you’ll probably just see two.
Eden Falls - Falls that drop from tall, moss-lined rocks and boulders in a narrow canyon in the Buffalo National River Park. From Ark. 43 between Boxley and Ponca, turn onto the road to Lost Valley, a unit of the Buffalo National River. Park at the end of the road and follow the signed trail to the bluff shelter. Eden Falls will be found at the far end of the massive overhang. Considered to be a moderate hike to the falls.

Falling Water Falls - Oftentimes these natural waterfalls are not more than a small stream that pours over a wide ledge and drops about 10 feet into a pool below. After heavy rains, though, the water gushes over much of the rock overhang, located in a beautiful, wooded spot. At the junction of Scenic 7 Byway and Ark. 16 at Pelsor, turn east on Ark. 16 to Ben Hur, then go south about 1.5-miles until you reach Forest Service Road 1205. Turn east on this road and remain on it for approximately 3 to 4 miles. You'll be following Falling Water Creek and will come upon the falls to your right. They are easily visible from your vehicle. If you continue on this road another 6-8 miles, you'll come to Richland Creek Campground, a trailhead for trips back to Richland Falls and Twin Falls.

Photo Facts Twin Falls, Ozark National Forest

Richland Falls/Twin Falls - Two of the state's most beautiful waterfalls are in one spot - where Devil's Fork Creek meets Richland Creek in the Ozark National Forest. From I-40 at Russellville, you'll go north for 36 miles on Scenic 7 Byway to Pelsor. Turn east on Ark. 16 and drive approximately 10 miles to Forest Service Rd. 1205. Turn north and go about eight miles to Richland Creek Campground. You'll park at the lower campground and head west on foot, immediately crossing Falling Water Creek. Hike the Richland Creek Trail for about two miles to the confluence of Devil's Fork Creek. Richland Falls is another 1/4-mile up Richland Creek. These are some the most difficult to reach waterfalls in Arkansas. It is considered a difficult trek, and the trail is very poorly marked.

Hemmed-In Hollow Falls - For a view of this spectacular piece of nature, which is the highest waterfall in Mid-America, ask one of the local outfitters at Ponca for directions. Located in the Buffalo National River Park, you'll have to hike in anywhere from 3.5 to 5 miles (one way), depending on your choice of trailhead. This is also considered a complicated area to access.