There are a couple of waterfalls in Vitruvian Park, and I never tire of gazing at them. Something about the rush of moving water is thrilling. I wondered what it would be like to see the best waterfalls in the world. According to Michelle Gross’ article “25 Awe-Inspiring Waterfalls to See Before You Die” in Travel & Leisure, Bryan Swan and Dean Goss have accumulated an ever-evolving multimedia archive of photographs, data, maps and materials in the World Waterfall Database. “When we see and hear moving water like this, we can feel a very real, often profound connection to the raw primal power of nature,” Swan said. Below are the top 11 waterfalls listed in the Travel & Leisure article. I included No. 11 in Iceland because it is the only one I have seen.
1. Angel Falls, Venezuela
Approximately 15 times higher than Niagara Falls and standing at 3,212 feet, Angel Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. Named after James Crawford Angel, who discovered the landmark in 1933, Angel Falls plunges off the Auyán-Tepuí plateau known as “Mountain of the God of Evil” into Canaima National Park. Getting there is half the fun; the site is roughly 400 miles southeast of Caracas, and you must cross through the small village of Canaima before embarking on an upstream river tour and an hour-long hike to the site.
2. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Located along the river Brittle on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, these beautiful crystal-clear and cobalt blue pools bounded by stone walls and rushing falls are so magical that visitors may feel as if they're walking through a real-life fairy tale. Popular among hikers and nature lovers, these falls are the perfect place to spend an afternoon. If the sun’s out, a quick dip is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Just make sure to have a warm change of clothes nearby.
3. Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Iguazu Falls can be summed up in two words: raw power. Spanning the distance between the borders of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná, Iguazu, which translates to "big water,” boasts 275 individual terraced falls. Stretching across two miles of rain-forested cliffs and plummets, this UNESCO World Heritage site’s most impressive drop is the U-shaped gorge known as the Devil’s Throat.
4. Kuang Si Falls, Laos
A 45-minute tuk-tuk ride or a short boat trip up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang in Northern Laos, Kuang Si Falls is actually multiple cascades, each more beautiful than the last. A series of turquoise-hued water spilling over limestone rocks, this is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, and while getting to falls is easy enough, the climb to the peak of the highest fall can be tough, so make sure to bring the right footwear. The views and bragging rights are worth it.
5. Kootenai Falls, Montana
Located in the northwest corner of Montana, this breathtaking expanse of tumbling falls is equal parts terrifying and thrilling to behold. While the name may not be familiar, cinema buffs will likely recognize these cascades from the Oscar-nominated film The Revenant, and the area was once considered by the Kootenai tribe as the center of the universe, a place where tribal members could commune with spiritual forces. The best — albeit most daring — spot to watch these impressive falls in action is from the famed 210-foot-long suspension bridge across the river.
6. Baatara Gorge Falls, Lebanon
Located along the Lebanon Mountain Trail in the northern part of the country, the "Cave of the Three Bridges” is not only a visually spectacular site, but it’s also a geological phenomenon that is said to date back more than 160 million years. As beautiful as it is remote, this natural wonder is best visited in the springtime between March and May, when the snow from Mount Lebanon begins to melt.
7. Tinago Falls, Philippines
Boasting 23 waterfalls within its city limits, Iligan more than earns its “city of majestic waterfalls” moniker. But the Tinago cascades are what really put the destination on the map. Translated as “hidden falls,” Tinago redefines the meaning of "off the beaten path," as one must climb a windy 500-step staircase to reach the top of the 240-foot falls.
8. Ban Gioc Detian Falls, Vietnam & China
Straddling the borders of China and Vietnam, Ban Gioc Detian is the collective name for not one, but two converging waterfalls. Known as Banyue Falls in Vietnam and Detian Falls on the Chinese side, together they comprise one of the largest waterfalls in Asia.
9. Sekumpul Falls, Bali
Touted as the most beautiful waterfall in all of Indonesia, Sekumpul Falls is about a two-hour drive though the lush jungle terrain and rice terraces from the city of Ubud. True to its name, which translates to “a group of,” Sekumpul is a series of seven waterfalls, well worth the effort to visit while spending time on the island of the gods.
10. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
Located along the Potaro River within Kaieteur National Park, Kaieteur Falls is not only five times higher than Niagara Falls, but it’s also one of the tallest and most powerful single-drop waterfalls in the world. Because of its remoteness deep within the Amazonian jungle, it also requires the use of a prop plane to and from the falls to get there.
11. Gullfoss, Iceland
Roughly 75 miles from Reykjavík along the Hvítá River, Gullfoss, or “Golden Falls,” is considered Iceland’s most preeminent waterfall, and one of its most popular attractions. It's fed by Iceland’s second largest glacier, the Langjökull, and on sunny days, a shimmering rainbow can be seen over the edge.
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