Most Spectacular Waterfalls In The World

Niagara Waterfalls and beyond--far beyond

The waterfalls hide in all corners of this planet, from specks of islands like Réunion to bustling countries like India, some gushing straight down and others dilly-dallying along rocks, some amidst glaciers and others tucked away in parched landscapes. Each has its own charm, so how to narrow down the world's most spectacular waterfalls?

Dean Goss, along with fellow in the waterfall connoisseur Bryan Swan, have taken quite a calculated approach, working up an algorithm that figures in volume of water, height and verticality of drop, as well as setting—be it pristine or overdeveloped.

"We grew up collecting waterfalls like little kids collect baseball cards," says Goss of he and Swan. They met after stumbling across each other's web sites devoted to the waterfalls and merged forces to create World Waterfall Database, the most comprehensive online resource for the waterfalls information, complete with a "World's 100 Best Waterfalls" list.

Their obsession has certain benefits: In 2003, a respected Japanese photographer named Yoshikazu Shirakawa caught wind of their list and brought them along as consultants when he toured the world shooting the 100 greatest waterfalls (his final cut differs a bit from theirs). "He loves a list of superlatives," says Swan. The project ended with a gallery reception and a coffeetable book priced for $400 "that would probably require a trip to the emergency room if you dropped it on your foot."

Gary Black is another professional photographer who's interested in the waterfalls—they've been his specialty for the last three decades, over which time he's accumulated tens of thousands of photos.

Although he grew up just 15 minutes from Niagara in Ontario, Canada, "my favorite waterfalls don't tend to be the hugest ones," says Black, who prefers to photograph large-but-cascading streams. "They hit the rocks on the way down—it's not a solid, straight drop."

The reasons for being attracted to certain falls are as varied as falls themselves. Forbes Traveler has narrowed down the world's cataracts to the most awe-inspiring, unique ones in a mix of destinations, near luxury accommodations or accessible with world-class tours.

Sometimes the best way to see a fall is nothing new: According the Black, the Maid of the Mist boat tour is the perfect way to see Niagara, despite the new-fangled helicopter rides, floodlights at night, and revolving dining rooms that have cropped up since the ferry's inception in 1846. Blue-ponchoed passengers travel down the Niagara River right to the base of the falls, where "there's a wall of water on your left and a wall of water on your right, and mist all over the place. It's a totally different perspective than seeing the falls from up above. It's wow."

A waterfall can be spectacular without being big, wide or tall. In New Zealand, where waterfalls abound, Huka stands above the rest with its brilliant blue waters. It's only about 30 feet tall, but packs a ton of force, carrying an enormous amount of water from Lake Taupo through a narrow canyon, erupting down the drop.

Goss has visited so many falls (about 3,000) and seen photos of so many (he talks about most as though he's been there in person) that he now has a knack for identifying the location of a fall without knowing anything about it but its picture. Iceland's falls are particularly distinctive, he says. "There are a lot of beautiful waterfalls in Iceland because there's so much volcanic activity going on. Over the course of centuries or millennia a volcano erupts, it forms a layer of lava, organic stuff grows on top and then that gets matted down, and then there's the next flow." Svartifoss in southern Iceland is the smallest waterfall (at 80 feet) to be included in Shirakawa's roundup. "It has amazing black rock columns; he was absolutely enthralled by the bedrock."

From just-discovered, gigantic cataracts to aesthetically inspiring falls, from one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World (Victoria Falls in Africa) to preternaturally blue waters lurking in Croatian parks (Plitvice), the world of waterfalls carries such varied enchantments. The list of the top ones is ever-changing, thanks to new discoveries as well as evolving cravings—whether you desire a fall that's intimidatingly powerful or simply meditative. "It's like asking, what's better, steak or sushi?" says Goss. "It all depends on the mood."



Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe





One mile wide, the Victoria Falls forms the planet's largest curtain of falling water—but that's not the only reason it ranks among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. During the rainy season, from March to July, water plunges with such force that the spray bouncing back upward can be seen for miles around, giving meaning to Victoria's indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya or "The Smoke Which Thunders." And when there's a full moon during these months, on fortuitous nights, it is one of the only spots on earth that creates rarely seen moonbows. Stanley Safari Lodge provides the perfect resting place, with ten retro-glamorous cottages on the edge of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.



Angel Falls, Venezuela




waterfalls mountains

To put Angel Falls—the tallest waterfall in the world, at 3,212 feet—into perspective, picture this: water drops from so high that winds whirl it into mist—a mist that reaches a mile-wide radius—before it can ever hit the ground. Documented in BBC's color-soaked series Planet Earth, its location in the remote jungle of southeastern Venezuala is a top challenge for danger-seeking BASE jumpers. For those who want to see it without jumping into it, Waku Lodge offers modern rooms with views of the waterfall and organizes flyovers as well as hikes to the base, where travelers can swim in Angel's tumultuous lagoon.



Huka Falls, New Zealand




river waterfalls

One of the highlights of New Zealand's diverse scenery is its abundance of the waterfalls, the waterfalls in the Huka Falls is the river waterfalls,and Huka stands above the rest thanks to its technicolor blue waters and location right near Huka Lodge. Oft cited as one the world's top hotels, it has hosted the likes of Kate Winslet and Bill Gates and is just a short walk from the raging waters of Waikato River. Not particularly tall (at only about 30 feet), the waterfall packs a ton of force, carrying an enormous amount of water from Lake Taupo through a narrow canyon, erupting down the drop.



Jog Falls, India





Many travel to India for the Taj Mahal, ashrams, the beaches of Goa—but the country's abundance of majestic waterfalls is a lesser known (but none the less wise) reason for going. Most spectacular of them all is Jog Falls, boasting four cascades named after their distinct characteristics: the Roarer, the Queen, the Rocket, and the King. It's best to visit during monsoon season (August to December), when Jog flows the strongest, and rainbows often arch above in the mist. The closest accommodations aren't top quality, so it's best to book through a custom luxury travel company like Travcoa with experience navigating remote corners of the world.



Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina





Unlike the such enormous waterfalls as Victoria and Niagra, Iguazu is not a lengthy curtain but rather a canyon in the middle of powerful Iguazu River. Its curved arrangement allows visitors to drink in the scene all at once from land, rather than by helicopter. And what a scene it is: More than 270 falls shoot over the chasm in dynamic tiered cascades (so cinematic that Iguazu served as a backdrop in 2008's Indiana Jones). The most impressive of the cataracts is U-shaped Devil's Throat, which marks the border between Argentina and Brazil. Stay at Hotel das Cataratas in the center of Iguazu National Park, a World Heritage site, right alongside the falls.



Trou de Fer, Réunion





Viewed from above, Trou de Fer looks like a gaping mouth in the deep-green tamarind forests of Réunion, a tiny French island off the southern tip of Africa. No wonder its name translates to "Iron Hole:" A unique site best viewed from above, its numerous, tiered waterfalls form from the Bras de Caverne River and tumble into a fearsome, narrow abyss. Dodo Travels organizes helicopter tours of the island's cirques, and will even take you for a dip down into the Iron Hole. They'll pick you up from your hotel; Les Villas du Lagon is a good choice, located on an idyllic white-sand lagoon.



Svartifoss, Iceland





Black, lava-formed columns hang like organ pipes behind Svartifoss' gushing, ice-cold meltwater, transforming the smallish fall (at only 80 feet) into a must-see—they've even inspired the landmark architecture of Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland's largest church. The near-Arctic country hosts a wealth of waterfalls, due to frequent rain and snow paired with large glaciers. See the best of them, along with the rest of the island's natural beauty (geysers, thermal pools, mud pots, and more) through Quintessentially Escape's bespoke "Encounter Iceland" vacation.



Yosemite Falls, California







The highest waterfalls in North America is so tall that the uppermost of its three tiers is, at 1,430 feet, itself one of the world's 20 highest falls. Although it roars from November to July (and is at its strongest in May), it completely ceases during late summer and early fall of years with little snow. There are countless other waterfalls to see within Yosemite Park, including the fantastic, lofty Bridalveil at the valley's entrance. Stay at The Ahwahnee, a tall stone-and-wood lodge on park grounds that provides some of the best views the area has to offer.



Niagara Falls, United States/Canada









Niagara waterfalls is by far the biggest waterfall in the world. And there's reason for it: Niagara actually consists of three waterfalls—Horseshoe in Ontario, Canada, and on the other side of Goat Island, American and Bridal Veil in New York—which together pack a width of 3,300 feet. Although they're relatively not too high (167 feet, or the height of a 20-story building), their hydro-force is so immense that Niagara is the biggest electricity producer in New York state. Out of the hotels with views of the falls, Crowne Plaza is probably the best; if you're looking for more of an out-of-the-ordinary Niagara experience, try Harbour House, a romantic boutique hotel in a quaint town 20 minutes from the main attraction.



Plitvice, Croatia





The many waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park are not known for the height of their drops or the roar of their waters—the largest fall, aptly named Veliki Slap or Big Waterfall, plunges only 250 feet—but rather their other-worldly, mythic setting. Covering nearly 50 acres, the World Heritage site is divided between 12 upper lakes and 4 lower ones, with dozens of cascading waterfalls linking the two. Wooden footbridges transport visitors all around and across the water, distinctive for its changing shades of vibrant green, blue, gray, and turquoise. Find it all a 2.5-hour busride from Croatia's capital, Zagreb, where the five-star Regent Esplanade—an arresting white colonnaded building—was built in 1925 as a rest stop for passengers on the Orient Express.