There are a lot of amazing waterfalls throughout the world and Victoria Falls in Africa are often considered to be the most spectacular of them all.
The falls are located in the southern part of the continent between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River.
They’re also referred to locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means the smoke that thunders.
A lot of people believe Victoria Falls are one of the seven natural wonders in the world. At 354 feet they’re not the highest in the world, nor are they the widest. However they’re typically considered to be among the largest due to the large amount of water which tumbles over them.
To put them into perspective, Victoria Falls are actually about double the size of Niagara Fallsin North America. You’ll also find two small islands lying at the crest of Victoria Falls, named Livingstone and Boaruka Islands.
The region around the falls is filled with some wonderful scenery and the climate makes it an ideal place to visit at just about any time of the year.
However, there’s a rainy season which lasts between the end of November until early April. This means the Zambezi River usually peaks in the month of April, enabling visitors to see the highest flow of water as it falls into several gorges below.
The water’s spray can reach about 1,300 feet in height with no problem and it can occasionally be seen approximately 30 miles away. The lowest amount of water going over the falls takes place in November.
The area surrounding Victoria Falls has produced several stone artifacts which are believed to be close to three million years old.
The area has also been named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it started to attract visitors years ago when the United Kingdom ruled the countries of Northern and Southern Rhodesia, which are currently Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As well as providing a fantastic sight, the falls also offer a number of exciting activities including whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, game fishing and horseback riding.
You can also take flights over the falls to view them from the air. Victoria Falls attract about a million tourists each year.
If you’re especially brave, you can swim close to the falls’ edge at a section called devil’s Pool when the river is low. This area is formed naturally and can be accessed from Livingstone Island on the Zambian side.
The low water level along with a natural rock wall mean you can swim there just before the water drops over the falls.
