Beginner’s Guide to Waterfalls

By Jackie Kochell Photo by flickr user Zest-pk

The Basics

It’s funny how something as simple as water flowing over a rock can be one of nature’s most remarkable and inspiring sights. Waterfalls exist all over the world in almost any climate, running over frigid glaciers as well as near-barren valleys.

To the average observer, waterfalls may all seem pretty much all the same (water… that falls?), but there are several types and classifications. Some types include:

Block: wide

Cascade: descends through rocks

Punch Bowl: the flow of the waterfall starts narrow and widens into a pool

Waterfalls are classified into 10 classes determined by volume of water, with 1 being the smallest and 10 the largest.

Venezuela's Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world at 979 metres. The widest is the Chutes de Khone on the Mekong River at 10738 metres. The Inga Falls on the Congo has the greatest volume at 1500000 cfs.

If you are visiting a waterfall in an area that's difficult to access, you may have to be somewhat in good shape if you are climbing or hiking. Many waterfalls are in remote locations that are hard to reach.

Holiday Options

If you're wanting to see a waterfall on holiday, you could go almost anywhere. You could either take a guided tour out to see one or venture out yourself. Most waterfalls are in warm, tropical areas.

Children

People of all ages can watch waterfalls, but make sure the child is fit enough if getting to the waterfall involves lots of activity. Children might enjoy the pool of water that awaits them at the bottom of the waterfall. Most waterfall pools are safe for swimming, but make sure the child can swim first and be careful for strong currents.

Kit

Since waterfalls exist in all sorts of climates, it's best to check the weather before you go. Some require a windbreaker if there's a lot of mist, or a bathing suit if you plan on jumping in the water. Also, make sure to wear comfortable footwear if you have a far walk to get there. If you are going with a guide, it's best to ask them before what to wear and bring. A camera is also an important acessory to have with you in order to capture a beautiful picture of your waterfall adventure.

Resources

*world-waterfalls.com *helium.com

See all waterfalls » Jackie's Selection

	Niagara Falls Waterfalls in Buffalo, Canada Along with Victoria Falls, the Niagara Falls is the most famous waterfall in the world. There are three falls in all: the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the US side, and Horseshoe Falls in Canada. The Niagara River dumps over c 85,000 cubic feet per second down the falls. Short, at just 51m, it's impressive for its width of 1.2km. Review by waterfallboy Photo by flickr user The artist (formerly) known as
	Waterfalls of Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls in West Coast, United States The great Columbia River Gorge separates the states of Oregon and Washington. The mountainous walls of the gorge have many waterfalls, some of which are quite tall, such as the 620-foot Multnomah Falls, a popular tourist attraction. Other falls are not huge but very pretty. You could easily spend a full day or two here just seeing waterfalls. Review by Mike Lyvers Photo by mikelyvers
	Huangguoshu Waterfall Waterfalls in Guiyang, China This is Asia’s largest waterfall at 80 meters high and wide. You can walk behind the roaring falls through a natural travertine cave that has several openings where you can look out at and even touch the thundering falls. Near the base of the falls, Miaoux (Hmong) tribeswomen clad in colorful traditional outfits often pose for photos with eager hordes of Chinese tourists. Review by Mike Lyvers Photo by mikelyvers
	Waterfalls of Sounkyo Gorge Waterfalls in Hokaido, Japan Hokkaido's Sounkyo Gorge is known for its many waterfalls. None is especially large but many are very beautiful. A road leads through the gorge and there are many viewpoints from which to observe the lovely waterfalls. Review by Mike Lyvers Photo by mikelyvers
	Wigmore's Waterfall Waterfalls in Cook Islands This 49 ft waterfall can be discovered on the south side of Rarotonga Island. Known for its natural swimming pool where visitors can take a dip, mosquitoes are a common problem so bring some bug repellent. Review by katie_f Photo by John B