22 Fascinating Facts About Victoria Falls
Ready for a virtual tour of one of the most amazing waterfalls on Earth? Join me as we explore 22 fascinating tidbits about Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the iconic natural wonder located along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa.
I’ll highlight everything from its sheer vast size and UNESCO World Heritage status to the thriving wildlife and adrenaline-pumping adventure activities in the area. This natural marvel has so much to offer!
Key Takeaways on Victoria Falls:
- With a width of over 1 mile and a height of 354 feet, Victoria Falls is classified as the largest waterfall in the world.
- It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The falls have an astonishing flow rate of up to 3,000 cubic meters per second during peak season.
- Diverse wildlife like elephants, hippos, and exotic birds inhabit the surrounding national parks.
- You can swim at the top of the falls or bungee jump for an incredible adrenaline rush!
- Over 1 million people visit Victoria Falls each year, making it a major African tourist attraction.
1. Over a Mile Wide – That’s Huge!
Let’s start with the sheer mammoth size of Victoria Falls. At its maximum width during peak flow, it stretches an incredible 1.7 km – over a mile – across! I don’t know about you, but that makes my jaw drop.
This makes Victoria Falls the largest singular curtain of falling water in the world based on width alone. Talk about bragging rights.
2. Twice as Tall as Niagara Falls
Not only is Victoria Falls extremely wide, but it’s also super tall too. At 354 feet (108 meters) high, it’s more than twice the height of Niagara Falls – The height of Niagara Falls varies between 51 meters (167 feet) and 57 meters (188 feet). That easily makes Victoria Falls the tallest waterfall on the planet.
3. Natural Wonder of the World
Given its sheer mammoth size and outstanding beauty, it’s no wonder Victoria Falls is classified as one of the official Seven Natural Wonders of the World. And what a worthy natural wonder it is!
4. UNESCO World Heritage Site
The falls and surrounding rainforests along the Zambezi River were honored as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1989. This World Heritage status recognizes the area’s ecological significance and natural importance. Pretty neat!
5. Mind-Blowing Flow Rate
Ready for another jaw-dropping fact? During peak flow, Victoria Falls churns out a massive 3,000 cubic meters of water per second. That’s equivalent to over 212 million cubic meters daily cascading over the edge. I can’t even comprehend volumes like that!
6. Segmented Into Sections
Unlike some other singular waterfall faces, Victoria Falls is actually segmented into a series of linear chasms and gorges. The largest single section is known as the Main Falls, which is a whopping 550 yards (around 500 meters) wide. What a sight!
7. Second Gorge is Expert Territory
Two dangerous gorges cut through the landscape surrounding Victoria Falls. The Second Gorge runs nearly 2 miles and contains steep Class V rapids that only the most experienced rafters and kayakers dare attempt. It’s incredible how the power of water carved out these landforms over time.
8. Distinct Wet and Dry Seasons
Like most areas near the equator, Victoria Falls has distinct wet and dry seasons that impact its flow. During the wet season from February to June, it flows at its peak maximum. But in the dry months between September through December, water levels decrease.
9. One of the Only Places to See Rare Moonbows
This is one of my favorite facts: Victoria Falls is one of only TWO places on the entire planet where you can see magical moonbows! The other place is Cumberland Falls near Corbin, Kentucky. These rare lunar rainbows form from the fine mist the falls kick up combined with moonlight. Definitely adding seeing a moonbow here to my bucket list!
10. Lush Rainforest Ecosystem
The falls are bordered by flourishing rainforests literally teeming with life. These lush forests thrive thanks to the constant spray from the falls. Moss, ferns, bushes, trees…so much green!
11. Abundant Wildlife Spotting Opportunities
Within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia and Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe, you can spot tons of awesome African wildlife. We’re talking elephants, antelope species, buffalo herds, hippos, crocodiles, and vibrant exotic birds. Going on a safari drive or wildlife viewing tour here is the stuff dreams are made of!
12. Prime Adventure Destination
Adrenaline junkies rejoice! Victoria Falls offers some of the best adventure activities in the world, like whitewater rafting directly below the falls on the Zambezi River. You can also bungee jump, zipline, swim at the top of the falls, or helicopter tour over it for jaw-dropping views.
13. Excellent Viewpoints of this Natural Wonder
Speaking of jaw-dropping views, there are a bunch of excellent spots to gaze upon the majesty that is Victoria Falls. Knife Edge Bridge connects two sheer cliffs and puts you right above the action. You could also check it out from the Zambian side or Livingstone Island. Every perspective is breathtaking!
14. The Origins of Its Name
Here’s a quick history lesson: Scottish explorer David Livingstone became the first European to document witnessing the incredible Victoria Falls back in 1855. He named it after Queen Victoria. Though locals historically called it by the very fitting name Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “the smoke that thunders.“
15. Hydroelectric Power Source
You better believe that the fall’s sheer massive amount of water volume is harnessed to generate clean electricity! It powers the Victoria Falls Hydroelectric Station which provides electricity to surrounding regions of both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
16. Ancient Bridge Connecting Countries
The Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe opened way back in 1905. At the time, it provided one of the only crossing points over the mighty Zambezi River, linking the two countries. The bridge still stands over a century later!
17. Culturally Significant Site
Victoria Falls holds deep cultural meaning for indigenous tribes native to the region. It prominently features in local artwork, folklore, rituals, and more as a site to be respected for its raw natural power and beauty.
18. Formed by Powerful Natural Forces
Over countless millennia, the falls were carved out by the immense power of water. It formed originally from a natural fault line that forced the Zambezi into a zig-zag shape and created that sheer 300+ foot precipice. The continual erosion over time determines the falls’ location. Mother Nature is awesome!
19. Facing Environmental Threats
While stunningly beautiful, Victoria Falls faces some environmental issues moving forward. Droughts, upstream damming, deforestation, and unsustainable tourism could potentially impact its flow. But conservation efforts are underway to protect this natural wonder.
20. Major Tourist Attraction
Clearly, Victoria Falls is a natural marvel everyone should see at least once in their life! Over 1 million people travel to view the iconic falls each year, making it one of the most visited attractions in Africa. A major source of revenue for both Zambia and Zimbabwe through tourism.
21. Unique Devil’s Pool Experience
Here’s a fun extra fact about Victoria Falls – you can actually swim at the edge of the falls without falling over in an area called the Devil’s Pool! It provides one-in-a-lifetime views of the sheer drop just inches away. Not for the faint of heart!
22. Don’t Forget the Raincoats!
And last but not least, don’t forget your raincoat if you visit Victoria Falls! The sheer volume of mist and spray kicked up by the falls means you’ll get soaked. But that just adds to the experience!
Well, there you have it – 22 totally fascinating facts about the one and only Victoria Falls! From its sheer size and UNESCO status to the animal encounters and adventure activities, this natural wonder has so much to offer. I don’t know about you, but it’s now at the top of my travel bucket list.
Let me know in the comments if you learned any surprising new tidbits about Victoria Falls today! And if you’ve been fortunate to visit it yourself, please share your experience. I’d love to hear!
