About this article
Published Online: Mar 31, 2020
Page range: 59 - 77
Received: Dec 15, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2020-0005
© 2020 Andrew S. Goudie, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
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Heights of world waterfalls with fall of more than 165 m.
| Fall | River | Country | Height of fall (m) | Setting | Geology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerepakupi (Salto Angel) | Rio Gauja | Venezuela | 807 | Plateau edge | Sandstone |
| Kukenaam, salto | Rio Kukenaam | Venezuela | 674 | Plateau edge | Sandstone |
| Ventisquero Colgante | – | Chile | 549 | Glacial | – |
| Gocta | Cocahuyaco | Peru | 540 | Amazonia | – |
| Ribbon | Ribbon Creek | California, USA | 491 | Glacial | Granite |
| Mtarazi | Mtarazi | Zimbabwe | 479 | Plateau edge | Granite/dolerite |
| Cerberus | Ice Fall Brook | Canada BC | 475 | Glacial | Volcanics |
| Piedra Bolada | Piedra Bolada | Mexico | 453 | Rift margin | Granite |
| Yosemite Falls | Yosemite Creek | California, USA | 436 | Glacial | Granite |
| Tugela | Tugela | South Africa | 411 | Plateau edge | Sandstone |
| Sju Søstre | Knivsflåelvane | Norway | 410 | Glacial | Misc. crystalline |
| Blanche | – | Réunion | 400 | Volcanic | Lava |
| Churún Vena | – | Venezuela | 400 | Plateau edge | Sandstone |
| Castaño Overo | Castaño Overo | Argentina | 366 | Glacial | Volcanic |
| El Dorado | Rio Aracá | Brazil | 353 | Plateau edge | Sandstone |
| Nohkalikai | Pyjngithuli River | India | 340 | Plateau edge (horst) | Eocene sandstones |
| Mardalsfossen | Inste Mardøla | Norway | 320 | Glacial | – |
| Skytjefossen | Skytjedalen | Norway | 315 | Glacial | – |
| Turner | Cleft Creek | New Zealand | 314 | Glacial | – |
| Tyssestrengene | Tysso | Norway | 312 | Glacial | – |
| Basaseachic | Basaseachic | Mexico | 312 | Rift margin | – |
| Roraima, Salto | – | Venezuela | 305 | Plateau edge | – |
| Trou de Fer | Bras de Caverne | Réunion | 305 | Volcano | Volcanics |
| Staubbachfall | Staubbach | Switzerland | 297 | Glacial | Sandstone |
| Gavarnie | Gave de Pau | France | 281 | Glacial | Lava |
| Vetisfossen | Morka-Koldedøla | Norway | 275 | Glacial | – |
| Volefossen | – | Norway | 274 | Glacial | – |
| Arpenaz | La Laiteuse | France | 270 | Glacial | – |
| Sutherland | Arthur | New Zealand | 270 | Glacial | – |
| Tueeulala | Falls Creek | USA | 268 | Glacial | – |
| Wallaman | Stoney Creek | Australia | 268 | Plateau edge | – |
| Parijaro | Rio Alto Cutiverini | Peru | 267 | Glacial | – |
| Kyrfoss | – | Norway | 265 | Glacial | – |
| Hunlen | Hunlen Creek | Canada BC | 260 | Glacial | Limestone |
| Takkakaw | – | Canada BC | 260 | Plateau edge | Quartzite and conglomerate |
| King Edward VIII | Semang | Guyana | 256 | Plateau edge | – |
| Jog | Saravati | India | 253 | Plateau edge | Banded gneiss |
| Skrikjo | Skrikjo | Norway | 250 | Glacial | – |
| Gjerdefossen | Ktituervla | Norway | 245 | Glacial | Sandstone and conglomerate |
| Kaieteur | Potaro | Guyana | 226 | Plateau edge | Metasediments |
| Wollomombi | Wollomombi | Australia NSW | 224 | Plateau edge | Sandstone, quartzite and shales |
| Kalambo | Kalambo | Zambia and Tanzania | 221 | Rift edge | Sandstone, quartzite and shales |
| Tad Fane | – | Laos | 213 | Plateau edge | – |
| Kjerrskredfossen | Kjelfossgrovi | Norway | 206 | Glacial | |
| Kjelfossen | – | Norway | 198 | Glacial | |
| Bridalveil | Bridalveil Creek | California, USA | 189 | Glacial | |
| Drury Falls | Fall Creek | USA | 183 | Glacial | |
| Svøufallet | Grødola | Norway | 167 | Glacial | |
| Serio | Serio | Italy | 166 | Glacial | |
| Multnomah | Multnomah Creek | Oregon, USA | 165 | Missoula floods hanging valley | Basalt |
Rates of waterfall recession ordered according to the rate in millimetres per year.
| Location | Source | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Golan Heights, Israel | 0.68 | |
| Roan Plateau | 0.3–11.9 | |
| Kyushu, Japan | 2–30 | |
| Aso, Japan | 13–68 | |
| Iguazu | Stevaux, Latrubesse (2010) | 14–21 |
| Beso, Japan | 13–270 | |
| Kegon, Japan | 18 | |
| Hawaii | Mackey et al. (2015) | 33 |
| Victoria Falls | 42–80 | |
| Yosemite | 46 | |
| European Alps | 55–75 | |
| Shomyo, Japan | 80–150 | |
| Poudre Falls, USA | Hayakawa, Wohl (2006) | 90 |
| Victoria Falls | 150 | |
| Niagara | 100–1000 | |
| St Anthony Falls, USA | 744 | |
| Niagara | 1200–1500 | |
| Taiwan | 3300–220,000 |
World Heritage Sites with waterfalls included in their designation.
| World Heritage Site | Country |
|---|---|
| Wet tropics of Queensland | Australia |
| Greater Blue Mountains Area | Australia |
| Purnulu National Park | Australia |
| Iguacu National Park | Brazil |
| Atlantic Forest South East Reserves | Brazil |
| Central Amazon Conservation Complex | Brazil |
| Pirin National Park | Bulgaria |
| Nahanni National Park | Canada |
| Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks | Canada |
| Gros Morne National Park | Canada |
| Mount Huangshan | China |
| Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area | China |
| Jiuzhaigou Scenic and Historic Interest Area | China |
| Wulinghuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area | China |
| Lushan National Park | China |
| Mount Sanqingshan National Park | China |
| China Danxia | China |
| Cocos Island National Park | Costa Rica |
| Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park | Costa Rica / Panama |
| Plitvice Lakes National Park | Croatia |
| Morne Trois Pitons National Park | Dominica |
| Sangay National Park | Ecuador |
| Rio Platano Nature Reserve | Honduras |
| Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra | Indonesia |
| Gunung Mulu National Park | Malaysia |
| Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand | New Zealand |
| West Norwegian Fjords | Norway |
| Laurisilva of Madeira | Portugal |
| Putorana Plateau | Russian Federation |
| Škocjan Caves | Slovenia |
| Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes | South Korea |
| Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex | Thailand |
| Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries | Thailand |
| Hierapolis-Pamukkale | Turkey |
| Ruwenzori Mountains National Park | Uganda |
| Yosemite National Park | USA |
| Canaima National Park | Venezuela |
| Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls | Zambia and Zimbabwe |