Tallest Waterfalls

1. Angel Falls

Total Height : 3212 feet /979 meters
Tallest Single Drop: 2648 feet/807 meters
Continent: South America
Country: Venezuela
State / Province: Bolivar
Locality: Canaima National Park

Detailed Information:
Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world, as well as the tallest single drop in the world. The falls consist of a 2648 foot plunge, where the water comes out of the face of Auyan Tepui, then it cascades down steep talus before dropping over another 100 foot cascade. No one seems to know what the stream the falls occur on is called. For the longest time, there have been references to Angel Falls being known in Pemon (the local language) as Churún Merú, and the falls subsequently being on Rio Churún. However, the real Pemon name of the falls is Kerepakupai Merú, which means "fall from the deepest place". To further clear this issue, Churún Merú is a totally different waterfall of about half the height of Angel Falls, located further up the large canyon bysecting Auyan Tepui. The top of the Tepui from which the falls drop is heavily fractured and jointed sandstone. The waters above the falls drop into a series of cracks, crevices, and gorges and burst out of the cliff face about 50 feet below the brink. The waterfall segments in periods of highest water. We've seen photos that show the falls split into 3 major portions, creating a veil of water on the order of 600' in width. Pilot Jimmy Angel is widely credited for discovering the falls in 1937, but the true discoverer was one Ernesto de Santa Cruz, who found the falls in 1910. The falls were subsequently named for Jimmy Angel, since he was the first westerner to view the falls.

2.Tugela Falls
Total Height : 3110 feet /948 meters
Tallest Single Drop: 1350 feet/411 meters
Continent: Africa
Country: South Africa
State / Province: Kwazulu Natal
Locality: Royal Natal National Park

Detailed Information:
Tugela Falls is the second tallest waterfall on the planet. The Tugela River drops over 3000 feet in 5 major tiers, three of which can be seen in the picture below. Some sources show heights of 2853, 2014, 1800 feet for the falls. The figures of 2014 and 1800 feet probably refer to only the first 3 drops.

3.Tres Hermanas, Cataratas las

Total Height : 3000 feet /914 meters
Continent: South America
Country: Peru
State / Province: Ayacucho
Locality: Cordillera Oriental

Detailed Information:
While searching for information on Peru's Catarata Parijaro, we stumbled upon this waterfall that is claimed to have in excess of 3000' of descent. We knew the 2 upper tiers were each about 600'. We saw a photo of the entire series taken by Alejandro Balaguer. We think that 3000' is a wholly credible figure.

4.Olo'upena Falls

Total Height : 2953 feet /900 meters
Continent: Oceania
Country: USA
State / Province: Hawaii
Locality: Molokai

Detailed Information:
This may not be the most volumnous waterfall in Hawaii, but we have to include it in the Oceania Top 20 simply because of it's incomprehensible height. We had once seen a mention of 300' as the height for this waterfall. Examination of the topo maps shatters this notion. This is a legitimate 900m waterfall. While not a high volume falls, it certainly is tall. We are quite certain that the 4th photo in the link below is Olo'upena Falls.

5.Yumbilla, Catarata
Total Height : 2938 feet /896 meters
Continent: South America
Country: Peru
State / Province: Amazonas
Locality: Cuispes

Detailed Information:
Several sites claim a height of 870m, but Peru's IGN (Instituto Geografico Nacional) claims a height of 895.4m. At either height, it's legitimately one of the world's very tallest waterfalls.

Thanks : world-waterfalls