Original photo by Janelle Lugge/ Shutterstock
Sandwiched along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world (literally). Nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls plunges some 350 feet down into the basin of a vast gorge below. The steady stream of water is so powerful, it’s created a rainforestlike microclimate, because its voluminous spray blankets the surrounding area continuously. Although the world largely knows this wonder as Victoria Falls (after Queen Victoria, naturally), locals have traditionally called it Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “The Smoke that Thunders.” The name is arguably a better fit, as the “thunder” of this massive waterfall can be heard from 25 miles away, and its “smoke” (aka water plume) can be seen even farther.
Oops, incorrect!
It's a fibVictoria Falls isn’t the highest waterfall (that’s Venezuela's Angel Falls) or the widest, an accolade that belongs to the Khone Phapheng waterfall in Laos. This waterfall stretches more than 6 miles wide, whereas Victoria Falls is only a little more than a mile wide.
Victoria Falls is actually several waterfalls in one. On the Zimbabwe side, there’s Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Horseshoe Falls, and on the Zambia side lies the Eastern Cataract. If you want to see the waterfall at its most dramatic, visit between February and May when the summer rains, and by extension Victoria Falls itself, are at their highest volume. However, other times of year have plenty to offer, too. Between mid-August and mid-December, daring adventurers can take a dip in Devil’s Pool, a swimming hole that brings those unburdened by acrophobia — fear of heights — to the very edge of the Fall’s dizzying plunge.
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Victoria Falls is part of the ______ River, the fourth-largest river in Africa.
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Victoria Falls is part of the Zambezi River, the fourth-largest river in Africa.
Another amazing water feature lies on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Some 150 miles northeast of Victoria Falls is yet another impressive body of water on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia — an especially notable feat for two landlocked countries. Filled between 1958 and 1963, Lake Kariba is the largest reservoir by volume in the world, stretching a staggering 139 miles long and 25 miles wide. The lake serves as a reservoir that’s created by the Kariba Dam, the largest dam in Africa, and power plants on the dam provide hydroelectric energy for both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Zimbabwe, for example, receives 57% of its annual electricity from the dam. In addition to providing much-needed power, the lake is also a tourist destination for both countries.
Interesting Facts writers have been seen in Popular Mechanics, Mental Floss, A+E Networks, and more. They’re fascinated by history, science, food, culture, and the world around them.
