Famous Waterfalls In South America: Here's What You Need To Know!

A waterfall or a cascade is a body of water like a river that falls steeply over a rocky arena, plunging into a pool at the bottom.

So how are these natural wonders formed? Erosion is a major factor that contributes to the formation of waterfalls.

The cascades, themselves, are responsible for erosion. The cascades are also formed when rivers flow from soft to hard rocks.

Streams can move both laterally and vertically from soft to hard rocks. In the first case, a river flows across the surface of the earth. In the latter, the river plunges steeply to form a waterfall.

However, in both these cases, one factor remains common. Soft rocks erode and leave a hard ledge behind over which a river plunges steeply.

As rivers flowing in tandem with each other flow from the uplands to the lowlands, they may plunge over an imaginary line called a fall line. These wonders of wild nature help hydrologists and geologists study the fall line in a region and understand the structure of the underlying rocks.

Apart from erosion, a cascade may originate because of a crack or a fault on the surface of the earth.

Often beds of streams are interrupted by glaciers, landslides, earthquakes, or volcanoes. This also helps in creating a cascade.

Like reading about the waterfalls? Want to know how to reach them? Whether the path is through a narrow ravine or a small town? Let's move ahead. If you like reading this article, you may also like reading about the freshwater facts and the largest freshwater lake in North America.

Location Of Angel Falls, Venezuela

The tallest waterfall on earth, the Angel Falls or the Salto Churún Merú is located in the state of Bolívar in Venezuela. It is called Salto Ángel in Spanish.

This waterfall is located in the Guiana Highlands in the southeastern part of Venezuela. The waterfalls are located on the Churún River. The cascade is 3,212 ft (979 m) in height and is 500 ft (150 m) in width (base).

The waterfall is located about 160 mi (260 km) southeast of Ciudad Bolívar. The Angel Falls are located within the Canaima National Park.

The Canaima National Park is known for its breathtaking views. The Canaima National Park boasts of the tabular mountains of Roraima, Tepuis, and Kukenan. These tabletop mountains are located at a short distance from this majestic waterfall.

However, a major issue arises while visiting this waterfall. This natural wonder is located deep within the forests in a remote area and as such is difficult to access and trek.

It takes a long time to trek to the falls. The best chance of viewing the falls is via a 40-minute flight from the Canaima Airport. However, there are a limited number of flights that operate each day.

What is Angel Falls, Venezuela famous for?

The Angel Falls, named after a U.S. flier who first flew over the falls, is famous globally as one of the four most beautiful waterfalls in the world. The others are the Niagara Falls in North America, the Victoria Falls in Africa, and the Iguazú Falls in Latin America.

In the dry and warm weather, the waterfall often evaporates into a mist in the middle before it reaches the plunge pool. On the contrary, in the rainy season and the wet season, the waterfall splits into two counterparts.

It is estimated that this towering waterfall is 15 times taller than the mighty Niagara Falls.

When there is plenty of water in the waterfall, small droplets of water are felt in the air even at a distance of 0.62 mi (1 km). It is very interesting to note that Jimmy Angel's plane that had crashed at the site was recovered and is at present kept at the Maracay's Aviation Museum.

Which is the largest, Iguazú Falls or Angel Falls?

The Iguazú Falls are the largest in South America. They are also the largest cascade found in Argentina. They are larger than the Angel Falls.

The waterfall was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1984. In the year 2011, it was declared to be a “New Wonder of the World”. This declaration was made by the Seven Wonders Foundation.

The Iguazú Falls are made of around 275 different vertical waterfalls. It is located on the Iguazu River. The height of these different waterfalls varies roughly from 196- 269 ft (60-82 m).

The cascade is twice as wide as the Niagara and is also taller. A wide curtain of water is formed at the Devil's Throat. It is made of 14 majestic waterfalls.

This waterfall can be accessed from both the Brazilian side and the Argentina side. It is roughly a 1.86 mi (3 km) stretch of waterbody along the border of these two nations.

This waterfall can be accessed from two main township areas from either side. The town of Puerto Iguazú is in Argentina while the town of Foz do Iguaçu is in Brazil. There is a Rainforest Ecological Train from the Argentinian side.

This train travels between the Visitors Centre and the station named Devil’s Gorge. This track runs through 4.34 mi (7 km) of lush rainforest. The Devil's Throat is one of South America's most photographed areas.

Is Iguazu Falls the biggest waterfall in the world?

Cataracts are considered to be dangerous, with many thunderous waterfalls across the world. The Iguazú Falls are the largest of all cataracts. Let's find out what are some of the fascinating facts about these falls that make them a must in a travel itinerary.

The Iguazu falls in the continent of South America is regarded as the most dramatic waterfall in the world. It is counted as part of the group that consists of the most monumental cascades in the world.

The cascade tumbles over the Misiones province in Argentina and the Paraná state of Brazil. It is located on the border.

While Brazil enjoys the panoramic views, it is from Argentina that tourists can get closer looks at the majestic cascade. This cascade is also called the Iguaçu Falls and the Iguassu Falls.

In Guarani and Tupi languages, the word 'Iguazú' means ‘great waters’. This majestic cascade was well known amongst the tribal people of ancient Brazil. However, globally it became known after it was discovered by an explorer from Europe.

A Spanish Conquistador named Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca came across these thunderous falls in the year 1541. The falls today is considered to be a part of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A part of the cascade is found in the famous Iguaçu National Park in the nation of Brazil. The Iguazu falls Argentina is located in the Iguazú National Park, Argentina.

Did You Know...

Waterfalls are often classified based on certain criteria like how much volume of water they carry, their height, and their width.

The Gocta waterfall is the highest waterfall in Peru (Latin America). The Gocta Falls is officially known as Catarata Gocta in Spanish. It is called La Chorrera locally. The Gocta Falls is found in the Amazonas region in Peru.

It is located near Chachapoyas, a city in Peru. The falls flow into the Cocahuayco River. This majestic cascade is visible from the surrounding villages.

The Petrohué Waterfalls is located near the Osorno Volcano in Chile. These waterfalls are located on the Petrohué River inside the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park.

The Tequendama falls is a 433 ft ( 132 m) waterfall on the Bogotá River.

A day trip can be undertaken to the Yumbilla Falls in Peru. At 2,938 ft (895.5 m), it is the fifth tallest waterfall on the planet. However, it is a tiered waterfall.

Cachoeira da Fumaca is a beautiful waterfall in South America. Interestingly it is the second-highest waterfall in the nation of Brazil.

The Salto Grande waterfall is located on the Paine river. This waterfall is located after the Nordenskjöld Lake in Chile.

The Chile Salto Grande is situated within the confines of the Torres Del Paine National Park. Several types of wild fauna and flora are found around the Salto Grande. The Salto Grande region is also known for its strong winds.

The Cascada de Peguche is a 60 ft (18.28 m) cascade nestled in the northern highlands in Ecuador in South America. The cascade is a part of eucalyptus forests that are protected in the region. This picturesque cascade can be reached on foot by following a trail through the forests.

Paved walkways have been constructed to aid tourists coming to get a glimpse of this beautiful cascade. A bridge has also been constructed near the cascade. It serves as a major photo spot for tourists.

The Kaieteur Falls are located in the northern part of South America. It is located in Guyana. The Kaieteur Falls fall over 700 ft (213.36 m). Though it has a shorter height yet it is considered to be one of the most powerful waterfalls found on the planet.

Nestled deep in the lush forests of Centro Ecologico Cuevas, is a trio of cascades named Las Cuevas. It is located outside the township of Samaipata.

Though not particularly impressive in height or width, these cascades are known for the fact that they are fed by the orange-colored waters of the beautiful Río Bermejo. It is a fantastic hiking and swimming spot.

The mighty Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi river. It is located in southern Africa across the borders of the nations of Zimbabwe and Zambia. It has a width of 5604 ft (1708 m) and is counted amongst the largest waterfalls across the globe.

It is a part of the World Heritage List. While the Iguassu falls are the birdwatchers and nature lovers' delight, the mighty Victoria is a paradise for spotting the Big Five. Victoria Falls has an interesting history as well.

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