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It's not easy to put together a Top 10 Best Waterfalls List because it's completely subjective and limited to each person's experience with the falls being named.
Heck, even my wife and I couldn't agree on our own favorites. Nonetheless based on popular demand, we've finally come up with our own list of the favorites that we've personally visited. This is by no means a permanent list and it's sure to change as we continue to collect more falls from around the world. So without further adieu, here they are in reverse order...
10. LANGFOSS [Hordaland, Norway] It was difficult to come up with a standout waterfall in Norway as so many of them are big and beautiful. We picked this falls because it towers at 612m, its unregulated flow makes it wide and thunderous, and it scenically drops into a fjord viewable from many positions. Let's hope this waterfall remains wild and free as many others have disappeared due to hydroelectricity.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
9. SUTHERLAND FALLS [Fiordland, New Zealand] In a country that holds a special place in our hearts, this gorgeous 580m waterfall is easily New Zealand's most spectacular waterfall and makes our list. Given its remote location deep in the wild and beautiful Fiordland National Park (also a World Heritage Area), it's one of many highlights of the Milford Track - said to be one of the finest walks in the world.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
8. LOWER FALLS (OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER) [Wyoming, USA] Nestled in the gorgeous Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River surrounded by the namesake yellow stones comprising its volcanic cliffs, this waterfall makes our Top 10 Waterfalls List for its impossibly-scenic location while holding its own in terms of size and power. In a National Park known for wildlife and geothermal features, this waterfall is a worthy rival competing for tourists' attention.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
7. SKOGAFOSS [Skógar, Iceland] In a country full of waterfalls and raw nature, this waterfall makes the Top 10 Waterfalls List for its settings, size, classical rectangular shape, and ease of access. This was Julie's favorite Icelandic waterfall and she considers it better than even taller classically-shaped waterfalls such as Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
6. DETTIFOSS [Jökulsárgljúfur, Iceland] It is Europe's most powerfull waterfall sending glacial meltwaters over its 44m precipice unchecked at a flow of around 500 cubic meters per second. It epitomizes the wild and raw Icelandic nature and is a favorite amongst Icelandic nature lovers. Its position at the head of the impressive Jökulsárgljúfur (the Icelandic version of the Grand Canyon) surrounded by three other major waterfalls on the same river makes it a no-brainer for this to make our Top 10 Waterfalls List.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
5. YOSEMITE FALLS [California, USA] Even though this waterfall doesn't flow year round, it does flow for a good part of the year and it's one of the tallest in the world at 2425ft. It's the crown jewel of attractions in the incomparable Yosemite Valley and it's easily seen from a multitude of viewpoints and trails. So given its ease of access, scenery, and sheer size, this waterfall makes our Top 10 Waterfalls List.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
4. ANGEL FALLS (SALTO ÁNGEL) [Canaima, Venezuela] Plunging uninterrupted for 807m (with total drop of 979m) from a mystical tabletop mountain (tepuy) deep in a Venezuelan equatorial rainforest, it is widely acknowledged as the tallest permanent waterfall in the world. Its existence defies logic as its source is nothing but the soggy cloud forest on the plateau of the tepuy. No doubt about it, there's nothing like this waterfall and the adventure to even get to this so-called Lost World (Mundo Perdido) for a chance to see this world wonder is sure to leave you with a lasting impression.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
3. NIAGARA FALLS [Ontario, Canada/New York, USA] Easily the most famous waterfall in North America, this powerful waterfall also ranks as the biggest one by volume with a whopping average of about 7000 cubic meters per second! In addition to its raw power, the falls is easily one of the easiest to access and view from all sorts of angles. While its surroundings are a bit less naturesque for many, it clearly makes the upper tier of our list of Top 10 Waterfalls.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
2. VICTORIA FALLS (MOSI-OA-TUNYA) [Livingstone, Zambia/Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe] Easily deserving of the top spot on this list (though it finished a very close second), it's the largest singular waterfall in the world spanning a width of 1.7km, a height of 108m, and an average flow of 1 million liters per second! It's no wonder this "smoke that thunders" is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Indeed, it's got power, beauty, and it will make you humble and awestruck.
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
1. IGUAZU FALLS (IGUASSU FALLS) [Puerto Iguazú, Argentina/Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil] With its brink spanning a distance of an incredible 2km in its average flow of 1000 cubic meters per second, this falls tops our list of favorites. The falls actually consists of some 275 individual waterfalls and cascades. Catwalks make it easy to get closeup and intimate views and the rainforest surroundings make the scenery feel right for a natural attraction such as this. Put it all together and we believe this falls is heads and shoulders above the rest (except Victoria Falls) that we've seen!
Click here to read more about this waterfall.
We get many emails about why certain waterfalls are not on this list. Please note we've only considered waterfalls that we've personally visited (in other words, if we have not visited the falls, it was not considered for this list). After all, rating waterfalls we haven't experienced wouldn't make sense, would it?
What's your Top 10 List? Feel free to chime in and let the world know your take by clicking on the following link...
Want to see the best falls for specific countries or regions we've been to? We've come up with regionalized Top 10 Lists, which you can check out by clicking one of the links below. The Top 10 Best Waterfalls of...
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