The waterfalls are undoubtedly one of the most magnificent sites in nature. Cascading from sheer cliff walls or down mountainsides, these powerful moving bodies of water can sometimes flow at speeds of more than 1.5 million liters of water per second. For centuries, waterfalls have played a role in many cultures and religions, as well as becoming the subject of art and music (because who doesn’t want to go chasing waterfalls?!)
Today, many of the world’s largest waterfalls are massive tourist attractions that generate a lot of money for the local economy. People have found ways to maximize profits by offering things like bungee jumping experiences, rafting, or even boat and helicopter tours. For landscape photographers especially, certain waterfalls are bucket list spots, but which waterfalls are the most popular?
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New Travelbag Research (opens in a new tab) uses the number of times an Instagram hashtag is posted to analyze which waterfalls are the most popular (although they use the term scenic, the two don’t exactly have a direct correlation). While some of the answers come as no surprise, there are some waterfalls on the list that you may not have even heard of. The 5 most popular include some of the tallest, widest and most amazing nature spectacles in the world.
1. Niagara Falls, Canada/USA USA
No wonder the world’s most famous waterfall is also listed as the most picturesque. It’s true that the number of Instagram hashtags doesn’t directly correspond to how picturesque something is, but more to how popular it is, but there’s no denying that Niagara Falls is a stunning site. Located at the southern end of the Niagara Gorge, which straddles the border between Ontario and New York, the group of three waterfalls receives more than 8 million visitors a year and, on average, flows at a rate of 2,400 m³ per second.
2. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, which separates Zimbabwe and Zambia. Arguably, Victoria Falls is a much more impressive site than Niagara Falls, but due to geography it doesn’t get as many visitors. With a width of 1,708m it is one of the largest waterfalls in the world and due to its impressive size it has earned a place as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and has been on my wish list ever since I saw the documentary of the BBC, rivers.
3. Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
I had never heard of Iguazu Falls in South America before this survey, but they definitely deserve to be better known. With 80% of it located in Argentina and the remaining 20% in Brazil, this huge horseshoe-shaped waterfall is worth a look from the countries to get a different perspective. Nicknamed La Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat in Spanish, more than 64,000 m³ of water pours over the edge every second into what seems like a bottomless abyss.
4. Multnomah Falls, USA
Found in Oregon, this impressive waterfall has become very popular thanks to the convenient bridge that has been built across the gorge and makes for a perfect viewing platform. This is a great waterfall for people who don’t like to do a lot of walking as it is very accessible and the views are spectacular. According to the Usda Forest Service, it is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with more than 2 million visitors a year.
5. Yosemite Falls, USA
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, California. Located at 2,425 feet, it has three drops in total, including a 1,430-foot drop. It’s best to visit in spring when the flow of the waterfalls is at its peak, especially if you’re there to take some really dramatic photos. There are many different vantage points to look at the waterfall and hikers can enjoy several different routes depending on the experience.
In the Travelbag survey, 10 waterfalls in total were ranked, including Kawasan Falls in the Philippines and Seljalandsfodd, Iceland. To see the full list go to the Travelbag website (opens in a new tab).
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