If you spend your entire life on familiar rivers and lakes, you might miss out on some of the planet's most magnificent natural wonders. From famous spots like Niagara Falls to secluded waterfalls like Hidden Valley Falls in Belize, there are countless cascades worth visiting.
But before you set off in pursuit of waterfalls, you first need to understand where you're going—especially if you're focusing on height rather than fame or quantity. While the world-famous Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe may top your travel bucket list, dozens of lesser-known cascades dwarf its 354-foot vertical drop in height.
Can you name the 26 countries that have the highest waterfalls on Earth before time runs out?
How many countries could you name based on the names of their waterfalls? Some of the tallest waterfalls are world-famous natural wonders, making them easy to guess, while others are much less well-known than you might expect. Whatever your score, share this quiz with your friends and see who can name the tallest waterfall!
The highest waterfall on almost every continent
Angel Falls, Venezuela (South America)
Elevation: 3,212 feet (979 m)
Angel Falls in Venezuela tops the list of the world's tallest waterfalls, with a peak height of 2,648 feet (807 meters). The cascade is named after Jimmy Angel, an American pilot who saw it from the summit of Mount Auyán-tepui in 1933. Today, this natural wonder lies within Canaima National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and is known to have served as the real-life inspiration for Paradise Falls in the Pixar film.« Up"» .
Tugela Falls, South Africa (Africa)
Elevation: 3,110 feet (947 m)
Tugela Falls in South Africa cascades over the cliffs of the Drakensberg Amphitheater in five distinct cascades. Officially ranked the second-tallest waterfall in the world, it is the focus of a fierce debate about its height. In 2016, a Czech expedition re-measured the falls, arriving at 983 meters (3,225 feet), claiming it even surpasses Angel Falls in height.
Oloupena Falls, USA (North America)
Elevation: 2953 feet (900 m)
Hidden on the remote northern coast of Molokai, Hawaii, Oloupena Falls cascades over the world's tallest sea cliffs. Lush greenery flanks the falls, and the cliffs themselves have carved a deep furrow into them over the years. Rising nearly three times higher than the Eiffel Tower and plunging directly into the ocean, this tropical waterfall can only be seen from the air or by boat.
Vinnufossen, Norway (Europe)
Elevation: 2,837 feet (865 m)
Thanks to melting ice from the massive Vinnufonna glacier, Vinnufossen Falls in western Norway holds the title of Europe's highest waterfall. As it cascades from Vinnufjellet Mountain into the Driva River, the water splits into several streams, creating a thin white veil against the dark granite walls of the fjord. Unlike many of the mega-waterfalls on this list, Vinnufossen is surprisingly visitor-friendly: hikers can climb the Vinnu stone steps to a height of 984 feet to admire the cascading water and panoramic views of the valley below.
Brown Falls, New Zealand (Oceania)
Elevation: 2,743 feet (836 m)
New Zealand is home to Oceania's tallest waterfall, Brown Falls, which flows directly from the mouth of Brown Lake. The waterfall winds down cliffs covered in temperate rainforest before emptying into Doubtful Sound, a picturesque fjord cut deep into Fiordland National Park.
Hannoki Falls, Japan (Asia)
Elevation: 1,640 feet (500 m)
Asia's tallest waterfall is actually a seasonal "ghost" cascade in Toyama Prefecture. Hannoki Falls flows only from April to July, fed by melting snow from the Midagahara Plateau. Once the summer heat clears away the snow, the falls disappear until the following spring, giving way to the neighboring Shomyo Falls (355 m), which remains the center of attention year-round.