Located in southern Africa, Victoria Falls is the world’s largest waterfall. A major attraction on the Zambezi River, thousands of travelers from around the globe make the trek to witness this breathtaking display of falling water. The following offerings relate a wealth of facts and trivia about Victoria Falls.
The people who live in the vicinity of Victoria Falls refer to it as Mosi-oa-tunya, the smoke that thunders. Scientists have discovered that early hominids once lived near the falls about three million years ago.
The falls measure 5,580 feet in width and are 355 feet tall. A considerable portion of the land surrounding Victoria Falls is designated as national park lands. Both the falls and the parks have been designated a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Victoria Falls was not technically given national park status until 1972; although, it had enjoyed some protection prior to this time.
Victoria Falls is on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Zambezi River forms a natural border between these two nations.
Geologists credit the formation of the falls to millions of years of erosion, volcanic eruptions, and the flow of the Zambezi.
The mist from the falls has created a landscape that is best described as rain forest in nature. The region is rich with tropical plant life. Many of the plants there are used as food and medicine.
Animals such as cheetahs, elephants, wildebeests, antelopes, impalas, hippopotamuses, and the rarely-seen white rhinoceroses make their home in parks around the falls.
Scientists believe there are about four hundred species of birds that make their home around the falls. Wattled cranes are an important attraction of the area for bird watchers.
The first European to view and report on the falls was David Livingston, who was actually in Africa to try to discover the true source of the Nile River. He glimpsed the falls in 1855 and named them after Queen Victoria.
Construction of the Victoria Bridge began in 1900 when it was commissioned by Cecil Rhodes. The bridge took five years to complete.
More than 300,000 tourists visit the falls annually. The best views of the falls can be had during the dry season. When the Zambezi is flooded with rain waters, a considerable portion of the falls is shrouded in mist.
The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there.
Facts on victoria falls
Many Thanks for this informative post. Heading off to the great Falls in a few weeks
One can view the vistoria falls face on ( mostly from the Zimbabwe side), as facing the falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height and capped by a mist-soaked rain forest.
Facts on victoria falls
During a full moon you can see a moonbow at Victoria Falls. This can been seen through the spray at night instead of during the day as a solar rainbow.
Facts on victoria falls