Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls also known as "Mosi oa-Tunya" ("the smoke that thunders") is positioned almost exactly half way along the mighty Zambezi River's 2700 km journey from it's source to the sea. the river which plunges headlong into a 100m vertical chasm spanning the full one-and-a-half kilometer width of the river. Creating the biggest curtain of falling water in the world and also one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The power of the falls is awesome with the highest ever flow recorded in 1958 (read more about this flood and the mythology surrounding it) when it reached more than 700 000 cubic meters of water a minute. The water in the gorges rose 18 meters (60 feet) above its normal flood level.

This constant pounding by the currents of the mighty Zambezi has, over the millennium, cut through the rock faults and fissures and carved out not one but eight successive precipices (and now the ninth has begun).

When our early ancestors inhabited this area some 1.5 million years ago , they would have seen a different Victoria falls to he one we see today. Being one of the greatest physical spectacles in Africa it stands to reason that it has attracted so much much interest from us humans over time and therefore the area is steeped in history and mystery.

Amazing 10 Facts about Victoria Falls :

FACT 1: The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa, the three larger are the Nile, Congo, and Niger. 

FACT 2: The Zambezi flows through six countries, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 

FACT 3: Victoria Falls lies almost directly half way along the Zambezi River in its 1677 miles stretch from its source to the sea. 

FACT 4: Victoria Falls is approximately 5577 feet wide and varies in height from 262- 304 feet and when all dimensions are taken into account along with flow rate it is considered to be the biggest curtain of water in the world.

FACT 5:  Victoria Falls is one and a half times wider than Niagara falls and twice as high.

FACT 6: Victoria Falls is one of the so-called seven natural wonders of the world, the others are: the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Mount Everest, the Polar Aurora and the Paricutin volcano. 

FACT 7: Because of the spray of Victoria Falls the Rain Forest at Victoria Falls is the only place in the world where it rains 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 

FACT 8: Before being named ‘Victoria Falls’ in 1855 by David Livingstone the waterfall was known to the local tribesmen as the Mosi-oa-tunya translated as ‘Smoke that Thunders.’ 

FACT 9: During a full moon it is possible to see a ‘moonbow’ at Victoria Falls at night, this occurs in the spray of the falls from the light of the moon and appears in the same way as a solar rainbow in the day with the same colors and shape. 

FACT 10: During the months of September to December and the river’s flow is at a safe enough level it is possible to swim right to the edge of the Victoria falls in a naturally formed pool known as ‘the Devil’s swimming pool’. In this time the natural rock wall prevents swimmers from being taken over the falls despite the current. 

 

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