VICTORIA FALLS - The Smoke That Thunders

Nestled between the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, in the southern region of Africa is the world’s greatest sheet of falling water known as the Victoria Falls. This mighty waterfall is called a true testament of the nature’s ability to amalgamate prowess, grandeur, beauty and wrath. Victoria Falls is hailed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and if you are lucky enough to visit it, you’d know why.

The gentle, placidness of Africa’s Zambezi River takes a spectacular plummet as it reaches the sharp cliff and torrents down ferociously, cutting right through jagged rocks and thundering down as Victoria Falls. The powerful torrents of water create large columns of spray that can be witnessed from miles and miles away, earning the waterfall the mighty title of Mosi-oa-Tunya which means "The Smoke that Thunders". The river plummets as a solitary vertical drop into a narrow chasm that has a magnanimous height of 70m to 108m.

As if the Victoria Falls weren’t breathtaking and intimidating enough, they are faced by a large basalt wall that rises to the same height, crowned with a dense mist-soaked rainforest of its own. To date, innumerate tourists and wanderers were caught in awe at the sight of this mighty, larger-than-life waterfall that transcends down in a glorified thunder.

There are a number of vantage points, where tourists flock to trap the panoramic view of the Victoria Falls in their eyes and cameras. A very popular vantage point is Knife Edge Bridge where tourists can get a great view of the Eastern Cataract, the Main Falls and The Boiling Points. Other very famous vantage points are the Falls Bridge, Lookout Tree and the Devil’s Pool.

What’s unmissable about the Victoria Falls?

The Devil’s Cataract

Also called the Leaping Water, The Devil’s Cataract’s makes the lowest fall of the waterfall at the plummet of 60 meters. It is located on Zimbabwe‘s side and is cornered away from the main falls by a beautiful island by the same name. It is the same island where the local tribes used to perform religious sacrificial ceremonies, hence the name Devil’s Cataract.

Main Falls

The most colossal and certainly the most bewitchingly-beautiful view of the falls is the Main Falls. Plummeting at the height of 93 meters, the fall gushes with the flow rate of 700,000 cubic meters. Such is the magnificence and power of the fall’s sheer voluminous flow that it is buffeted by the winds into mist way before it reaches the end ground.

Horseshoe Falls

The fall cascades down in the shape much like a horseshoe from the height of 95 meters. The volume of the fall thins and eventually dries up particularly during the period between October and November.

Rainbow Falls

The gapping height of 108 meters is incapable of conveying the wrath and splendour of the Rainbow Falls, which is the highest point of the waterfall. If you are a lucky tourist and visit the spot on a clear day, you are bound to witness a gorgeous rainbow stretching wide from the falls. Very few are lucky to witness a lunar rainbow on a full moon night that is unparallel in its beauty.

The Eastern Cataract

The second largest fall at the height of 101 meters would be The Eastern Cataract, located near Zimbabwe’s side. They say no pictures or photos are truly capable of capturing the true magic play these falls make as they cascade down to their end.

RELATED POST

COMMENTS