The question of the world’s “biggest” waterfall depends entirely on the metric used for measurement, as no single cascade holds the record in all categories. Waterfalls are generally compared using three separate, non-interchangeable dimensions: height, which measures the vertical drop from top to bottom; average flow rate, which quantifies the volume of water moving over the edge per second; and width, which is the linear distance the water spans. These distinct methods of classification mean that the world’s tallest waterfall looks dramatically different from the one that carries the most water, and both differ significantly from the broadest.
Defining Magnitude: The Metrics of Size
Comparing waterfalls requires a clear understanding of the geological features being measured. Height, typically measured in feet or meters, focuses on the distance the water travels from the brink to the plunge pool below. Average flow rate, measured in cubic meters per second, represents the volume of water carried by the river and is often the measure of a waterfall’s raw power. Width is the linear distance spanned by the waterfall’s crest, sometimes broken by islands or segmented into separate drops. Because a waterfall can be extremely tall yet have low volume, or incredibly wide yet have only a minor drop, no single location can claim the title of “biggest” across the board.
The World’s Tallest Waterfalls
The title of the world’s tallest waterfall is awarded to Angel Falls (Kerepakupai Merú), located in Canaima National Park in the Bolívar state of Venezuela. This plunge drops from the Auyán-Tepuí, one of the region’s flat-topped table mountains. Angel Falls boasts a total height of 979 meters (3,212 feet), which includes a single, uninterrupted drop of 807 meters (2,648 feet).
The drop is so immense that a portion of the water atomizes into a thick cloud of mist before it reaches the base, where it forms cascades and rapids that account for the remaining height. Angel Falls holds the record for both the greatest total height and the longest uninterrupted drop. While some suggest South Africa’s Tugela Falls is a close contender due to measurement disputes, Angel Falls remains the standard record holder for height.
Waterfalls of Immense Volume
Measuring a waterfall by volume focuses on the flow rates of the world’s largest rivers. The highest-volume waterfalls are often series of powerful, extended rapids or cataracts, rather than single dramatic plunges. Inga Falls on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most powerful by flow rate, with an estimated average discharge of 42,000 cubic meters (1,500,000 cubic feet) per second.
This volume of water flows over a series of cascades that drop 96 meters (315 feet) over a 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch. Despite its massive flow, Inga Falls is often classified as a rapid or cataract due to its low verticality spread over a long distance. Another example is Boyoma Falls (formerly Stanley Falls), also on the Congo River, which moves an average of 16,990 cubic meters per second and consists of seven cataracts. These flow rates often lead to the development of hydroelectric projects, such as the dams at Inga Falls, which harness the river’s hydraulic power.
The Widest Waterfalls on Earth
Width often correlates with the most visually expansive waterfall experiences. The widest waterfall in the world is Khone Falls (Khone Phapheng Falls), located on the Mekong River in southern Laos near the border with Cambodia. This geological marvel spans 10,783 meters (35,376 feet) across multiple channels and islets, forming a series of cataracts and rapids.
Khone Falls is the main reason the Mekong River is not fully navigable into China. Its average discharge of 11,000 cubic meters per second, with peak flows reaching 50,000 cubic meters per second, creates a massive barrier. The falls are viewed as a complex system of cascades and rapids rather than a single drop, with the highest individual fall reaching about 21 meters (69 feet).
In South America, Iguazu Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil, is considered the largest waterfall system by area and breadth. It is composed of approximately 275 individual waterfalls, spanning a total width of 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles), with heights ranging from 60 to 82 meters. About half of the river’s flow plunges into a narrow, U-shaped chasm known as the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), where the water falls from three sides.
Another notable wide waterfall is Victoria Falls, which straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls is considered the largest single sheet of falling water in the world, with a width of 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) and a single vertical drop of 108 meters (355 feet). The river plunges into a narrow basalt gorge, creating a mist that can be seen for kilometers, leading to its local name, “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (“The Smoke That Thunders”).