Somewhere in the lost world of Siberia: the highest waterfall in Russia. Waterfalls of Asia, India, Thailand, Mongolia Waterfalls of Asia, India, Thailand, Mongolia

Waterfalls are natural wonders in themselves and the higher they are, the more beautiful. Streams of water fall from heaven, causing genuine admiration and awe, as a testament to the greatness of Mother Nature. This list contains the 20 highest waterfalls from different parts of the world, having visited at least one of which you will no longer be able to stop.

Angel Falls

The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela. It is also the tallest continuous waterfall in the world. The natural wonder located in Bolivar delights visitors. The stunning beauty of this place is absolutely inexplicable - you can only feel it, but not describe it in words. It is also impossible to appreciate all this splendor from photographs - you need to see everything with your own eyes. The height of Angel Falls is 979 m.

Tugela waterfall

This challenging seasonal waterfall is the second highest in the world. It is located in South Africa, namely the Royal Natal National Park in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Tugela Falls is famous for its scenic beauty. Having visited it once, you will never want to leave this place. When traveling to the national park, do not forget to also book the Safari throughout its territory. It is an incredible experience that you will remember forever. The height of the Tugela waterfall during the rainy season is 947 m.

Three Sisters Waterfall

A waterfall called Cataratas las Tres Hermanas is located in Peru. Free translation from Spanish the name translates as Three Sisters. It is the tallest waterfall in Peru and one of the tallest in the world. It is located in Otishi National Park. Three Sisters is a three-tiered waterfall with three sections, which is where its name comes from. It is located in the remote region of Ayacucho, which is not easily accessible for visitors. The height of the waterfall is 914 m.

Olupena waterfall

Norway and Hawaii have some of the tallest waterfalls in the world. The fourth tallest in the world and the first in Hawaii, Olupena Falls is unique in nature. This place is loved by numerous travelers, photographers and even tourists. It is located on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Although Alupena does not attract as many tourists as Niagara or Victoria, it is equally impressive and gigantic. Olupen's height is 900 meters.

Catarata Umbilla

Located near the town of Kispis, the Catarata Umbilla Falls is the fifth highest in the world. It has a hypnotizing effect on tourists, and locals even talk about the curse of the waterfall. In addition, there are many smaller waterfalls around the site, making it ideal for an expedition to Peru. If you have sufficient physical fitness, then boldly set out on a journey and conquer the natural beauty of this country. The height of Katarat Umbilla is 895 meters.

Vinnufossen waterfall

If you are planning to take a trip to Norway, then this waterfall is one of the most prominent attractions in the country. It is located in the east of the village of Sunndalsera and flows into the Driva River near the village of Hoelsand. This waterfall originates from the Winnubrin Glacier. Winnufossen is one of the highest in all of Europe, and the picturesque beauty of the surrounding villages is just an additional reason to take a trip here. The height of the waterfall is 860 m.

Balayfossen waterfall

It's no secret that most of the world's most beautiful waterfalls are in Norway. The high waterfall Balayfossen was no exception. It is located 6 km from Os and is well worth a visit. The waterfall is located on the eastern side of the Osa fjord in Ulvik municipality and is famous for its mystical and magical aura. You can settle in one of the neighboring villages for one of the most enjoyable journeys of your life. The height of the waterfall is 849 meters.

Puukaoku

Another famous waterfall in Hawaii, Puukaoku is one of the least explored and underrated, yet one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. A quick Internet search will return thousands of hypnotic photos that can make you pack your bags and fly to Hawaii now. So what are you waiting for? Hawaii has everything you need for a great holiday, but don't forget to visit the 840m high Puukaoku.

James Bruce

The tallest waterfall in the North American continent and the ninth highest in the world, James Bruce is located in Princess Louise Provincial Park. This is one of the most important attractions in British Columbia and a real treat for the eyes. The waterfall is full-flowing throughout the year and is divided into two parallel streams. Thanks to the numerous hiking trails, you can hike through the forest in this area. If you want an original travel experience in Canada, don't miss this natural wonder and the forest that surrounds it. The height of the James Bruce Falls is 840 m.

Brown Falls

Located above Doubtful Sound, Brown Falls is part of the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand. It originates from the source of Lake Brown and is one of the tallest waterfalls in New Zealand. The waterfall got its name in honor of the photographer Victor Carlisle Brown, who discovered not only the lake, but also the waterfalls. Today Brown is a prominent tourist destination in New Zealand. The biodiversity of flora and fauna around this waterfall makes it even more picturesque. This is one of the added benefits of traveling to the Doubtful Sound area. The height of the waterfall is 836 m.

Strupenfossen

This waterfall is the tallest in Norway and also one of the most unique in the country. The shape of the waterfall is so unusual that it seems as if many waterfalls have united into a single stream of water. Strupenfossen has become a real magnet for photographers from all over the world. However, this is not the only reason to travel to Norway this year. Other natural wonders of the country include the Northern Lights and a number of other tall waterfalls. Strupenfossen's height is 819 meters.

Ramnefjellsfossen

While Ramnefjellsfossen is unofficially listed as the third highest in the world, it is actually the twelfth highest on our list. Located on Mount Ramnefjollbrin in the villages of Loen and Olden, the falls are fed by the Ramnefjollbrin Glacier. Ramnefjellsfossen can be reached by boat or on foot. Tourists can camp and hike in the scenic surroundings of this waterfall. In addition, this waterfall is one of the few that has not been used for the production of hydropower. The tourist flow to these regions does not dry up throughout the whole year. Waterfall height: 818 meters.

Vaihilau waterfall

Located in the Waimanu Valley, the falls are the third tallest in Hawaii and the thirteenth tallest in the world. The waterfall resembles a horse's tail and is a prominent landmark in Hawaii. It is generally believed that some of the world's best waterfalls cannot be reached on foot and Vaihilau is living proof of this. However, a short boat ride to a nearby river will give you a breathtaking view of the majestic waterfall. The height of Weihilau in Hawaii is 792 meters.

Colonial Creek

Considered the tallest waterfall in the continental United States of America, Colonial Creek is located in Watcom County. A major attraction in the region, Colonial Creek Falls is also renowned for its many hiking trails and great camping opportunities. If you are a hiker, then you should definitely visit this place at least once in your life. Here you can endlessly enjoy the mystical beauty of waterfalls that refresh the mind and rejuvenate the body. Colonial Creek height: 787 meters.

Mongefossen

Mongefossen Falls is located in the Rauma municipality of Møre og Romsdal. Mongefossen is located near the Rauma River and is actively used for hydropower generation. As a result, the flow of water during the summer season is significantly reduced. You can view this beautiful waterfall during the train ride from Flatmark village to Marstein on the north side. If you love tall waterfalls, be sure to make Norway your next destination and enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest. Height: 772 meters.

Katarata Gokta

The deep waterfall Katarat Gokta with two cascades is located in Peru and is the 16th highest waterfall in the world. This waterfall was only discovered in the last decade by the German explorer Stefan Siemendorff, although it can be easily spotted and heard from a distance of several kilometers. A small hotel was recently built 10 kilometers from the base of the waterfall. It allows tourists to stay close to the waterfall and savor its beauty during their stay. Hikers can also explore the scenic surroundings of this waterfall. The height of the Katarat Gokta waterfall is 771 meters.

Mutarazi waterfall

The tallest waterfall in Zimbabwe and the second highest in Africa, Mutarazi is one of the most famous natural wonders in the world. This waterfall was actually the fifteenth highest in the world until 2002, but then its height decreased. Located in Nyanga National Park in the Easter Highlands, the falls is a popular attraction. While traveling, you can stay in one of the neighboring houses, where you will enjoy the thunderous roar of the water falling from a height of 762 meters.

Kjelfossen

One of the tallest waterfalls in Norway, Kjelfossen is located near the village of Gudvangen. It consists of three waterfalls, the largest of which is Stor Kjelfossen on the left. The middle one is called Vetle Kjelfossen, and the smallest of them is known as Nерrøy Fjord. It is an extremely popular attraction that most tourists traveling in Norway try to visit. If you are in Norway on vacation, do not miss the chance to experience this beautiful natural wonder. Kjelfossen reaches a height of 754 meters. Waterfalls are definitely one of the main reasons to visit Norway and get to know this country better.

Johannesburg Falls

Many small streams flow down from Mount Johannesburg. However, the waterfall of the same name surpasses them literally in all respects. First of all, Johannesburg is in the top 20 tallest waterfalls in the world. Secondly, the volume of water in it surpasses other waterfalls nearby. The falls are also known for their increased flow during the spring and fall seasons. Although not the largest attraction in the area, it still deserves a visit. Tourists are offered a comprehensive tour of all the waterfalls of Johannesburg Mountain. Height: 751 meters.

Yosemite Falls

The United States of America is home to some of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Among them, it is worth highlighting the Yosemite Falls located in the Sierra Nevada. This popular attraction consists of 3 sections - the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls, which are part of Yosemite National Park. These falls are amazingly beautiful during winter and spring, but sometimes stop flowing during the summer season. This waterfall is the main spring attraction. Consisting of 3 sections - the Upper Fall, the Middle Cascades, and the Lower Fall - the falls are part of Yosemite National Park. While the falls are amazing during the winter and spring, they sometimes stop flowing during the summers. Height: 739 meters. Even more beautiful landscapes await you in a selection dedicated to the mesmerizing beauty of waterfalls from around the world.

August 29, 2017 | Categories: Places, Topper, Nature

In the Grand Canyon, USA. WATERFALL, a fall of water in a river from a ledge that crosses a river bed. Water can fall over several ledges, forming a series of cascading waterfalls; less steeply falling waterfalls are called slopes. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

WATERFALL, the fall of the waters of a river or stream from a steep slope or cliff. Where the river bed crosses the junction of various rocks, there are certain types of EROSION. The softer rock breaks down faster, forming a sharp drop in level. If the reservoir is more ... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

WATERFALL, waterfall, husband. A stormy stream of water rapidly falling from a ledge formed by a sharp decline in the channel. The river forms a waterfall. Mountain waterfall. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Sutherland, Utigard, Tugela, Vodoskat, Angel, Victoria, Cascade, Iguazu, Boyoma, Padun, Vitoria, Cataract, Gavarnyu Dictionary of Russian synonyms. waterfall noun, number of synonyms: 23 angel (1) ... Synonym dictionary

Fall of water in a river from a ledge crossing the river bed. Water can fall over several ledges, forming a series of cascading waterfalls; less steeply falling waterfalls are called rapids ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

WATERFALL, eh, husband. A stream of water rapidly falling from a height. Gorny V. | adj. waterfall, oh, oh. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

This is the name of the place where a river or stream falls over a steep or even steep ledge. Thresholds are not quite correctly distinguished from V. by a series of successive, but usually insignificant V.'s heights, which often appear instead of one large one. V.… … Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

The place where the bed of the stream forms a ledge from which water falls down. The following types of water are distinguished: 1) the Niagara mass of water is thrown down by a wide front and its width is equal to or greater than the height; typical for horizontally lying debris ... ... Geological encyclopedia

waterfall- sleepless (Fedorov); wild (Bryusov); silvery white (Bryusov); gray-haired (Balmont) Epithets of literary Russian speech. M: Supplier to the court of His Majesty, the partnership of the Quick Press A. A. Levenson. A. L. Zelenetsky. 1913 ... Dictionary of epithets

waterfall- Fall of river water from a ledge crossing the river bed. Water can fall along several ledges, forming a series of waterfalls - a cascade. [Dictionary of geological terms and concepts. Tomsk State University] Topics geology, geophysics ... ... Technical translator's guide

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Waterfalls have an interesting feature: they can soothe, and sometimes the falling water excites, making the heart swoon in front of the power of the elements. There are many waterfalls in Russia, but two of them claim the title of the highest.

Waterfall in the lost world of Siberia

The highest waterfall in Russia (and according to some sources, in Asia) is located in the Putorana Reserve. The Putorana Plateau is a real lost world of Siberia, which has not been touched by civilization. Its stunning views will impress any traveler:

But this territory is inaccessible, so there are very few tourists here.

The waterfall was named Talnikovy.


You don't need to be a great etymologist to understand that it is formed from melt water. In the warm season, Mount Trapezium feeds a waterfall, and then a seasonal stream is formed, which has 15 steps. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Russia.

Measurement problem

In fact, the seasonality of Talnikovy waterfall played a cruel joke on it: it is still not known exactly what its height is. According to various sources, from 482 to 700 meters. The discoverer Mikhail Afanasyev saw the waterfall not in all its glory: when only a stream was left of it. Therefore, in the photo taken by the researcher, practically one crevice is captured, along which a stream of water runs at the peak of the season. Then Talnikovy waterfall was visually estimated at 600 meters.



In September 1990, an expedition headed by Boris Babitsky was sent to these lands. According to their data, the waterfall totaled only 482 meters (however, there is a version that they measured a completely different waterfall, since there are many of them on the Putorana plateau). But then several more expeditions were carried out, in which the height of Talnikovoy waterfall fluctuated in the region of 600-700 meters. In general, this is considered to be the main indicator.

In fact, this confusion is quite understandable: Talnikovy waterfall can be seen in July and August, at other times, due to the harsh Taimyr cold weather, it freezes, or the water flow is too weak due to drought.

Waterfall from the mountains of North Ossetia

Another waterfall, whose height exceeds 600 meters, is Zeigalan.


It is located in the mountains of North Ossetia in the valley of the Midagrabindon River.

Zeigalan also faced a similar problem: his height is not entirely accurate, and it was never possible to measure it. The fact is that the waterfall is also seasonal: the largest flow occurs in July and August, but in the cold season, the waterfall almost disappears.

Zeigalan feeds on a glacier, which is located at an altitude of 4 thousand meters, in warm weather it melts, sending streams along its slopes, which fill the waterfall, but in winter the glacier stops melting.

Of all the beauties that nature has given us, waterfalls have the strongest attraction. They fascinate, sometimes frighten, but always delight. There are more than one hundred of them on the planet. There are tall and small, wide and narrow, lonely and collected in one place, forming a unique landscape sculpture.

In the mountains of the Caucasus, in the Teberda Nature Reserve, the Salyngan River flows. In its gorges there is a unique valley called Thirty Falls. In a Japanese park, one hundred waterfalls fall into the Osugidani Valley. Norway is a world famous country of waterfalls. But small Lesotho, lost in the mountains of South Africa, is proud of its 3,000 waterfalls!

Most of the population of our planet believes that the largest waterfall is Niagara. And it will not be quite right. The largest is a very imprecise definition. Experts evaluate waterfalls by height, water flow capacity and width. Let's try to rank the waterfalls by their width in order to find out which one is the largest.

Khon

The widest waterfall in the world is located on the border between Kampuchea and Laos. The Mekong, called the River of Nine Dragons by the Vietnamese, is the largest river in Indochina. It begins from the sources on and with a roar carries down its waters along a deep gorge. Where the river leaves it and floods the entire Cambodian plain, and there is Kon (or Khon) waterfall.

Its basalt ridge stretches for almost 13 km. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Iguazu was considered the widest waterfall in the world, until in 1920 researchers discovered a new waterfall in Southeast Asia, significantly larger than Iguazu. This cascade of waterfalls was named Kon (or Khon). It is still the widest one by world standards. The height of the waterfall is relatively low, but its rapids, cascades and plums make it the widest.

Not far from the waterfall, in a safe, gently sloping place, the organizers set up many tents with souvenir products and food outlets. There is even a dedicated photographer. Tourists say that the beauty of Kon gives peace and tranquility, and the locals have rewarded him magic power... It is believed that whoever saw the waterfall at least once received longevity as a gift. This cascade is the center of the national park. It is home to rare freshwater dolphins. Therefore, it is a closely guarded national site.

Seti-Kedas

Describing the widest waterfalls in the world, I would like to mention Seti-Kedas (another name is Guaira). It was located in South America, it was considered the border of Paraguay and Brazil.

Its width was 4800 m. It was a beautiful cascade of waterfalls. Below him was Iguazu. The flow rate of water per minute was equal to almost three Niagara.

The history of the waterfall is quite interesting. It was discovered by an unknown gold digger. It was not documented for a long time. All this time, until the 80s of the last century, a mass of water fell from a 30-meter height, raising mesmerizing columns of water dust. But on the site of the waterfall, it was decided to build a hydroelectric power station, the most powerful in the world. In two weeks, the reservoir was filled, and the rocks that interfered with the construction were blown up. National park ceased to exist.

But nature does not tolerate such unceremonious interference. The last group of tourists, examining the waterfall from a suspension bridge, fell into a seething stream. All 82 tourists were killed.

Iguazu

The world's widest waterfall is located in South America. Iguazu Falls is considered the eighth wonder of the world. It stretches along the border of Brazil and Argentina. From Guarani, its name translates as “ big water". The width of this cascade is more than 4000 meters (much more than Niagara Falls). Iguazu releases one billion tons of water per hour. On maps South America it appeared in 1541, when it was discovered by another Brazilian gold digger.

More than one decade later, a European gold digger accidentally came out to him and gave his name - Mary's Leap. The royal court did not react in any way to this find. Therefore, for several centuries the most beautiful cascade remained in oblivion.

Iguazu got into the category "The widest waterfalls in the world" only in the 19th century. Modern researchers claim that this is not a single waterfall, but 275 cascades. Over the centuries, they have formed a wall that looks like a horseshoe. Some slopes are almost 700 meters wide. The mist forms countless rainbows that are visible even on moonlit nights. The national parks of both countries are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2001 Iguazu was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

For tourists, the flow of which is growing from year to year, bridges, bridges, cable cars have been built so that you can observe the water element as closely as possible.

Victoria

What is the widest waterfall in the world? Victoria. It carries its waters in the southern part of the African continent, on the Zambezi River. It has a width of almost 1800 m. It is considered the largest in the world (but only thanks to a successful advertising campaign).

From the language of local tribes, the name of the waterfall is translated as “rumbling smoke”. According to the existing legend, the researcher from Scotland David Livingston was the first to discover the waterfall and gave it the name of the then living Queen Victoria. Water spray can be seen almost 40 km away.

At its very top, the waterfall has a natural elevation, in which a natural reservoir, called the Devil's Font, has turned out. Fearless tourists love to swim in it.

Niagara

If you take a survey about what is the widest waterfall in the world, almost everyone will answer: Niagara. It is located in North America, with one arm in America and the other in Canada. The width of its cascades is about 1200 m. There are only three of them: Veil, American Falls (USA) and Horseshoe (Canada).

Niagara Falls is considered the most beautiful and famous in the world. The water descends with such a crash that even a few kilometers away from it you cannot hear your own voice. Legend has it that this is why the Indians called it "the rumbling water" - Niagara.

Inga and Vermilio

Continuing to describe the widest waterfalls in the world, let's talk about Inga. It is located on the Congo River in the republic of the same name. The waterfall consists of a series of cascades and rapids, forming in some places the most beautiful islets. Its width is 900 meters.

There is a wonderful Vermilion in North America. The width of its cascades is 1829 m. It is located in Canada, near the Peace River.

Stanley and Mocona

What are the most beautiful and widest waterfalls in the world? Stanley and Mocona. Stanley, 1400 meters wide, occupies almost the entire Lualaba River. And Macona is part of Argentina. This is a one-of-a-kind large river waterfall. Its width is 2065 m.

Pair

Venezuela is famous for the Pará waterfall, or, as the locals call it, Salto Pará. Its width is 5608 m. It is located on the Kaura River, where its two parts converge. From above it looks like a crescent. It is surrounded by an almost impenetrable green jungle.

Gersoppa

These are not all the widest waterfalls in the world. You can finish, perhaps, with the Gersoppa waterfall. It is located in India, on the Sharavati River. This river is famous for its four streams:

  • Rajoy... He is slow and unhurried.
  • Gorlopanom... He easily drags a large number of boulders along the channel among the rocks, creating wild noise for many kilometers around.
  • Rocket... It is he who sets the speed of the flow of water throughout the waterfall.
  • Rani... It is a slow winding stream.

The cascades and descents of Gersoppa stretch for 472 meters. Locals consider the waterfall to be magical. He attracts tourists like a magnet. The water stream of Gersoppa from the top rushes down with lightning speed, in contrast to those already described.

Conclusion

Now you know what the widest waterfalls in the world are. Photos of the most famous are presented in the article. All of them are beautiful and interesting in their own way. We hope this information was helpful to you.

WATERFALLS OF ASIA, INDIA, THAILAND, MONGOLIA

The color spectrum of the rainbow attracts the human eye with the harmony of colors, their subtle tints, richness of color and is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky said that delight from contemplation of the beauties of nature is higher than from art. If the polar lights disappeared in the world, the rainbows faded, humanity would lose a lot. There are things in the world that have no value. How do you describe the rainbows produced by the numerous waterfalls? In Asia, America, Australia and Oceania, dozens of waterfalls hundreds of meters high, including five in their fall exceed half a kilometer, and one - Angel, which was mentioned above - falls from an unthinkable height - a kilometer!

ASIA. The highest waterfall in Asia (except for the USSR), according to modern data, four times lower than Angel is Gersoppa in India, on the sacred river. Sharavati, which falls in the Western Ghats from a height of 255 m. The name of the river is translated as "born of an arrow" and owes its origin, as narrated in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, to the god Rama, who pierced the earth with an arrow from a magic bow and thus freed the waters shackled in the underworld. which gave rise to Sharavati. Gersoppa is very beautiful and praised by Indian poets. It is not simple and consists, in turn, of four waterfalls, each of which bears poetic names: the most beautiful is the Pale (Blue) Lady, or Queen of India, the second is the Rocket, the jet of which flows around the rock, resembling the trajectory of a rocket, the third is the Rainbow and the fourth - Roaring, the most powerful of them all. During the period of monsoon rains, the water discharge in Gersoppe sharply increases - up to 3500 m3 / s! - and the whole system merges into one formidable, stormy stream.

India, on the other hand, has the super-amazing Kaveri waterfall, located on the river of the same name, which is also revered as sacred. Kaveri flows from the eastern slope of the Western Ghats and directs its waters east into the Bay of Bengal. On its way, it flows around about. Shivasamudram and throws down one branch from a cliff from a height of 91 m, the other - about 55 m. In the low water period Kaveri falls in branchy streams of great complexity and attractiveness. Weaving Kaveri's jets into intricate patterns, nature seemed to have surpassed itself ...

In the south of Thailand, the original Ton Nga Chang ("elephant tusks") waterfall, which gave the name to the reserve, is famous. A mighty stream on both sides bends around the rock and falls down in two water columns, strikingly reminiscent of the snow-white tusks of an animal that the Thai people worship almost like a deity. The elephant for them personifies strength, kindness and prosperity. The beautiful waterfalls of Sayok, Punyaban, Kheosuwat and Sirifum are also popular in Thailand, they are depicted on a series of stamps (edition 1980) dedicated to tourism.

In Japan, the center of attraction for many tourists for last years became the Valley of a Hundred Waterfalls - Osugidani - in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park on the Kii Peninsula (Honshu Island). The valley is one of the wettest places in Japan, with up to 5,000 mm of precipitation per year. The main attractions of the national park: the highest waterfall in the country - Nati (130 m), the waterfall of Light, sparkling with all the colors of the rainbow, and the relict cedar grove, where the oldest tree on Earth - the cedar, which has reached the age of 7200 years, grows. The most famous in the Land of the Rising Sun is the one-hundred-meter-high Kegon-notaki waterfall, or Kegon ("taki" in Japanese - waterfall). It is located in the amazing natural beauty of the Nikko National Park ("sunshine"). This park covers an area of ​​140,700 hectares, 135 km from the capital of the country - the 11 millionth megalopolis Tokyo. Over 5 million people visit the park annually. The park is famous not only for the Kegon waterfall, there are small but peculiar cascades of Kuri-furi, Hoto, Urami-No and others. In Nikko, the attention of visitors is attracted by rare sights: Buddhist temples, the world's largest statue of Buddha, created in 749 and weighing about 380 tons, the purest blue lakes, fiery red bridges and much more. And yet I would like to believe that when the Japanese say: “Don't say“ kekko ”(great) until you see Nikko,” they mean, first of all, a magical view - the panorama of Kegon Falls. The Shiraito waterfalls at the foot of the sacred Mount Fuji are also very beautiful. Many white-foam waterfalls rush down from the tops of Hionosen Mountain Park.

Wonderful land - Sri Lanka, which means the Blessed Island in Old Sigalese. Europeans called the island the Pearl of the East and the Garden of Eden. Until 1972, it was called Ceylon. Ceylon tea is famous all over the world. The island is famous for natural rubber, coconuts, precious stones... Sri Lanka's natural monuments are no less precious - waterfalls. The shape of the island from a height resembles a huge drop or an irregular ellipse, in the south of which there is a highland with the Pidurutalagala peak (2524 m). From the highlands in the radial

all the rivers of the country run down in the direction. The slopes of the highland, composed mainly of gneisses, are stepped, so the rivers form many rapids, rapids, and enchanting waterfalls. The largest, most famous waterfalls in Sri Lanka are Dunkhinda and Diyaluma.

Dunhinda waterfall is located on the river. Badulla-Oya, northeast of Badulla. The path to it is cut in a sheer cliff. The waterfall refreshes with a spray of vanilla orchids, tree ferns and mosses. Nearby is a grove of sandalwood, from the fragrant wood of which oil is extracted - the most valuable raw material for the perfumery industry, exotic souvenirs for tourists are made from sandalwood. The well-known geographer and writer Yu. K. Efremov, who observed the waterfall, wrote: “Dunkhinda is crumbling not by a narrow stream that fell off a cliff. Here the whole river is overthrown with its entire front of its width. Dozens of meters of free fall transform part of the stream into a huge cloud of water dust. The water falls in not a single wall - different tiers and wings are distinguishable in it. The mass of water gushes unevenly, its excess rushes to one or another part of the waterfall floors and curtains. The outlines of the foam verticals change every minute, as if the water in front of our eyes sculpts movable snow-white statues from the foam ... "

The highest waterfall in the country is Diyaluma - on the eponymous tributary of the Kirrindi-Oya river, on the southern slope of the highland, near the town of Cosland. One of the tourist firms in colonial times advertised it as "the fifth highest in the world", but this was an obvious exaggeration: the height of Diyaluma is 140 m (according to other sources, it is 125 m). A member of a group of Soviet cultural figures A. A. Abasov, who visited Sri Lanka, described his impressions of the waterfall as follows: “It is called Diyaluma, which means“ bride's veil ”. It's hard to come up with a prettier name. From a majestic height (140 m) the river falls crystal pure water... Breaking against a rock ledge and splashing, this water cascade creates a cloud of water dust that covers everything around; this magical natural water veil resembles something light, ethereal, really similar to a bride's veil ... ”About the Diyaluma waterfall, there is a tragic legend about a bride kidnapped by a villain in the form of a huge bird; the girl, fleeing, threw her veil over the eyes of the predator; both crashed high in the mountains, but the veil is still fluttering in the wind like a graceful waterfall.

The outstanding scientist, writer and poet Jose Rizal called his homeland, the Philippines, "Pearl of the Eastern Seas". The luxurious nature of the tropics has always amazed travelers from countries with a temperate climate: mountains, jungles, and the ocean; and yet the most memorable about this country is the 100-meter high Pagsang Khan waterfalls.

The Mongolian People's Republic is famous for its impressive waterfall. Orkhon, located in one of the most picturesque places of the republic. In summer, it is literally besieged by crowds of tourists. A sanatorium has been built near it.

The famous researcher of the Korean Peninsula V.T.Zaichikov describes the Kuryon waterfall (in the KGE it is called Kilents) on the river. Kurenchyeon (in KGE - Kurenkson) - "river of nine dragons" in the Diamond (Kumgangsan) mountains of North Korea (DPRK):

“Waterfalls and cascades are especially numerous in Outer Kumgangsan on the river. Kurenchyeon ("river of nine dragons"). Its valley, cut deep into the granite strata, in some places looks like a giant gutter with a smoothly polished surface, along which one can only move along granite steps and holding onto the railing. Sometimes the valley narrows and its slopes become very steep. The entire bottom of the valley is littered with boulders, huge fragments of rocks; making its way between them, a crystal clear cascade rushes a mountain stream. Changeable, insidious, but always strikingly beautiful, like the best diamond, it sparkles and sparkles in the rapids. And in quiet backwaters, encountering an obstacle, the stream suddenly stops, it acquires the shade of an emerald; the stream slowly approaches the edge and suddenly, breaking loose, rushes down again, playing, noisy. In the upper part, the Kurenchyeon valley forms a mountain circus, which is cut into the body of the mountains by a giant half-shell. From it, from a height of a hundred-meter ledge, the river falls like a waterfall - the largest in the Diamond Mountains.

Like a thousand-ton avalanche, the water stream rushes down, scattering into myriads of the same white spray and water dust. The force of the fall is so great that everything trembles and shudders. Gusts of wind, arising from the fall of water, are ready to knock down those who risked approaching the waterfall.

There is a deep bowl at the foot of the ledge. For centuries, the falling stream deepened it. Everything is boiling here, everything is bubbling. White clouds shoot up, blowing splashes in the wind and pouring cold water dust.

The originality and charm of the Kumgangsan mountains are enhanced by the magnificent mixed forests that cover most of the mountains and which are preserved here in an almost primitive state. In a relatively small area of ​​these mountains, there are ... 914 plant species! "

The legend about the waterfalls of the nine dragons is harsh and at the same time naive. Nine Dragon Brothers lived in a lake high up in Geumgangsan. Once, waking up in the morning, they saw a modestly dressed man and did not pay attention to him. They did not know that the great Buddha himself was in front of them. The Buddha got angry, wrote the hieroglyph "fire" on a piece of paper and threw it into the lake. The water burst into hot flames. Horrified, the dragons rushed

run away. From high mountains they toppled into gorges, rose, fell, overtaken and scorched by fiery water, jumped in giant leaps. Where the dragon brothers fell, waterfalls formed, where the elder dragon brother fell, the hundred-meter-long Kuryeon cascade rumbles ...

The waters of the r. Kurenchyeong is pierced by a chain of 8 lakes. Each of them is a gigantic cauldron of the previous waterfall and at the same time a source of power for the next. A similar "structure" of a mountain stream was reflected in another legend - about eight fairies who, having known such beauty, preferred earthly life to heavenly life and descended from the sky to these cascades along a rainbow.

In general, the legends and tales of the Country of Morning Freshness are unusually melodious, and especially those dedicated to waterfalls. In the mountains of Geumgangsan there is a small lake called Pak Yong. Folklore says that in ancient times, the poor man Park Young fell in love with the daughter of the rich man. They made their way secretly on a date to the lake. The rich groom of a nobleman's daughter tracked them down. One day, a young man, not suspecting anything, was sitting on the shore of the lake and playing the flute, waiting for his beloved. The vengeful rich man quietly crept up, killed him and threw him into the lake. Seeing the pipe floating in the water, and not finding her beloved in the usual place, the girl realized that he was not alive. She cried bitterly and for so long that the small reservoir overflowed from her tears, the water overflowed the banks, overflowed the edge of the bowl, and since then the Pak Yong waterfall gurgles and flows in the Diamond Mountains ...

The light blue Vietnam stamp depicts a steep, generous waterfall - this is Bangziok in Cao Bang province. In my collection there is the only postcard with a view of the most picturesque two-stage Vietnamese Bundok waterfall, striking with an abundance of a wide variety of cascades. The Thakba hydroelectric complex (grandmother's waterfall) is being built on the mountain river Tyai ("running").

Information about waterfalls in Asia is more than modest: out of 32 waterfalls included in the list of the KGE in the section "Eurasia", only four belong to Asia. One of the Austrian authors briefly mentions the Vasudara Falls in the Himalayas. The photograph of the water body that attracted the attention of the researcher is accompanied by the inscription: "According to one of the legends, a certain deity in a state of nirvana (blissful rest) at the Vasudara waterfall was enjoying nectar." Climbers who have climbed Mount Everest mention the Chumbu (Khumbu) waterfall near the base camp of mountain climbers near the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu.