Which Is The Highest Waterfall In The World? List Of 10 Tallest Waterfalls In The World

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026, 18:20 IST

Have you ever wondered which waterfall holds the title of the tallest in the world? The highest waterfall on land plunges from a vast, flat-topped plateau with an awe-inspiring, continuous 807-metre drop. Its incredible height causes almost all the water to turn into mist before reaching the ground. Let's explore the 10 highest waterfalls around the globe together!

Which Is The Highest Waterfall In The World?
Which Is The Highest Waterfall In The World?

The world has many beautiful natural wonders. These include mountains, deserts, hills, and waterfalls. A waterfall is where water flows over a vertical drop in a river or stream. These exotic waterfalls are mostly characterised by their height, length, and width. However, here's a question for you. Do you know which is the highest waterfall in the world? This water is located on the South American continent at a height of more than 900 metres. Can you take a guess? If not, then let's discover the tallest waterfall in the world.

Which Is The Highest Waterfall In The World? 

Angel Falls: The tallest waterfall in the world

The Angel Falls lie within the boundaries of the Canaima National Park. The Canaima National Park is a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It lies in the state of Bolivar in the southeast part of Venezuela (South America). Also called Salto Ángel, Angel Falls is regarded as the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world.

Angel Falls is 979 meters (3,212 feet) tall. For instance, it is about 19 times higher than Niagara Falls. In addition, the water takes a single plunge of 807 meters (2,648 feet) in one single drop from the edge of the cliff to anything underneath it.

How it Flows

Do you know how the world's tallest waterfall begins its journey? Rain in Canaima National Park gathers on Auyán-tepui, a huge flat-topped mountain. Then the water rushes to the edge and takes a massive, unbroken dive straight down into the air.

The drop is so high that most of the water shatters into a thick, beautiful mist before hitting the ground. Finally, the mist gathers back into water at the bottom and flows away into the Churún River.

Origin of the Name

The present-day name is derived from Jimmie Angel, an American bush pilot who flew over the waterfalls in 1933 and also landed his plane atop the mountains in 1937. However, if you look more deeply, in the Pemon language, it is known as Kerepakupai Merú (Körepakupai Vená).

List of the 10 Tallest Waterfalls In The World

This is the list of the tallest above-ground waterfalls in the world:

Waterfall Height Where is it located
Angel Falls 979 m (3,212 ft) Bolívar State, Venezuela
Tugela Falls 948 m (3,110 ft) KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Tres Hermanas Falls 914 m (2,999 ft) Junín Region, Peru
Olo'upena Falls 900 m (2,953 ft) Molokai, Hawaii, United States
Yumbilla Falls 896 m (2,940 ft) Amazonas Region, Peru
Skorga 875 m (2,871 ft) Møre og Romsdal, Norway
Balåifossen 850 m (2,789 ft) Vestland, Norway
Vinnufossen 845 m (2,772 ft) Møre og Romsdal, Norway
Mattenbachfall 840 m (2,756 ft) Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland
Pu'uka'oku Falls 840 m (2,756 ft) Hawaii, United States

Kriti Barua
Kriti Barua

Executive - Editorial

Kriti Barua is a skilled digital journalist and communications professional with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for the General Knowledge section at Jagran New Media. She has established herself as a subject matter expert in History, Geography, Trending National and International News, Sports, Science, and Defence, producing clear, reliable, and search-optimised content that connects with readers worldwide.
Kriti holds a BA degree from Delhi University and a one-year diploma in TV Production and Journalism, an academic background that adds research depth and strong storytelling instincts to her writing. Her experience spans brand writing, content marketing, and digital media, giving her a sharp understanding of what makes content both helpful to readers and visible in search.
At Jagran New Media, she applies this expertise to national and international news coverage, query-based articles, and in-depth pieces across her specialist subject areas. Her content is defined by easy language, factual accuracy, strong keyword strategy, and reader-friendly storytelling.

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First Published: Jul 2, 2026, 18:20 IST

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