Some sites, including the 11 widest waterfalls in the world, are known purely for their vastness. The 11 Largest Desserts in the World is one example. But it’s no surprise because hugeness in creation can be awe-inspiring. It must be since the Conservation Institute reports that Niagara Falls receives 14 to 20 million annual visitors. And that waterfall didn’t even make it on our list. If the wideness of waterfalls is any indication of their popularity, the tourist rate for the falls we included must be staggering. Most of these falls are also so large that they scrape the borders of two different states or countries.
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Waterfalls can be found all over the world, though the widest ones are found mostly in Brazil. Two of our 11 widest waterfalls in the world are located in Africa, one in the US, one in Canada, 6 in South America, including 5 in Brazil, and one in Southeast Asia.
They all come from the World Waterfall Database, which does state that “this list is representative only of the waterfalls which we have enough data for and should not be assumed to be a complete list of waterfalls which would otherwise qualify under this characteristic.”
There’s another disclaimer, too. This list includes three waterfalls which have since been either totally or partly covered by dams. Sadly, this is a common fate for wide waterfalls, but some are still visible in parts, which is why they’re included.
Take a raft ride down the list of 11 Widest Waterfalls in the World, and be sure not to fall off on the way.
11. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia, Africa – 5,600 feet wide.
This attraction is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya to the people of southern Africa where it resides on the Zambezi River near the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The phrase means “the smoke that thunders,” an accurate way to describe a giant cascading waterfall.
10. CeliloFalls, Oregon/Washington, United States – 5,800 feet wide.
Also known as the Horseshoe Falls, this waterfall was located on the Columbia River between the border of Oregon and Washington State, east of the Cascade Mountains. The site was a popular native fishery for many years until it was sadly submerged by the Dallas Dam created in 1957. This Dam was created by the Army Corps of Engineers to improve irrigation, prevent flooding and provide electricity for the World War II defense industry.
9. Vermillion Falls, Alberta, Canada – 6,000 feet wide.
Located along the Peace River, these falls only drop about 15 to 20 feet but are nonetheless impressive in their beauty. As a plus, it’s a less-than-well-known tourist attraction, so upon visiting you may actually experience the peace the river claims to provide.
8. Marimbondo Falls, Brazil, South America – 6,600 feet wide.
Along the Rio Grande, a dam was built to cover the top half of this waterfall, but the bottom, though dewatered, is visible from one side of the dam. It has an estimated height of 115 feet.
7. Urubupunga Falls, Brazil, South America – 6,600 feet wide.
With an estimated height of only 42 feet, these falls reside along the Parana River, a portion of the Rio Grande, in south-central Brazil. It is the same width as the previous on the list of 11 Widest Waterfalls in the World.
6. Mocona Falls, Argentina/Brazil, South America – 6,775 feet wide.
These amazing falls run nearly parallel, instead of perpendicular, to the Uruguay River on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Also known as the Yumuca Falls, Mocona means “to swallow everything,” which this waterfall apparently does. During some parts of the year, the entire waterfall almost disappears completely due to the fullness of the river.
5. Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil, South America – 8,800 feet wide.
Extending nearly two miles in a semicircle, Iguazu includes 275 waterfalls with “Devil’s Throat” being the tallest. It also rests on the border of the Brazilian and Argentinean border.
4. Chutes KongouFalls, Gabon, Africa – 10,500 feet wide.
The Kongou Falls lie inside Ivindo National Park which was created to preserve the biographically diverse site, filled with rare species and beauty. A dam was proposed to be created which would consume most of the falls in 2007, but the project has been stopped because of opposition from citizens. Phew.
3. Guaira Falls, Brazil, South America – 15,840 feet wide.
Despite this waterfall’s greatness, it’s yet another beautiful attraction demolished by a dam. In 1982, a massive and successful hydroelectric plant was built near the falls. The World Waterfall Database says that if it were still flowing today, it could possibly be number one in the top 10 worldwide waterfalls.
2. Salto Para Falls, Venezuela, South America – 18,400 feet wide.
A part of the Caura River, these falls are the largest in Venezuela. It is also one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world due to its flow rate of 400,000 cubic feet per second, according to Sky Scraper City.
1. Khone Falls, Cambodia/Laos, Southeast Asia – 35,376 feet wide.
These waterfalls are so great that they are responsible for several islands along the Mekong River in Laos.Encyclopedia Britannica reports that it produces the greatest volume of water out of all the other waterfalls in the world, 2.5 million gallons per second, which is nearly double the amount of water produced by Niagara Falls. No wonder it’s first on the list in the 11 widest waterfalls in the world.
