Victoria Falls Facts

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Country: Zimbabwe and Zambia
Currencies: Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD), Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Wonder type: Natural
Featured in:
Travel Unearthed’s MUST SEE
7 Natural Wonders of the World
UNESCO World Heritage List

  • Victoria Falls is also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning “The Smoke That Thunders”
  • In 1855 Dr Livingstone was the first European to view the falls. He decided to name them after his British queen, Victoria
  • The falls have the largest sheet of falling water in the world due to its collective height and width
  • The constant spray from the waterfall has created a pocket of rainforest and wildlife
  • The original Victoria Falls was 8 km downstream from the current day falls. Weaknesses in the basalt rock perpendicular to the river’s flow, plus 2 million years of erosion have resulted in the river cutting through seven subsequent gorges, which zigzag upstream from the previous one
  • The Zambezi River, which flows over the waterfalls, is over 1650 miles long and is Africa’s fourth largest river (after the Nile, Zaire and Niger)
  • A lunar rainbow occurs for three days in each month from January through to October. The ‘moonbow’ happens when the water level in the Zambezi River is high enough to cause heavy spray to blend adequately with the moon rays
  • The Devil’s Swimming Pool is right on the top edge of the falls. This pool is accessed from Livingstone Island – the very island that David Livingstone first saw the falls from. The natural rock wall just below the water stops you from being washed over the edge despite the current.
  • Low-water season is around November and December, where you can see the geological formations of the falls. April and May bring the heaviest spray and nicest weather. May through October the weather is almost perfect, and the views are pristine
  • The adjacent side of these fall is also the Zambezi national park. These parks have several species of wild animals ranging from elephants, buffalos, giraffes, antelopes among many other animals
  • the Falls are several times longer than and twice as tall as Niagra Falls
  • The minimum flow, which occurs in November/December, is around a tenth of the April figure
  • The Adventure centre of South Africa is located in this area.
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