13 Epic Waterfalls You Have to See Before You Die

Scotland is pure fantasy, and these magical pools prove it. After you’ve explored all the best bits in Edinburgh, visit the Isle of Skye to feast your eyes on these stunning cobalt-blue cascades – they really have been plucked straight from a fairy tale.

These epic waters really are the jewel in Vietnam and China’s already shimmering crowns. Ban Gioc-Detian refers to not one fall, but two, which converge (as you can see in the picture above). The Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Vietnamese side of the river and Detian Fall on the Chinese, both form one of the largest waterfalls in the whole of Asia.

Beautiful, but deadly. China’s Pearl Shoal Waterfalls can be found on one of the White Dragon River’s tributaries. Why’s it deadly? Simple – high rains often affect the area and can cause the falls to swell to a lethal level. Still pretty, though.

Standing a colossal 3,212 feet (979 metres), Angel Falls is 15 times higher than the world-famous Niagara Falls, making it one of the tallest on the planet!

Jog Falls is famed for its sheer vertical drop. At 829 feet (253 metres), this stunner is no place for those who suffer with vertigo. Located in the waterfall-rich region of Karnataka, India, this is one mighty set of falls everyone needs on their bucket list.

Gásadalur is just fabulous. Anyone who visits will be immediately transfixed by its oceanside waterfall. Tucked away on the wonderful little island of Vágar, the small, but powerful waterfall runs off into the vast expanse of the Atlantic. Go NOW.

This is a royal waterfall. Yes, really. Named after Queen Victoria by celebrated Brit explorer David Livingstone, Victoria Falls connects two of Africa’s most beautiful nations – Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The limestone surrounding this wonder dates back a staggering 160 million years. Nicknamed the ‘Cave of Three Bridges’, this cavernous rocky phenomenon, along the Lebanon Mountain trail, has delighted explorers and wanderlusters for centuries.

See it from the walkway, Niagara Parkway, from above on a helicopter or the Skylon Tower. Whichever one you choose, you’ll experience the roar, thunder and power of these truly majestic falls.

One word: intense. Iguazu Falls is so big it spans both the Argentine province of Misiones and Brazilian state of Paraná. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, Iguazu literally translates into ‘big water’. Why does it have this name? Because the sight has a magnificent 275 individual falls.

Croatia is without doubt one of the most diverse natural spots on Earth. Found deep in the UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, Veliki Slap – or the Large Waterfall – is more a work of art than just a bunch of craggy wet rocks. Our advice – if you’re off to Europe, make sure this beauty is at the top of your bucket list.

Yosemite is breathtaking, in every sense of the word. With a drop of 2,425 feet (739 metres) from the top to the bottom, this waterfall is not for the fainthearted. Oh, and it’s on fire once a year too.

Lovingly dubbed Gullfoss, which means Golden Falls, by locals, Gullfoss is the ultimate Icelandic tourist attraction. Fed by Iceland’s second largest glacier, the Langjökull, thousands descend on the gorgeous place every year.
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