Here are some facts about Victoria Falls, the famous waterfall located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Victoria Falls is not the highest waterfall in the world (this title goes to Angel Falls in Venezuela), nor is it the widest. However, it is said to be the biggest, with the world’s largest sheet of falling water.
- It is 108 metres high and it has a width of 1708 metres,
- The spray from Victoria Falls is visible from over 30 miles away.
- It is thought that the first European person to view Victoria Falls was David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer. He came upon them during his journey down the Zambezi River in 1855, and was so impressed by them that he named them in honour of Queen Victoria.
- A bronze statue of David Livingstone stands on the Zimbabwean shore. It has been positioned so that it looks like Livingstone is gazing at the waterfalls for the first time.
- Two islands in the Zambezi River at the crest of Victoria Falls (Boaruka Island and Livingstone Island) divide the flowing curtain of the waterfall.
- Victoria Falls is also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke That Thunders).
- Over 500 million cubic metres of water plunge over crest of the waterfall every minute.
- The Victoria Falls Bridge crosses the Zambezi River just below Victoria Falls. Cecil John Rhodes commissioned the bridge, but he died before its completion.
Have a look at this great video clip of Victoria Falls.
