Victoria Falls, The adrenalin capital of Africa
Victoria Falls locally known as “Mosi oa-Tunya” which literally means the smoke that thunders is located almost half way along the mighty Zambezi River’s 2700 km journey from its source to the sea. The Zambezi River being the fourth longest river in Africa is more than 2 km wide at this point and plunges noisily down a series of basalt gorges and raises an iridescent mist that can be seen more than 20 km away.
It is in Victoria Falls that the river cascades down into a 100m vertical sheet of water spanning the full one-and-a-half kilometre width of the river, creating the biggest curtain of falling water in the world and also one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The mist from the Victoria Falls created the rain forest which has constant rain 24/7 from the never ending sprays of the Falls. This unique ecosystem is a botanists dream and bird lovers’ paradise with species here that don’t occur anywhere else.
Victoria Falls’ highest ever flow of water was recorded in 1958 when it reached more than 700 000 cubic meters of water a minute. The resulting effect was astonishing. Water in the gorges rose 18 metres (60 feet) above its normal flood level.
This continuous waterfall and the resultant currents of the mighty Zambezi River have over the many years cut through the rock faults and fissures and carved out not one but eight successive precipices with the 9th now effectively being created.
Being one of the greatest physical spectacles in Africa, it is rightly one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
It was in November 1855 that Dr. David Livingstone , a Scottish explorer was transported in a canoe by the local Makalolo people to the very edge of these falls. Overwhelmed by his first sight of these spectacular falls, that he momentarily abandoned his scientific observations and recorded…..
“It has never been seen before by European eyes, but scenes so wonderful must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”.
Being loyal to his Queen and amazed by the splendor of this waterfall he named this great wonder of the world after Victoria, his British queen.
Quick Facts on Victoria Falls
Original Names: Mosi-oa-Tunya (Lozi), Shungu Namutitima (Tonga), Seongo or Chongwe
Location: Southern Africa, between Zimbabwe and Zambia
Water course: Zambezi River
Victoria Falls Geographical Coordinates: -17.924444, 25.856667 or 17°55’28” S 25°51’24 ” E
Map References: Africa
Type: Cataract waterfall
Actual Length: 1,708m (5,604 ft)
Zimbabwe side: 675m (40%)
Zambia side: 1,033m (60%)
Viewable Length: 100%
Zimbabwe side: 75%
Zambia side: 25%
Height: 70m (233 ft) to 108m (360 ft)
Elevation: 885m above sea level
Underlying rock: Basalt
Average Flow Rate: 1,088 cu m/s(annual)
Highest ever recorded: 12,800 cu m/s
Lowest ever recorded: 300 cu m/s
Important lists: Designated a World Heritage site in 1989; Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
