Victoria Falls

 

One of the most fascinating places in Africa and one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls, Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, Africa's fourth-largest river, which also borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. a waterfall on the ground that is more than a mile long and more than a hundred feet high. It is also considered to be the largest fall in the world.

Victoria Falls can be heard up to 25 miles [40 km] away, and the fog and mist from falling water rise to over a distance of more than 1,600 feet [400 m] and can be seen up to 30 miles [50 km] away. Not surprisingly, local tribes called the waterfall Mosi-o-Tunya “Thunderous Smoke”.

The Scottish missionary and famous African explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873) named it Queen Victoria. Livingstone, the first European to cross Africa from south to north, discovered this magnificent waterfall in 1855, while preaching Christianity in Africa. That's why Livingstone wasn't so happy about his discovery: it was just an obstacle in his way.

Despite the inconvenience, he was fascinated by the beauty of the waterfalls. In 1857 Livingstone wrote that no one in England could imagine the beauty of the event. Livingstone theologian also wrote that perhaps many angels loved the place when they flew nearby. He was accompanied by soldiers but only two of them at risk of approaching the falls and Livingstone. For centuries the local African tribes had a sacral fear from a waterfall.

The waterfall was not visited by humans until 1905, when a railway was built to Bulawayo. From then on Victoria Falls quickly became popular until the end of the British Empire. In the late 1960's the number of tourists began to decline due to the terrorist struggle in Zimbabwe. After Zimbabwe gained independence the province became peaceful and Victoria Falls began to attract a new wave of tourism.

By the end of 1990, some 300,000 people were visiting the falls every year. Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the people of both Zambia and Zimbabwe are no longer afraid of “thunderstorms”, and they are successfully promoting tourism on both sides of the river.

Waterfalls are built in the area of   major faults. At the top of the fall many islands divide the main flow into several branches. During floods, the flow of water reaches half a million gallons of water per minute.

 Water levels vary from year to year; is at its peak in April, at the end of the rainy season when an average of 500,000,000 gallons [500,000,000 L] of water flow is at its lowest level in October and early November.

Interestingly, during the dry season the water level in the Zambezi River drops dramatically, making it easier to navigate through parts of the falls. However, throughout the year Victoria Falls is a popular machine that strikes anyone with its power.