Magnificent Victoria Falls

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

On the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, on the Zambezi River, is the Victoria Falls, which surpasses Niagara in its width and height. The waterfall is 120 meters high and 1.8 km wide.

The Zambezi itself is a very calm river that changes abruptly on the cliff of the bas alt plateau. The river here overthrows in five powerful streams, dropping about 550 million liters of water into the gorge per minute. The impact of the water mass on the rock below is so strong that it seems as if the spray turns into "steam" and forms columns of "smoke" of great height.

The waterfall was discovered by D. Livingston, a Scottish explorer who named it after Queen Victoria. The locals call it "Mosio-ao-Tunya" (or "Thundering Smoke") and "Seongo" (translated as "Rainbow").

The trip to the Victoria Falls is one of the main tourist routes in Africa. This natural attraction is on a par with the Egyptian pyramids and the Cape of Good Hope.

Victoria Falls is an unusual natural phenomenon. It was formed when bas alt was split into blocks by the tectonic forces of the Earth, as a result of which a crack formed across the channel of the Zambezi River, expandedthen powerful water currents. River waters, squeezed by a narrow gorge, seethe and boil, creating a roar and rumble. Victoria Falls is only the beginning of the riverbed, which winds through a narrow gorge in zigzags along cracks in bas alt rock for almost 70 km.

The strength of the flow of water varies depending on the season and time of year. In the spring, during floods, the water level in the Zambezi becomes higher, and the waterfall is filled with strength, it becomes powerful, fast and impetuous. During a drought, the temper of the waterfall is tamed, islands of land appear on the river and on the edge of the cliff.

If you swim upstream to the waterfall, it seems that the water goes into the ground, because you can see the "shore" in front of you along the river. Opposite the waterfall there is another cliff covered with continuous tropical forest.

Victoria Falls is famous for a rare phenomenon: magnificent "lunar rainbows". They are formed by the refraction of not only sunlight, but also moonlight. Night rainbows are especially attractive during the full moon, when the Zambezi River becomes full.

All tourists who decide to visit this attraction should take umbrellas, waterproof clothes and shoes with them. All equipment also requires protection from the splashes that the Victoria Falls creates. The photos taken here will cover all these chores with a vengeance. After all, only in this case, memories will remain imprinted.

Victoria is a waterfall that can be observed from several viewing platforms. One of the most successful is the bridge called “Knife Blade” - here you can see powerful streams of water and a placecalled "Boiling Cauldron", where the river turns and goes into the Batoka Gorge. It is very convenient to evaluate this most beautiful place from the railway bridge thrown over the waterfall, as well as from the “Observation Tree”. Here the waterfall appears in all its frightening power and beauty.

Not far from the parking lot where tourists start their tour, there is a Museum of the history of the waterfall. Its exhibits tell the story of the changes that the Victoria Falls have undergone over its long history, and how the water has carved and continues to carve new patches of rock.

From the side of Zimbabwe near the waterfall is the city of Victoria Falls with the reserve of the same name, as well as another national park called Mosi-oa-Tunya.

During an excursion to the waterfall, you can go canoeing or rafting along the river, go on a safari, go horseback riding or elephant riding. For lovers of adrenaline, bungee jumping is offered - jumping from the highest point of the waterfall on a rope.