The inherent allure and romance of waterfalls is evident in vivid detail in the ten gems that follow. From China to Guyana, Switzerland to India, these wonders of nature inspire untold awe.

Havasu Falls

The Havasupai is the only native tribe to call the Grand Canyon home. The aboriginal people who inhabit the confines of the spectacular world wonder trace roots back some 800 years and more. Scores of tourists visit the Havasupai Indian Reservation to hike scenic trails, scour the bottom of the Grand Canyon and of course, gaze at Havasu and Mooney Falls.

Kaieteur Falls

Guyana is a country of dense rainforest, rivers, singular biodiversity and a strong indigenous heritage. Formerly British Guiana, the country has more in common with anglophone Caribbean culture than with the rest of South America. While the capital Georgetown is a beautiful old colonial town, Iwokrama Forest and the Kanuku Mountains, together with Kaieteur Falls in Kaieteur National Park, form the country’s best chance to secure a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five times the height of Niagara Falls and twice that of Victoria Falls, Kaieteur is magnificent and by far the top attraction in Guyana. Werner Herzog’s 2004 documentary The White Diamond offers spectacular canopy views of the falls.

Huangguoshu Waterfall

Anshun is a small city in the province of Guizhou, China. Home to just over 215,000 people, the local claim to fame is the Huangguoshu Waterfall. Also known as the Yellow Fruit Tree Fall, Huangguoshu features a massive natural cave where visitors can get up close and personal.

Bridalveil Fall

Millions of people pass through the Yosemite Valley every year. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of the first national parks in the world and features incredible geological formations, Giant Sequoia groves, wonderful biodiversity, five vegetation zones and of course, waterfalls. Bridalveil Fall is simply put, one of the most impressive plunge waterfalls in the world.

Powerscourt Waterfall

The Slazenger family, of sports equipment fame, own and operate one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland. Powerscourt Estate sits on nearly 50 impressive acres and began as a 13th century castle. Familiar to many as the backdrop of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, the estate features the most impressive waterfall in all of Ireland.

Jog Falls

A massive, epic plunge waterfall of record proportions for India, Jog Falls provide the state of Karnataka with a marvelous attraction, some 400 km outside of Bangalore.

Rhine Falls

The result of Ice Age erosion some 15,000 years ago, the Rhine Falls now form the most immense plain waterfalls in all of Europe. The crown jewel attraction in the comely town and canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Tugela Falls

Second only to Angel Falls in Venezuela in overall height, Tugela Falls in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa, is awesome. Two spectacular trails ferry visitors to the top, with phenomenal views in store at the summit.

Johnston Canyon Lower Falls

The glacial landscape of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada forms some of the most incredible scenery in North America. Between Banff and Lake Louise flows Johnston Creek, a tributary of the Bow River, and no less than seven powerful gorge cascades. In winter, the frozen falls provide ice climbers with superb recreation.

Gocta Waterfall

A relatively new discovery, at least to the outside world, formal expeditions to Gocta Waterfall were only made in 2005. Though some differ on the exact height, Gocta at least makes the top fifteen worldwide and as high as third by some accounts. At any rate, the Chachapoyas province attraction in the Amazonas Region of Peru is a spectacular find.

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