You won't need your barrels for these!Almost everyone has asked at one point or another how a waterfall starts, and where all that water comes from. The amazing thing about waterfalls is that the thousands of gallons of rushing force start out as single droplets. The life of a waterfall begins in the clouds, where precipitation falls in the form of raindrops or snowflakes that build up on the peaks of mountains. The water trickles down the mountains in rivulets that meet up in larger and larger flows until it forms a raging river that cuts a course of its own. Powerful rivers tear away at the soft rock underneath, while the hard rock takes much longer to erode. When enough soft rock gives way, a cliff face is formed and a strong spout of water spills over the edge. We have looked at some of the most powerful, unique, and stunning waterfalls around the world to bring you the very best of nature. Make sure to leave a comment voting on your favorite! Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe  Height: 108 metres (354 ft) Width: combined width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) Overview: So powerful are the Victoria Falls that their native name in the Lozi Language is Mosi-oa-Tunya—"The Smoke That Thunders", due to the constant spray that billows up above the cliff. An older name calls it “The Place of the Rainbow. Amazing Facts:
Iguazu Falls - Brazil/Argentina Height: 60 and 82 m (197 and 269 ft) Length: 2.7-kilometre-long (1.7 mi) Overview: The Iguazu River separates Argentina and Brazil, and the Iguazu Falls split the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. Amazing Facts:
Gullfoss Falls - Iceland  Height: 32 metres (105 ft) Length: 20 metres (66 ft) Overview: one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, Gullfoss translates to “Golden Falls”. Gullfoss is a tiered waterfall, with three successive steps, the last one spilling into a chasm. Amazing Facts:
Burney Falls - California  Height: 114 feet (35 m) Length: 250 feet (76 m) Overview: While Burney Falls are nowhere near the tallest or even the most powerful in the world, they are certainly one of the most stunning, with water cascading in smaller rivulets throughout the width of the Falls. The water comes from underground springs that provide a constant flow rate year round, something uncommon for many Falls. Burney Falls are an example of river drainage. Amazing Facts:
Yosemite Falls - California  Height: 2,425 feet (739 m) Length: N/A Overview: Fed by the waters of Yosemite Creek, Yosemite Falls are one of the most popular attractions in Yosemite National Park. The main drop pours down a whopping 1,430-feet (440 m) cliff. A 3.5 mile hike is required to reach the falls. Amazing Facts:
Niagara Falls - New York  Height: 57 metres (187 ft) Length: 790 metres (2,590 ft) Overview: Straddling the line between two countries, Niagara Falls are made up of three Falls that lie on the border of America and Canada. Three impressive sections make up the falls, with the Horseshoe Falls residing in Canada and the other two resting in the United States. Amazing Facts:
Plitvice Falls - Croatia  Height: N/A Length: N/A Overview: Sixteen lakes form an interconnected network like steps created by nature, each cascading into the next in a downhill set of tiers. The lakes are broken up by natural dams that were made by bacteria, moss, or algae depositing sandstone in stacks. Water spouts through the embankments at several points and pours over algae clumps in a dazzling dance along the whole embankment. Amazing Facts:
Angel Falls - Venezuela  CC 3.0 by Luis Carillo Height: 979 metres (3,212 ft) Length: N/A Overview: The highest uninterrupted fall in the world, Angel Falls gets its name from Jimmie Angel, who was the first person to fly over the falls back in 1933. The original name for the Falls was Kerepakupai Meru, meaning "waterfall of the deepest place". Amazing Facts:
Kalandula Falls - Angola, Africa CC 1.0 by Paulo César Santos Height: 105 meters (344 feet) Length: 400 meters (1,300 feet) Overview: Surprisingly little is known about Kalandula Falls, despite their being a major waterfall system in the world. The name has changed several times, and Kaladula is often spelled with a “C” instead of a “K”. The falls are located in Angola, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Amazing Facts:
Ouzoud Falls - Morocco  Image by just_a_cheeseburger/flickr Height: 110 m (330 ft) Length: N/A Overview: Located near the Moroccan village of Tanaghmeilt, Ouzoud Falls describes a series of drops in a horseshoe pattern. The name comes from the language Berber, meaning "the act of grinding grain", due to the many grain mills in the area. Amazing Facts:
Jog Falls - India  CC by Kiran Sagara Height: 253 meters (829 feet) Length: 472 meters (1550 feet) Overview: The second highest plunge waterfalls in India, Jog Falls are a major tourist attraction. The falls vary in flow by the season; they go from being barely noticeable trickles of water during the winter to becoming one of the most impressive falls in the world during monsoon season, and are famous for this drastic change in flow. Amazing Facts:
Helmcken Falls - British Columbia  Height: 141 m (463 ft) Length: N/A Overview: Surrounded by evergreen trees, Helmcken Falls is one of the most beautiful in the world. It was largely to protect the falls that the Wells Gray Provincial Park was created in 1939. It is one of six waterfalls along the Myrtle River, and one of only three of those that can be reached by road. Amazing Facts:
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When asked where the best beach in the world might be, one might automatically think of the finest sand or the biggest swells for surfing, but beaches are like people: unique in their personalities. From street art to quaint shops, yacht races to Christmas boat parades, celebrity sightings to secluded caves, these beaches offer a look at the paradise of the Southern California coastline.Newport
Image: Newport Beach, California by Ken Lund
From beginners to experts, surfing was made for Newport Beach. With consistently great waves for the sport, the beach has become known as a surfing haven. For those wishing to stay a little closer to the shoreline, Newport also offers the finest bodyboarding and bodysurfing atmosphere in the world.
With the kind of perfect sand that beach goers crave, the beachfront is the ideal place for playing a game of volleyball, sitting with your toes warming in the sand, or building sand castles and running away as the waves threaten conquest. For those less inclined to lay out a towel and rake their fingers through the sand, Newport also offers the largest recreational boat harbor on the west coast. Boat lovers flock to the harbor for fishing, sailing, rowing, and many other boat sports along the water’s edge. Make sure to get a schedule of the weekly yacht races and other boating events, and if you are visiting during the holidays, catch the Christmas Boat Parade, which has been hailed as one of the best holiday events in the country. Huntington
Image: Huntington Beach, CA by wikimedia commons
The waves at Huntington Beach are different than other beaches. Great swells form as water hits Catalina Island off the coast, then head toward the beachfront beyond. These swells create ideal surfing waves all year long, which has led to the nickname “Surf City.” Huntington even had the name Surf City patented to them in order to create a tourism brand that will draw in more Beach lovers from around the world. The area is known abroad as the “Surfing capital of the world,” and hosts the world surfing championships each summer.
Surf City hosts many beach related events. The National beach volleyball tour hosted by AVP competes in Huntington as one of their locations. There is also a lifeguard swimming race every July. In February, the Huntington Film Festival kicks off. March brings in throngs of car enthusiasts with classic car shows such as the Beachcruisers. In December, Huntington Harbour hosts the Cruise of Lights Boat Tour, which not only showcases ships decorated with holiday lights, but also offers boat tours to view some of the more prominent decorated houses along the water’s edge. Santa Monica
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Santa Monica is that it was the ending point on Route 66. Even today, without the country-long highway bringing travelers in, there are many reasons to visit the beach city and its famous pier. It is renowned for being the first muscle beach, where body building events were held annually. The shoreline is so ideal as a beachfront that it was the beach chosen for filming the Baywatch series, and will host the surfing and beach volleyball events in the 2028 Summer Olympics. Packed with parks and playgrounds, the beach is also home to the International Chess Park, which holds a life-sized chess board and dozens of public chess tables.
A day at the beach would not be complete without a stroll along Santa Monica Pier. Built in 1909, the pier is home to another old structure: the 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel, a National Historic Landmark. During the summer months, free concerts and movies are put on at the pier.
Laguna
Image: Laguna Beach by Max Pixel
Everything about Laguna speaks beauty and art. From the tenacious efforts to preserve the natural ecology, to the famous art community that stretches back more than 100 years, Laguna beach draws in crowds for much more than the sand and ocean. First attracted by the stunning coastline with its array of colorful flora and fauna, painters graced their canvases with depictions of the beach in the early 1900’s. Since then, Laguna has blossomed into a hub for the fine arts. A plethora of events are held each year for art exhibition and beach activities. Some include:
Pageant of the Masters, held each summer, takes famous portraits and recreates them with live actors posing in a precise replica of the art. The Sawdust Arts Festival brings together all non-juried arts and crafts from local residents, including sculptures, paintings, glass blowing, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry making, mixed media, and art workshops, among others. The Laguna Playhouse is the oldest operating theatre on the west coast. Started in 1955, The Brooks Street Surfing Classic, is perhaps the world's longest running surf competition. The 'Vic' Skimboarding World Championship is the longest running pro skimboarding competition. San Clemente
Image: San Clemente Beach, CA by Don Graham
San Clemente earn the name “The Spanish Village by the Sea,” due to its Spanish colonial style architecture. This is partly in reference to the first non-native settlers who came from Spain. It was meant to be built as as resort community in a Mediterranean style with red brick roofs and White House exteriors. One of the very first villas ever built was bought by Richard Nixon during his presidency and nicknamed the Western White House, becoming his Pacific vacation home. The city is also neighbors with San Juan Capistrano, one of the more visited Spanish Missions in California.
San Clemente is the surfing media capital of the world, with several surfing magazine centered around the city. It also consistently wins national surfing championships, which can be contributed in part to the large number of surfboard shapers and manufacturers, as well as the number of famous surfers who have taken up residence in the area. Corona del Mar
Image: Corona del Mar by wikimedia commons
Corona del Mar, or “crown of the sea,” is the perfect beach for the spelunking enthusiast. With caverns and rock faces that provide hours of climbing and exploration fun, the beach feels like a mashup of a California sandy shore and a jutting Oregon coastline. The landscape has everything a beach goer could wish for, from stretches of sandy shoreline , to tidepools, to cliffs and cliff top views of the ocean.
The area is an affluent one, which offers some off-the-shore house seeing opportunities, as well as a plethora of must-visit quaint shops with unique merchandise. Carlsbad
Carlsbad is the fifth richest city in California, and is in the top twenty wealthiest cities in the United States. Locals call the place the “Village by the Sea.” It is also known as the “Titanium Valley” due to several golf manufacturing companies being headquartered there. It is the golf manufacturing capital of the world. It is also the site of Legoland California. The city gets its name from its water quality, which is similar to some of the most prestigious spa resorts in the world. The famous Bohemian spa of Karlsbad was the inspiration for the name.
Carlsbad beach is well known for its coastal bluffs, with 220 campsites on top of the cliffs for visitors to camp in while resorting at the beach. The shoreline is ideal for beachcombing, with items of interest consistently sifted out of the sand. Scuba diving is another popular pastime along the water’s edge. Oceanside
Image: Oceanside CA by cultivar413
Everything about Oceanside is big, from big competition to big history to big entertainment. With the Supergirl Pro Jam taking place each year, Oceanside boasts World's Largest Women's Surf Competition. The Oceanside Pier, built in 1888, is one of the longest wooden piers on the west coast at 1,942 feet. Every Thursday evening, the Sunset Market is held downtown, with live entertainment and local food. The architecture and grounds of Mount Ecclesia offer beauty and reflection. The 8th largest Turkey Trot in the nation takes place each year, attracting 10,000 runners from around the globe. Oceanside also hosts the toughest sporting event in existence, the Race Across America, which challenges bicyclists on a 3,000 mile cross country ride. Every May, the largest beach soccer competition, The Beach Soccer Championships are held, even offering a pro Beach Soccer Cup that is the most challenging of any in the country. In Oceanside, the “go big or go home” lifestyle ensures that visitors are always in for a once in a lifetime memory.
Pacific Beach
Image: Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA by wikimedia commons
This is one beach city that must be experienced at night. Because of its long history as a hub for young people and college students, the strong nightlife includes promising eateries and prominent bars, as well as clothing stores and eclectic shops that cater to the night owls. The center of the nocturnal activities lies around Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue. “P.B.” as locals called it serves as the hottest nightlife spot in San Diego County.
What started as grain fields quickly became a budding beach town. Developers built a race track to bring in potential residents, and modern homes now sell for millions. Another set of landmarks that catch the eye of visitors is the group of streets named after precious stones. The names are given to the streets that head east and west, and prompt passersby to see how many they can name along the route. Malibu
Image: Beach in Malibu by Public Domain Pictures
Malibu, the home to hundreds of Hollywood celebrities and the vacation home of the rest. And it’s easy to see why. Signs throughout the city boast of its “27 Miles of Scenic Beauty.” Driving down Pacific Coast Highway only confirms what the signs say, offering perhaps the most stunning drive along any coastline in the world.
The coast is just one of the major attractions that draw in crowds. The hills just off the coastline entice bikers, hikers and climbers to scale their magnificence. The Malibu Civic Center brings in those wishing to catch a glimpse of celebrities strolling down the streets. Adamson House, The large home that belonged to the original owners of Malibu, has stunned visitors for over 100 years. The Malibu Garden Club offers annual tours of some of the most breathtaking residential gardens in Malibu. The Getty Villa is a museum dedicated to the works of Paul Getty, including his art, sculptures, antiquities, and cultural pieces. Long Beach
Image: Long Beach, California by wikipedia
Long Beach presents the unique feature of combining an industrial landscape with a coastline. Skyscrapers and high rises brush up against the sandy shore, allowing for one of the most relaxing lunch breaks for office workers in the area. As the third largest city in Southern California, Long Beach offers much more in the way of sightseeing than the ocean meeting the land.
Famous for its street art, many of the murals were sanctioned by Mural and Cultural Arts Program. The city hosts a number of music festivals that include Reggae, Salsa, Jazz, Blues, Hawaiian, and Brazilian. The Long Beach Shakespeare Company holds outdoor productions throughout the summer. The Skinny House, a three story house built on a lot that is 10 feet by 50 feet, is the skinniest house in the United States. Spice requires just the right concoction of savory flavors and heat. When eaten, it should thrill the mouth while leaving behind a superb surprise for the taste buds after the heat subsides. These recipes get it just right, offering a spicy challenge and a perfect blend of flavors for the palate.Ethiopian Chicken Doro Wat
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Travel Suits You specializes in discovering hidden attractions from around the world.
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