Time to step back and talk some more about the waterfalls in California.  Today we’ll be addressing the most interesting and unique falls in the golden state.  If you’re following this series, you may notice that none of these waterfalls feature a natural bridge, unlike pretty much all the other regions we’ve done these articles for.  It seems the bedrock in California just isn’t conducive to that type of formation, at least at this point in time.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t some damn cool waterfalls there though, so without further ado, here we go:

Le Conte Falls (dkend@pacbell.net, Flickr)

Le Conte Falls

It could legitimately be said that practically any of the waterfalls along the Tuolumne River as it descends the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne could be considered among California’s most interesting and unique waterfalls.  But Le Conte Falls stands out because of one unmistakable characteristic – it’s multiple, massive waterwheels which are formed as the river strikes numerous depressions in the bedrock and jets as much as 30 feet (or more) into the air.  These waterwheels were so eye-catching to early explorers that this waterfall was originally titled Waterwheel Falls, and a mapping error resulted in the title migrating to the next waterfall downstream – which does itself feature a significant waterwheel, but not nearly as prominently.

Burney Falls

Anyone making the argument that Burney Falls is the defacto most unique waterfall in California, we wouldn’t argue with the claim.  Fueled by an extensive aquafir, Burney Creek first and foremost plunges 114 feet over a broad cliff in side-by-side leaps which seem to mirror each other, maintaining an incredibly consistent flow all year long.  But adding to the main stream, the extensive volcanic history of the area has allowed a significant portion of the aquafir to percolate out of the cliff which forms the falls, resulting in a wall of springs gushing out behind the main falls which stretch 250 feet wide!   This specific surface stream / aquafir contrast may be singularly unique in North America, as we cannot conjure another location where such an interaction takes place.

Mossbrae Falls, click to see more

Mossbrae Falls

Like Burney Falls, Mossbrae Falls is the product of the volcanism which dominates much of northern California’s landscape.  In this case, eruptions from satellite vents on Mount Shasta covered a broad area west of the volcano with very porous rock.  Water then percolates into the ground and runs through subterranean channels.  One of the largest group of springs fed by this process is found in the vicinity of the town of Dunsmuir, where spring-fed Mossbrae  Falls bubbles out of the ground and sprays about 50 feet directly into the Sacramento River.  While the volume of the springs does increase during the snow melt season, the falls flow consistently all year thanks to their underground source.  Even at low flow, the falls stretch over 150 feet in width and can achieve a width of nearly 250 feet during the spring.

McWay Falls

There have been discussions about how singularly unique and rare waterfalls which plunge directly into the ocean are, and while this phenomena is not nearly as uncommon an occurrence as some may thing (we’ll be addressing this topic in the future), there are certainly few such waterfalls which are easily seen.  McWay Falls near Big Sur is not only easily accessible, but perhaps the most scenic of any waterfall which drops into the ocean.  Though its stream is relatively small, the falls are striking as it chutes into a narrow free-fall and plunges about 80 feet over a bluff ending directly in the lapping waves of the Pacific Ocean (though technically it only drops into the ocean at high tide, the rest of the time the beach intervenes).  As if this weren’t enough, the lagoon which forms the cove at the falls features some of the brightest, bluest ocean water which can be seen along the California coast.  Photographers have taken note of this and flock to the falls en mass.

Horsetail Falls (Jeffrey Murray, Flickr)

Horsetail Falls

Though it only flow for about two months out of the year, Yosemite’s Horsetail Falls is among the most famous waterfalls on earth.  Why?  Because during a span of about 2-3 weeks in February, the 1,400 foot tall falls are backlit by the setting sun, creating perhaps the most spectacular instance of a “fire-fall” on earth.  The phenomena of a fire-fall isn’t singularly unique to Horsetail Falls, but nowhere else on earth it is nearly as grandiose.  The falls have become so famous among the global community of landscape photographers, thanks to a famous shot by the late Galen Rowell, that every year during February searching for Horsetail Falls on any of the major image hosting website will return a fresh crop of photos of the falls.

Darwin Falls

Waterfalls and deserts are two features which typically do not mix well.  At all.  So finding Darwin Falls tucked back in a canyon right smack in the middle of Death Valley, the hottest and driest location in North America, had to have been a discovery of incomprehensible serendipity.  While the falls are nothing at all to write home about – merely a trickle of water which bubbles out of a spring not too far upstream and drops about 25 feet into a pool, consider that the average temperature in Death Valley from May to October is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (and summer temperatures regularly eclipse 115 degrees).  Also consider that the annual rainfall totals in Death Valley is around 2.3 inches.  For a whole year.  Yet Darwin Falls flows continuously.

Dry Meadow Creek Falls (chowjusky, Flickr)

Dry Meadow Creek Falls

As the Sierra Nevada Mountains are composed almost entirely out of granitic bedrock, the waterfalls found therein tend to feature very sinuous curves and numerous potholes worn into the rock.  This is perhaps most perfectly exemplified in Dry Meadow Creek Falls near the southern terminus of the mountain range.  As the stream flows towards the Kern River Canyon, it twists down a series of cascades which drop about 225 feet in all, but it makes this drop in no less than a dozen distinct leaps.  What makes this so special is the perfect chaining of the pothole pools between each fall.  Each drop has carved a large, deep pool in the bedrock, from which the next fall spills directly out of.  The whole string of falls has become affectionately known as The Seven Teacups to whitewater kayakers who found the waterfalls too good an opportunity to pass up.  The first 7 or 8 drops are all fairly small, no more than 15 feet each, but the final 4-5 tiers are considerably larger, falling up to 50 feet.  Unfortunately the whole waterfall can’t be seen from one spot, but the upper half alone should be worth a visit in its own right.

Tueeulala Falls

Visitors to Yosemite National Park’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir can witness two of the best waterfalls in California without getting out of their car, at least if you visit at the right time of year.  Wapama Falls can be seen booming down the north wall of Hetch Hetchy valley, exploding onto huge rocks and creating quite a sight all year long.  But if you visit between March and roughly the end of June, Tueeulala Falls can also be seen, plunging a sheer 800 feet in a parallel course to Wapama Falls.  At first glance the falls may not appear special, but the mechanics of how the falls come into existence are quite unique.  Falls Creek, which fuels Wapama Falls, balloons to such immense volume during the melt season that where it runs into a relatively flat area about a quarter mile upstream from Wapama Falls, a substantial portion of the stream escapes its channel and wanders to the edge of the valley in a different course.  This results in two parallel waterfalls, both technically situated along Falls Creek, which are formed by the same precipice but bear distinctly different names.  Making this further interesting, Tueeulala Falls’ lifespan is markedly different than other seasonal waterfalls in Yosemite.  Because the falls only exist when Falls Creek is running high, once the snow melt subsides, the falls can shrink from a booming plunge to just a trickle in a matter of days, as if someone just turned the stream off with a switch.

Staircase Falls, click to see more

Staircase Falls

Though quite easily seen, Staircase Falls is one of the most frequently ignored waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, but this is more due to its very small volume than its stature or character.  Were it left to physical appearance to determine the best waterfalls in Yosemite, Staircase would no doubt be towards the top of the list.  As tiny Gossamer Creek drains from a narrow crevice below Glacier Point, it seems to have skipped out of its natural course to take a caddywompus path to the valley floor by way of a series of diagonally fractured shelves of granite.  Because of how these shelves are sloped, the creek plunges, then effectively slides sideways, then plunges again, and repeats this pattern several times.  The result is the 1,300 foot tall falls actually shift laterally for a greater distance than they fall – that is the top of the falls is almost 1,500 feet west of the bottom of the falls.

Golden Cascade

Golden Cascade is a waterfall of rather small proportion.  It could be considered quaint, even, and it’s not really a location that we would suggest going out of your way to see (though there are two or three other waterfalls in the immediate area).  What makes Golden Cascade stand out is the tiny mineral-rich stream feeding the falls has stained the bedrock so distinctly that the water appears to be sheeting over shiny deposits of gold.  Actually copper would probably be a more apt description, because the color is much more orange than yellow, but either way, it’s saturated to the point where it is far and away the most distinct characteristic of the falls.

Some states or countries might not be quite as well endowed when it comes to waterfalls as the regions which we posted at the time of launch.  In cases like this – such as with the state of Utah – we’re going to do a condensed post outlining both the best and most unique waterfalls at the same time because there may not necessarily be enough waterfalls to fill up a more extensive version of each list on its respective own.

Utah’s 5 Most Unique Waterfalls

Doughnut Falls - Conor Barry, Flickr

Doughnut Falls

If you’ve been following our “Most Unique” series, you’ll undoubtedly be aware that waterfalls which feature arches or natural bridges are sure bets to make the list.  Doughnut Falls is Utah’s obligatory participant in this category.  Though the falls drop no more than about 25 feet, the incorporation of the arch is unique – rather than spanning across the face of the falls, the stream plunges into a pothole which has punched straight through the undercut cliff into the alcove below.  The result allows for visitors to stair straight up through the skylight while the water falls in the opposite direction.

Sinawava Falls

Zion National Park is rather famously known for its spectacular scenery, but not so much for its waterfalls – largely because the waterfalls are short lived.  But when flowing there are several noteworthy and unique which could qualify for this article.  We chose Sinawava Falls because of its seemingly ethereal origins.  The stream in Telephone Canyon – when it flows – is squeezed out of a slot canyon perhaps 2 feet wide at most, from which it explodes into a 600-foot tall plume of mist to meet the Virgin River on the floor of the canyon.  That the falls typically flow at their most violent immediately after a passing thunderstorm adds further to the fleetingly fascinating nature of the falls.

Water Canyon Falls - TMullenaux, Flickr

Water Canyon Falls

This waterfall isn’t really unique on its own, but among Utah’s modest offerings it holds one distinct characteristic which is uncommon: this is a waterfall which flows all year long while being situated in the heart of canyon country, or more specifically in Bryce Canyon itself.  Water Canyon Falls only drops about 20 feet, but feature very interesting geology (as does pretty much all of Bryce Canyon.  Hoodoos line the sides of Water Canyon above the falls and the slightly blue-tinted small stream meanders along in a copper-hued wash that creates a very colorful scene.

Ogden Canyon Falls

The well-known falls in Ogden Canyon are included here because for better or worse they are not naturally occurring.  Water diverted from the Ogden River at the Pineview Dam several miles upstream is channeled into the Ogden Canyon Conduit, which in turn fuels several aqueducts which distribute to various municipal water supplies.  Just before the mouth of the canyon where the canal is split to distribute to the north and south, a wasteway channel was constructed, which allows excess water to spill back into the Ogden River, forming a rather impressive waterfall on the order of 300 feet in height.  Because the falls will effectively be regulated by how much water is being drawn off in the canal, the falls can turn off or on in an instant.

Cascade Falls

While the modest size of Cascade Falls – a clean plunge of maybe 10-15 feet at most – isn’t going to impress anyone, the nature of the falls will certainly turn heads.  Cascade Falls is the natural outlet of Navajo Lake, found about a mile and a half to the northwest, but it’s a subterranean outlet.  Cascade Falls marks the emergence of the stream from the underground channel, plunging directly out of the cave and beginning the North Fork of the Virgin River.

Stewarts Cascades - edmond.k, Flickr

Utah’s 5 Best Waterfalls

5. Malan Falls

The aptly named Waterfall Canyon just outside of Ogden harbors a surprisingly impressive cataract despite its small drainage area and relatively dry climate.  Malan Falls veils a good 200 feet down from a narrow hanging valley, and though the falls certainly suffer from the lack of precipitation in the summer months, during the spring the volume of water launching into the impressive amphitheater can be quite impressive.

4. Timpanogos Falls

Mount Timpanogos harbors some of Utah’s best waterfalls.  As the North Fork of the Provo River cascades out of Primrose Cirque, it cascades over a series of as many as nine distinct waterfalls.  While at the time our Utah data was posted we only have one distinctly inventoried, the high concentration of significant waterfalls (all likely over 50 feet in height, if not substantially more) in this area is quite worthy of attention in a state as (relatively) deficient in waterfalls as Utah.

Lower Calf Creek Falls - Trevor Anderson, Flickr

3. Lower Calf Creek Falls

While not swamped with the crowds seen in some other parts Utah’s canyon lands, Lower Calf Creek Falls is a scene that is synonymous with the desert southwest.  Plunging 126 feet over a cathedral sandstone cliff stained with lichen, Lower Calf Creek Falls is an ethereal, impressive and exceptionally photogenic waterfall.  Though not terribly tall even by Utah standards, the falls are exceptional in their consistency and resilience amid the arid climate and create an eagerly welcomed oasis for hikers venturing into the canyon.

2. Stewarts Cascades

The other set of impressive waterfalls on the east side of Mount Timpanogos is found in Stewarts Cascades, a booming 300 foot tall set of falls situated behind the Sundance ski area.  While the falls are composed of five distinct steps, it’s the bottom two drops which are most eye-catching.  The lowermost tier isn’t terribly significant, but coupled with the broad, veiling, nearly 200-foot tall fourth tier the stair-step combination is exceptionally scenic, and in the early summer very powerful as well.

Bridal Veil Falls - chrotting, Flickr

1. Bridal Veil Falls

Certainly the most well-known waterfall in Utah, Provo Canyon’s Bridal Veil Falls is also the state’s most impressive fall and is said to be the tallest as well (though this remains to be tested).  Falling a reported 607 feet in two (possibly three) eye-catching, veil styled steps the falls are an instant attention grabber for motorists traveling through the canyon.

10. Crypt Falls

The hike to Crypt Lake is among the most popular in Waterton Lakes National Park and perhaps one of the most unique hikes in all of the Canadian Rockies.  Starting off visitors are shuttled across Waterton Lake on a boat, then along the 7km climb several waterfalls are passed, culminating with the 575-foot drop of Crypt Falls veiling down the headwall of the valley.  Up close views are restricted because the trail enters a tunnel which bypasses the top of the falls in order to reach Crypt Lake just upstream from the cataract.

9. Caldron Falls

Nigel Falls

While most visitors admire 400-foot Caldron Falls from the Peyto Lake viewpoint some 3 kilometers distant, the falls are quite eye-catching and do their very best to draw the attention away from one of the signature views of the Canadian Rockies.  Those who have the leisure of hiking into the basin of Peyto Creek can observe the falls from a much closer vantage where its true size and power really comes into focus.

8. Nigel Falls

Clocking in at a comparatively modest 109 feet in height Nigel Falls isn’t exactly endowed with lofty stature, but the volume and force created as Nigel Creek hurtles into its lower canyon are indisputably impressive.  In addition to the falls making a powerful statement, the canyon into which it drops is visually quite stunning.  If the natural grandeur isn’t enough, the falls can be viewed framed by the historic steel arch bridge of the Icefields Parkway as it straddles the gorge almost immediately above the falls.

7. Balfour Creek Falls

Though relegated to being seen by just a few mountaineers who journey to the isolated northeastern corner of the Waputik Icefield every year, Balfour Creek Falls is undoubtedly among the most impressive in the Canadian Rockies.  It’s lack of notoriety stems more from the fact that it cannot be seen from any trail or any road, but if transportation across the cerulean waters of Hector Lake can be obtained, the falls will present themselves plunging off of the shelf harboring the Balfour Glacier in what could prove (upon a successfully thorough survey) to be one of the tallest waterfalls in Alberta.

6. Panther Falls

Panther Falls

Panther Falls is one of the most well known waterfalls in Alberta thanks to decades and decades of being advertised as much bigger than it really is, but Panther Falls should still be rightfully known as one of the best waterfalls in Alberta.  The booming waters of Nigel Creek funnels into a narrow gorge and explodes outward with such force that upon impacting a small ledge the falls literally vaporize into mist.  Viewing this spectacle from below is quite inspiring in itself, but getting up close with the falling water from behind its explosive spout (though this is not exactly safe to do) makes a visit much more special.

5. Geraldine Falls

The Geraldine Lakes trail presents a fairly easy opportunity for hikers to get into the high country of Jasper National Park, but it also allows up-close views of one of the province’s best waterfalls.  Between middle and lower Geraldine Lakes lie two significant waterfalls, the upper of which features a cumulative fall of about 500 feet, more than half of which falls in a single broad veiling fall.  Though the upper cascades account for a significant portion of the total drop, it’s the final tier which steals the show and sets the stage for comparisons around the rest of the province.

4. Sideways Falls

With the unique distinction as one of the most interesting waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies, as well as one of the best, Sideways Falls presents an opportunity to kill two birds with one proverbial stone.  Zigzagging down a narrow gorge in a lightning-bolt shape, the 349 foot falls present an eye-catching spectacle for motorists passing along the Icefields Parkway, but for those who make the short cross-country hike to the base of the falls the  power and grandeur of the cataract presents itself much more succinctly.

3. Fossil Falls

Athabasca Falls

Perhaps because it’s tucked deep in a side valley in one of the Canadian Rockies less visited parks, Fossil Falls is a waterfall of impressive caliber which doesn’t receive nearly the attention it deserves.  Aster Creek thunders down its headwall in about five distinct sections, featuring a limestone slot canyon near its brink, a resurgent feeder stream which plunges side-by-side with the second tier of the falls, a violent singular horsetail of about 300 feet, and a mini-amphitheater with a plunging final tier soaking the valley floor in mist.  The easiest views are from a distance but for those who venture closer the experience will be quite distinct.

2. Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls may be the most powerful waterfall in Alberta.  The 80 foot falls thunder into a narrow swirling gorge carved into the limestone bedrock, ensuring a constant thick mist is ejected into the air, soaking the hoards of tourists who swamp the falls every summer season. The falls are rightly a popular attraction along the Icefields Parkway – possibly the most overrun landmark in Jasper National Park – and though there is little chance to have the falls to yourself, it is worth visiting regardless of the size of the crowds.

Bow Glacier Falls

1. Bow Glacier Falls

Geologically speaking Bow Glacier Falls is a relatively infantile feature.  The Bow Glacier has steadily retreated since the little ice age maximum, when it covered Bow Glacier Falls and much of the valley below in ice hundreds of meters thick.  It wasn’t until the early 1900s that Bow Glacier Falls began to emerge as the glacier retreated, but once the head wall was revealed, the thunderous 505-foot tall waterfall it produced proved to be quite impressive.  For now the glacier continues to retreat, but one day it may advance again and the falls might be lost once more.

Back in June I had the opportunity to spend a couple weeks in Scandinavia and a solid seven days of that involved driving all over western Norway in search of as many of the country’s best waterfalls that I could squeeze in.  The weather was fantastic while I was in Sweden for the week prior, but as soon as I crossed into fjord country it started raining and basically didn’t stop.  This is, however, not a bad thing where waterfalls are concerned – there was a crapton of water.  Everywhere.  Living in Washington State has allowed me to become somewhat jaded about waterfalls because the Pacific Northwest harbors so many in terms of both quality and quantity.  On my first day in Norway I saw waterfalls which would make Washington’s Top 25 list which I had to basically ignore because “they weren’t big enough” (in actuality because I had no time to stop and photograph all the waterfalls I encountered).  There were literally waterfalls everywhere.  Everywhere.

I came back with approximately 9 gigabytes worth of pictures (I should have had double that, easy but the bad weather had other plans) and about 6 gigabytes worth of video – almost none of which I’ve edited yet.  The end result is we’ve just finished posting full survey reports for 86 of Norway’s best waterfalls – including Langfoss, Mardalsfossen, Vettisfossen, Vøringsfossen, Skytjefossen and Tjørnadalsfossen, among others, plus added a good dozen or so others to the database which we gathered some information on but couldn’t complete a proper survey for one reason or another.  Browse through the list of waterfalls we currently have online for Norway and look for the blue highlighted rows to see the cataloged entries.

Our full Norway data is still a long way from being completed, so if you know of a waterfall in Norway which you don’t currently see on our list, it’s coming.  It’s just going to be a while because we have probably another 3,000 records to sort through and add geodata to before we can upload it to the database.  So, for the time being, hopefully this will tide you all over.  I will be posting video when I can edit it together, but when that will be I’m not sure (hopefully some time over the winter).

Maligne Canyon Falls, click for more

Waterfalls of Maligne Canyon

Found just outside of the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park, Maligne Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the park.  While there are numerous limestone slot canyons in the Canadian Rockies, Maligne Canyon is special for several reasons, but the most impressive feature is the slow resurgence of the Maligne River.  At the head of the canyon a small mountain stream plunges over several waterfalls – the largest about 75 feet tall.  As the canyon continues downstream, seeps and springs feed more and more water into the canyon and by the time it reaches its mouth 3km from the top, a full size river flows forth.  Where does the water come from?  The full size Maligne River actually sinks into the ground several kilometers upstream and remains so until it intersects the porous rock at the bottom of the canyon, providing an outlet.  Hiking down the trails along the canyon, watching the waterfalls steadily increase in volume over such a short distance is quite intriguing.

Vermilion Falls

Vermilion Falls is the northern most waterfall we currently have inventoried in Alberta and it really isn’t special in the sense that the other waterfalls on this list are, there is just one standout characteristic that makes Vermilion Falls unique: its size.  As the Peace River is one of Canada’s largest, the falls automatically become one of the most globally significant waterfalls based on volume.  But with a crest width of 1.8 kilometers (1.2 miles), the falls are also the widest waterfall in North America – twice the width of Niagara – that we are currently aware of.  However, since the falls are only 15-20 feet tall, Vermilion Falls is hardly the spectacle that Niagara is.

Michele Falls

Just east of Banff National Park and north of the David Thompson Highway is the popular Michele Lakes basin at the head of aptly named Waterfalls Creek.  The lakes are a favorite destination for heli-hiking in that the scenic quality of the Rockies parks remains while the red tape of landing aircraft do not.  As Waterfalls Creek flows out of the lower lake, it surges down a thousand-foot cliff, most of the water disappearing into a sink just after it starts to fall.  Halfway down the cliff, the entire stream bursts forth and veils visibly for the remainder of its descent.  While there are many waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies which feature such karst topography, this may be the tallest waterfall in Alberta (which we know of) which falls out of the side of a cliff in one drop.

North Saskatchewan Falls, click for more

North Saskatchewan Canyon

Similar to the aforementioned Maligne Canyon, the slot canyon along the North Saskatchewan River is carved into limestone, but this one differs from most of the other canyons in Jasper and Banff in that the river has cut such a narrow, twisting slot that the river can only be heard, not seen at the bottom of the gorge.  The canyon is so narrow in places – including at the waterfall at its head – that it is literally possible to jump across the gorge (though we would not recommend this, as falling in would be certain death).  Its possible to peer over the edge of the gorge where the river plunges in only to stare into blackness, with the echoing thunder of the falls swirling in your ear.

Weeping Wall

Weeping Wall is not a significant waterfall in most regards.  It usually flows throughout the summer, but only with noticeable vigor for a few months.  But while it may be minor in almost all characteristics, the simple configuration of the seemingly dozens and dozens of delicate strands of water dripping over the roughly 1,200 foot cliff make this location a popular stop along the Icefields Parkway.  During the winter the falls freeze into one of the most impressive collections of icicles in the Rockies.

Cascade Falls, click for more

Cascade Falls

Those traveling to Banff National Park from the Calgary area will be greeted by the sight of Cascade Falls springing out of the side of Cascade Mountain as they approach the town of Banff.  Fed by melting snow which percolates into crevices all over Cascade Mountain, the falls spring right out of the side of the mountain and skip nearly 1,000 feet down the side of the valley in a narrow ribbon.  During the winter the falls freeze into solid sheets of ice, providing one of the most popular destinations for ice climbing in the Banff area.

Grassi Lakes Falls

The Grassi Lakes are a moderately popular attraction found just outside of Canmore near the southern border of Banff National Park.  The two lakes – both of which are not much more than about 150 feet in diameter – produce a full size stream which calmly meanders from the lower lake and promptly veils over a rather impressive two-stepped waterfall of over 150 feet in height.  The reason the lakes are able to produce such a consistent volume of water is that the nearby Whiteman’s Pond, part of the Canmore Hydroelectric system, leeches water into the ground which then resurges in the Grassi Lakes.

Sideways Falls, click for more

Haig Glacier Falls

Haig Glacier Falls holds the distinction of being both one of the most significant waterfalls in Alberta in terms of height and volume, as well as possessing some of the most unique characteristics of any waterfall in the province.  The Upper Kananaskis River emerges from the Haig Glacier and flows through a barren outwash plain before beginning its descent down a twisted limestone slot.  As the river falls over a thousand feet down the canyon it drops through no less than three natural arches, as well as winding in and out of numerous stretches of slot canyon interspersed along the length of the falls.  Despite its size no trails lead to views of the falls and while the top of the falls is very close to the frequently used Haig Glacier Hut, extensive off-trail travel (in Grizzly Bear country no less) is necessary to actually see the falls.

Sideways Falls

One of the most aptly named waterfalls visible from the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park also does double duty as one of the most unique and most impressive waterfalls in Alberta.  Sideways Falls occurs along an unnamed branch of the North Saskatchewan River near Big Bend, emerging from a slot canyon in a series of sliding cascades which pitch over diagonally stratified bedrock.  Between each sliding “step” the water pools, which makes it appear as if the stream were falling in a stereotypical lightning-bolt shape.  At the bottom of this zigzagging pattern the stream is funneled into a narrow chute, from which it explodes into a powerful spout of water which shoots clear across the face of the canyon.  After all this has taken place, the falls lose much of there character, but still fall for several hundred more feet, dropping a total of 349 feet.

Cameron Falls - justbkos, flickr

Cameron Falls

Waterton Lakes National Park wraps around the southern edge of the Canadian length of the Rocky Mountains and visitors entering the small town of Waterton in the park will inevitably stumble across Cameron Falls.  While Cameron Creek is partially dammed above the falls to provide power to the town, Cameron Falls is a waterfall with a very distinct appearance at any time of the year.  The creek first slides down a long incline formed by diagonally uplifted bedrock.  Where the slide terminates the majority of the creek plunges over a sheer cliff, while a portion of it runs along a chute with the grain of the rock, then when it can’t slide any further plunges in parallel to the main creek.  Both plunges then hit on a second diagonal shelf, which allows part of the water to essentially flow behind one of the plunging parts of the falls.  Pictures do a much better job of explaining what happens, so we’ll just leave it at this is a waterfall you’ll want to see.

10. Angeline Falls

Deep in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Angeline Lake offers up a waterfall of a stature not commonly seen outside of the rugged glaciated parts of the North Cascades.  Rather than flowing down a ice-shrouded mountainside, Angeline Falls percolates from the subterranean outlet of Angeline Lake and veils 450 vertical feet in a 100-foot wide curtain of water.  The lake-waterfall-lake pattern exhibited here is actually common in the Alpine Lakes area, but nowhere else to as grand an effect as with Angeline Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls, click for more

9. Bridal Veil Falls

As one of the closest “tall” waterfalls to the Puget Sound metropolitan area, Bridal Veil Falls is widely revered as a quality destination for hiking, yet few visitors actually grasp the true magnitude of the falls.  Dropping out of aptly named Lake Serene Bridal Veil Falls drops for a total of just over 1,300 feet, with its two most prominent tiers standing about 650 feet alone.  Viewed from below, each tier displays as multiple braids veiling over dark granite cliffs, allowing a level of intimacy not usually afforded to waterfalls of similar height.

8. Multnomah Falls

For the same reason that Idaho has only one representative on this Top 10 list, Oregon too only harbors one waterfall which can hold a candle to those in Washington State: the famous Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  With a total drop of 635 feet and a single, uninterrupted free-fall of 542 feet, Multnomah Falls is among the tallest free-falling waterfalls in the United States.  Its location just 45 minutes from downtown Portland ensures a constant population of tourists and despite the Columbia Gorge possessing hundreds of waterfalls, Multnomah reigns king over all of them without dispute.

7. Comet Falls

Mount Rainier is known as the Queen of the Cascades, and Comet Falls could comparatively be the Queen of waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park.  Though there are taller falls in the park, Comet Falls stands most regal among all of them.  In four steps the falls drop 462 feet, with a single free-fall of 392 feet as its centerpiece, the falls are framed amid a subalpine glade, surrounded by flowering meadows and lofty trees.  Few who visit the falls walk away without feeling like they’ve stepped into a fairytale.

Jordan Creek Falls, click for more

6. Jordan Creek Falls

While the behemoths in North Cascades National Park may hold the titles of the state’s best, Jordan Creek Falls is infinitely easier to get to and despite standing “only” 588 feet tall, does its best to try and usurp the title of best waterfall from the others in the area.  Fed by two large lakes, Jordan Creek produces a volume of water large enough that viewing the falls up close can be like getting into a staring contest with a tropical storm.  Those who don’t wish to weather the monsoonal spray at the base of the falls can still appreciate the giant cataract from quite some distance thanks to its prominent visibility.

5. Shoshone Falls

Let’s forget for a second that part of Niagara Falls is located in the United States.  What would the country’s biggest waterfall be then?  The answer is Idaho’s Shoshone Falls.  With a height of 212 feet and a crest of just over 900 feet, the Snake River creates a cataract which nearly rivals the American half of Niagara…when it’s flowing.  As with most of the large-river waterfalls in the country, Shoshone was too tempting a target.  Several dams along the Snake River upstream of the falls divert nearly all of the summertime flow to canals for irrigation, and the little water which does reach the falls is sent through a powerhouse, bypassing the falls entirely.  When snow is melting in the basin upstream the falls still flow with force, but without the consistent power of the Snake River, Shoshone Falls just doesn’t have the best-of-the-region gravitas that would have catapulted it to the top spot if left untamed.

Snoqualmie Falls, click for more

4. Snoqualmie Falls

Being situated under an hour’s drive from downtown Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls is among the most popular tourist attractions in the Pacific Northwest.  The 268-foot cataract sees well over a million visitors every year for good reason – its power unmatched anywhere else in Washington State and only bested by Idaho’s Shoshone Falls.  It was this power that led to the development of the first underground powerhouse in the United States, which continues to operate (albeit with upgraded equipment) today.  The commercial development of Snoqualmie Falls is essentially the only reason it isn’t ranked higher among the United States’ great waterfalls.

3. Berdeen Falls

Counterpart to Green Lake Falls, Berdeen Falls also flows out of a high elevation glacial lake which is extremely difficult to access.  Falling in three main steps for a total of about 850 feet, Berdeen Falls is effectively second candle to its sibling across the valley, but with a similar volume and a more prominent free-fall, Berdeen Falls is not far behind in terms of oomph.  Unfortunately, as with Green Lake Falls, the lack of access again prevents the falls from gaining the notoriety it rightfully deserves.

Depot Creek Falls, click for more

2. Depot Creek Falls

Found just shy of the US-Canada border, Depot Creek explodes over an immense cataract, plunging over 250 feet then turning into a tumultuous, precipitous waterslide of an additional 700 vertical feet.  Typically the thought of a “waterslide” is not associated with the idea of a great waterfall, but with Depot Creek fed by four large glaciers, the volume of water coursing down the headwall (which is quite steep for a “slide”) will so consistently result in visitors staring jaws agape that its status has become something somewhat of legend for the mountain climbers who frequent the area.

1. Green Lake Falls

Were it not so far isolated deep within the wilderness of North Cascades National Park the falls emanating from Green Lake might be more well regarded, but as it is this behemoth fall can only be seen from the air or across the deep canyon of Bacon Creek after several days of difficult cross-country hiking.  Truly this is a shame because the nearly thousand-foot tall falls are of a stature equal to that of many of the waterfalls in California’s famous Yosemite Valley.

At this point Hurricane Irene has devolved out of a tropical depression and passed well into Canada towards dissipation, but over the last 72 hours has wreaked havoc across the eastern seaboard of North America.  While most of the brouhaha surrounded the potential urban flooding in New York City, it seems that New England was actually hit harder by the rain and flooding.  Parts of Vermont, upstate New York and New Hampshire have been devastated by raging flood waters, the ultimate damage from which will probably not be known for weeks.  While the focus should no doubt be on the tragic loss of life and recovery in the area, it’s hard to not admire the power of nature during events like this.  Clearly the people who experienced it first hand are struck with this same kind of awe and admiration, because we’re seeing some really impressive footage of waterfalls in the New England area during these floods.

As more video surfaces, we will be actively updating this post, so check back periodically over the next few days.

*UPDATED 8/31*

Connecticut:

• Kent Falls, the state’s tallest waterfall, put on a rather impressive show for a normally rather small stream, swelling to cover its entire cliff face in places (which just doesn’t normally happen).

Maine:

• Great Falls of the Androscoggin River in Lewiston was flowing spectacularly 24 hours after the brunt of the storm passed through.
• Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch was truly and spectacularly living up to its name.

Massachussetts:

• Otherwise placid and normally very diminutive (for this time of year) Wahconah Falls in Dalton morphed into a beast of such proportions that it appears to have been trying to swallow itself whole.
• Footage of Doane Falls in Royalston doesn’t show it going particularly crazy but its still pretty impressive (certainly much more impressive than it was when I saw it in October 2005).

New Hampshire:

• Normally dry (from hydroelectric diversion) Goodrich Falls turned into an entirely different beast.
• The town of Jackson’s namesake waterfall flooded so spectacularly that it produced standing waves that overtopped small trees.  
• Livermore Falls on the Pemigewasset River actually looked like a waterfall for once.
• The Upper Falls of the Ammonoosuc River – normally harboring a very nice swimming hole – looked like it could strip the paint off of a truck.

New Jersey:

• Great Falls of the Passaic River did its best impression of Niagara.

New York:

• Cohoes Falls in Albany is usually dry this time of year thanks to the adjacent hydroelectric powerhouse, but after Irene visited the falls it looked nothing like its usual self.
• Mount Ida Falls in nearby Troy made mincemeat of the huge pool normally found at its base.
• In Greenwich, the Batten Kill exploded over Dionondahowa Falls like something out of a Michael Bay movie.

Pennsylvania:

• As this video of a raging Bushkill Falls shows the Keystone state didn’t escape the rain either.
• Resica Falls looked more like Ohiopyle Falls during the storm.

Vermont:

• Winooski Falls in Burlington was transformed so dramatically that if one didn’t know a dam was present at the falls before seeing this footage, it would be hard to be convinced otherwise.
• Normally placid Thatcher Brook Falls in Waterbury resembled something else entirely.
• In Springfield the Black River did its best to remind onlookers of what it looked like before Comtu Falls was covered with dams.
• Waits River Falls in Bradford actually resembled a waterfall during the flooding, rather than a dam with bare rock below as is the norm.  
• Bartlett Falls in Bristol tried (and partially succeeded) to swallow itself.
• Button Falls along the Mettowee River basically turned into a long rapid because of the volume of water present.
• Middlebury Falls pulled an odd one and made itself look more like a dam than a natural waterfall.
• Further downstream along Otter Creek – which apparently crested 10 feet above its historic high level – Sutherland Falls in Proctor appears to have been inaccessible for the most part, but what could be seen showed not water falling but rather being shot out of a jet engine.

If you have additional footage of waterfalls that were swollen to epic proportions from Irene, we want to see it!

Wrapping up our launch data set for the Canadian province of British Columbia we’re starting another post series for new data where we will do a short rundown of the best waterfalls from each region that gets uploaded.  Some regions will be a bit more limited in scope and may be a little more paired down, but in areas where waterfalls are abundant, expect posts like these.  Our selections for this series may not necessarily correspond to the ratings shown within the database (as will certainly the case as we gain new information and find more potentially world-class waterfalls in any given area) and may reflect some of our own personal bias, but we’re going to try to be as fair about it as we can.  Caveat issued, here we go; British Columbia’s 10 Best Waterfalls:

Twin Falls, click for more

10. Twin Falls

Yes, there are two different Twin Falls in British Columbia which could rightly be considered among the 10 best in the province.  But it’s the powerful Yoho National Park icon that lands itself on our list.  The high volume of Twin Falls Creek pounds a sheer 400-feet in side-by-side plunges before cascading nearly 200-feet further down a narrow gorge in a series of plunges.  World famous for over a century thanks to the nearby Twin Falls Chalet and the world class scenery of the Canadian Rockies, Twin Falls is an attraction worthy of the day-long hike required to see it.

9. Hunlen Falls

Isolated deep within the heavily forested expanses of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, Hunlen Falls hurtles a sheer 850 feet into a gaping chasm of such dizzying magnitude that most people who visit the falls rarely ever see the bottom.  The falls are so remote that the most common method of access is via float planes that land on Turner Lake just upstream of the falls.  In a serendipitous twist the best views of the wterfall happen to be from the air, so those visitors who can afford the luxury of the flight in will be able to take in the scene at its most grandiose.

Helmet Falls, click for more

8. Helmet Falls

One of British Columbia’s least recognized major waterfalls, Helmet Falls punctuates the stellar scenery of Kootenay National Park.  Situated at one end of a stretch of mountain known as The Rockwall – a series of glacier-clad cliffs jutting 3,000 feet above the surrounding meadows – the falls try their best to outdoor the adjacent landscape as they plunge 1,154 feet in two streams which join into one mid-fall.  The few who make the necessary 16km hike to the falls will have to decide for themselves whether the falls successfully steal the show.

7. Cummins Falls

You’ve never heard of this waterfall?  That’s because it’s literally located in the middle of nowhere.  Cummins Falls is situated between Upper and Lower Cummins Lakes deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.  The only humanly possible access is currently to charter a helicopter or a float plane to bus you there and back (or just via a sightseeing flight).  This means the falls are rarely visited, though that shouldn’t speak any less to the immense size and quality of this two-stepped 862 foot tall behemoth.  Oh, perhaps I should also mention the stunning backdrop of the Cummins Glacier and the multitude of 10,000+ foot tall peaks looming above the lakes as well.

6. Middle Cummins Falls

Wait, didn’t we just do this one?  Actually, no.  The Cummins River is a well endowed stream when it comes to waterfalls.  While Cummins Falls is the tallest waterfall along its course, Middle Cummins Falls (for lack of a better name) is almost as tall and frankly just a little bit more impressive.  This huge hurtling freefall drops 761 feet onto an alluvial fan at the inlet of Upper Cummins Lake – the outlet of which is Cummins Falls itself.  The combination of the two makes this perhaps the a Top 3 waterfall destination in British Columbia, but individually each of these falls is exceptional as well.

5. Odegaard Falls

The rugged Coast Mountains harbor probably hundreds if not thousands of significant waterfalls which remain as yet undocumented and it’s probably not a stretch to suggest there are many world class waterfalls in there.  Fortunately Odegaard Falls is one of those world-class falls which can be easily accessed.  Spreading out over a massive veil, the Nusatsum River explodes nearly 900 feet in a sheet of spray before contracting into a narrow gorge and stepping down a series of much less impactful plunges.

Takakkaw Falls, click for more

4. Bishop Falls

While only about 20 miles from Juneau, Alaska, Bishop Falls is one of the most isolated of BC’s best waterfalls.  Kwashona Creek hurtles off the lip of a massive hanging valley and veils over 1,400 feet (possibly more) to meet the massive Taku River.  The only access to the falls is either by boat or aircraft – usually originating in Juneau – but the scenery is well worth the cost of the charter for those who choose to make the journey.

3. Takakkaw Falls

Perhaps the centerpiece of Yoho National Park, Takakkaw Falls is rightly world famous.  The falls explode 992 feet into the Yoho River valley, with a sheer leap of over 850 feet to start it off with a bang.  The massive roostertail seen near the top of the falls is one of the best examples of the unique feature anywhere in the world.  During the summer the spray coming off the falls will drift nearly to the parking lot across the valley, which should clue visitors in to just how powerful this waterfall is.

Cerberus Falls, click for more

2. Helmcken Falls

Though Takakkaw Falls is twice as tall, Helmcken Falls is so much more powerful that there really isn’t any justification in considering it the best waterfall in BC’s front country.  The 462 foot tall falls were largely responsible for inspiring the formation of Wells Gray Provincial Park and remain one of the biggest tourist draws outside of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  While the scenery itself doesn’t stack up to the more mountainous regions of the province, a waterfall this big, impressive and flat out powerful really doesn’t need complimentary eye candy.

1. Cerberus Falls

Until the summer of 2010 we had debated whether to consider Takakkaw Falls or Helmcken Falls the best waterfall in British Columbia.  When we had a chance to survey the incredible Icefall Canyon, located deep in the Canadian Rockies, the immense falls of Icefall Brook soundly put that debate to rest.  The meltwater of the Southwest Lyell Glacier splits into three primary channels and thunder 1,558 feet into the huge amphitheater at the head of the 3-kilometer long gash in the mountains, with a fourth segment located just downstream which may itself stand over 2,000 feet tall.  The sheer scale of the scenery is simply off the charts and honestly should be enshrined within a national park.

As was mentioned in previous posts, for the launch of the new website and blog, we’ve uploaded our full datum for the Canadian province of British Columbia.  As we upload our data, one of the ongoing features we planned for the blog is a series outlining some of the most interesting and impressive waterfalls in each region as it goes online.  So, for the inaugural post in this series, we’re tackling British Columbia.  BC is very well endowed with waterfalls, many of which are absolutely world class.  However, we’re not focusing on the biggest and best (yet).  This post is dedicated to some of the most unique, odd and strange waterfalls found in the province.  So, without further ado:

Waterfalls of the Nakimu Caves

Deep in the wilderness of British Columbia’s Glacier National Park lies the Nakimu Caves, which at over 7km in length is one of the largest limestone cave systems in the world.  The caves were named from a Shuswap word meaning “grumbling spirits”, a nod to the sounds that Cougar Brook makes as it cascades in a series of waterfalls into sinkholes and disappears underground into the cave structure.  Within the Nakimu Caves are no less than four natural waterfalls – Gopher Falls, Bear Falls, Douglas Falls and Whistler Falls.  At least two of these waterfalls occur where their respective streams plunge into sinkholes, while the other two could be similar sinkhole waterfalls or could just as easily be entirely subterranean waterfalls (we have seen extremely little information about all four waterfalls, so its hard to say for sure).  While popular during the early 1900s due to visitation to nearby Glacier House along the Canadian Pacific Railway, because the Nakimu Caves pose numerous dangers and lie amid prime grizzly bear habitat, public access has been restricted since 1935 and thus surveying these waterfalls is an extremely difficult task.

Naiad Falls, Click to view on WWD

Naiad Falls & Tethys Falls

Deep in the Rocky Mountains the behemoth gash known as Icefall Canyon harbors one of North America’s most staggering waterfalls in Cerberus Falls.  However, it’s the nearby companions Naiad Falls and Tethys Falls which are the more interesting attractions.  As Icefall Canyon like much of the Rockies is carved out of Limestone, water finds its way to circumvent the earth in most peculiar ways in this area.  Both Naiad and Tethys Falls spew out of caves in the middle of huge cliff faces – Naiad Falls spraying over 600 feet down the sheer walls of Icefall Canyon in a delicate, lacy show, while Tethys Falls froths forth in a powerful river, the origins of which are simply a mystery.

Emperor Falls - Justin Roberts Photography, Flickr

Emperor Falls

After Mount Robson itself, Emperor Falls may be the single most recognized geologic feature in Mount Robson Provincial Park.  The Robson River hurtles over a cliff and slams on a protruding rock face such that it creates a massive outward explosion of water, causing the river to fall as much as 100 feet away from the cliff face.  Perhaps even more interesting from a geologic standpoint is what the river does as it continues downstream.  Instead of following a more or less linear course, the Robson is diverted into a 1-kilometer long natural trough which follows the rim of the canyon below Emperor Falls.  In so many places the river seems just about to spill over the side of the canyon, but not until it reaches Falls of the Pool nearly 900m downstream does it turn sideways and hurtle into the depths of the chasm.

Niagara Falls

No, not that Niagara Falls.  And actually, not the well known Niagara Falls found within Vancouver Island’s Goldstream Provincial Park either.  This particular Niagara Falls is found isolated at the end of Quesnel Lake just outside of Wells Gray Provincial Park.  Accessible only by boat (or aircraft), Niagara Creek – which is really a river – thunders down a narrow trough in a canyon and just before it reaches the calm waters of Quesnel Lake is split into half a dozen channels by multiple spires of rock jutting into the stream, falling about 250 feet in all.  As Niagara Creek mingles with the lake waters below, another interesting phenomena can be witnessed as the muddy, glacially tinted waters of Niagara Creek mix with the clear blue water of Quesnel Lake.  The effect can, at times, look similar to pouring a glass of chocolate milk into a basin full of blue fruit punch.

Pyramid Creek Falls - somenice, Flickr

Pyramid Creek Falls

Pyramid Creek Falls holds the distinction of being one of the most photographed waterfalls in British Columbia that, for all intents and purposes, can not be accessed.  The falls thunder 300 feet down to join the North Thompson River opposite the Yellowhead Highway between Valemount and Blue River.  The falls can be partially seen from the highway but no trail leads there and a huge river blocks direct access.  Instead, travelers riding the sightseeing Rocky Mountain Explorer train that runs between Vancouver and Jasper National Park will experience a face full of the falls.  As the train crosses Pyramid Creek, riders will be treated to a view of the uniquely shaped falls – one side of the veiling fall plunging over a sheer cliff while the other side slides down a pitched incline and spreads out over a broad pile of talus boulders in a way that the falls look like they slide down the mountain sideways.

Monkman (top left), Shire (top right) and Brooks Falls (bottom) - i4detail, Flickr

Monkman Cascades

Monkman Provincial Park harbors some of the most pristine scenery in all of Canada.  Among the primary attractions are the Monkman Cascades, a series of 10 waterfalls along Monkman Creek as it flows towards the Murray River.  All but one of the waterfalls have official names and all are quite pretty, but a handful of the falls are especially unique for other reasons.  In particular, McGinnis, Monkman and Shire Falls are geologically quite interesting.  As Monkman Creek flows downhill, it intersects a diagonally uplifted fault line at McGinnis Falls.  The creek then parallels the fault, crossing back over it, and then crossing it a third time, this time spilling over Monkman Falls.  Meanwhile nearby a small lake with an underground source feeds a major tributary to Monkman Creek which falls over this same fault line just downstream of Monkman Falls and produces Shire Falls.  Making the scene all the more scenic is the presence of not just a pool below each waterfall, but a lake separating each drop – such that the course of the Monkman Cascades consists of alternating lakes and waterfalls for over three kilometers.

Keyhole Falls

Keyhole Falls is the largest waterfall along the Lillooet River, found about 3 hours north of Vancouver.  The falls were formed when nearby Mount Meager, one of Canada’s most violent volcanoes, erupted with great force and blocked the channel of the Lillooet River.  As the erupted material cooled and solidified, the river began wearing through and eventually carved a narrow slot canyon into the hardened lahar deposits and volcanic rock.  The result is a 100-foot tall waterfall along a river of considerable size which spews

Keyhole Falls - dbsteers, Flickr

out of an extremely narrow canyon into a very wide open basin.  Were access easier than it is, Keyhole Falls would undoubtedly be a well regarded attraction.

High Falls

The countless limestone canyons found throughout the Canadian Rockies are some of the most scenic gorges on the planet, but if you just want to see a big, deep impressive gash in the earth, look no further than High Falls just outside of Squamish.  High Falls Creek thunders over a series of waterfalls totaling 537 feet in height as it steps towards the Squamish River valley – each fall getting progressively taller and cutting deeper into the mountainside until the final leap of the falls hurtles into a 350-foot deep slot that constricts to no more than 5-feet wide at its base.  Hikers visiting the falls can lie on their stomachs and peer into the dizzying depths of the defile and try to pick out the stream at its base (trust us, it’s not as easy as it might sound).  What’s more impressive is that after looking straight down for 300 feet, one must look up another 200 or more feet to just see the top of the cliffs lining the canyon!

High Falls, click to view on WWD

Swiftcurrent Falls

Yet another waterfall taking advantage of the all-too common Limestone bedrock of the Canadian Rockies, but this time perhaps to a detriment of the waterfall.  Swiftcurrent Creek is a large river originating from one of the largest glaciers in Mount Robson Provincial Park.  Before the creek can merge with the Fraser River, it has to circumvent a nearly vertical 1,700 foot tall cliff.  One would think that a waterfall of this size would be headline-grabbing, but thanks to that ubiquitous Limestone, the creek has managed to carve itself deeply into the side of the mountain such that the waterfall itself is situated within a narrow, twisting slot canyon, with no more than a fifth of the falls visible on the surface.  Geologically this is a fascinating feature, but were the entire waterfall visible instead, we’d probably be discussing Swiftcurrent Falls as the best waterfall in Canada instead of just being neat.

Natural Bridge, click to view on WWD

Natural Bridge of the Kicking Horse

And capping off this list we have one of the biggest tourist traps in the Canadian Rockies – the blandly titled Natural Bridge along the Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park.  While not specifically identified as a waterfall, make no mistake the Kicking Horse take a tumble here.  Of course, because the river effectively dives underground, emerging at the foot of what seems to be a 30-foot tall cliff, you might be excused for not realizing this is, in fact a waterfall.  The volume of the river is the main factor which makes it lesser than obvious, with as much as 10,000 cubic feet of water flowing over the falls (or perhaps under the rock is a more apt phrase), most of what can be seen is a frothy river surging into a solid wall, followed by a frothy river surging out of a huge boiling pool on the other side of the wall.  Not terribly impressive as waterfalls go, but its certainly a great way to appreciate the power of water.

Part of the reason we went several years without any updates on the old website is we were finding so much new information that it wasn’t worth adding it to the old database while we were simultaneously building this one.  As a result, we’ve amassed a great deal of new data which has allowed us to significantly re-work our list of the World’s 100 Best waterfalls.  Our initial intention was to compile this list based purely on the ratings generated for each waterfall, but unfortunately we just don’t have enough data to accurately and fairly make that a reality yet.  So for the time being, Dean and I have compiled a list of what we feel are the 100 Best Waterfalls on earth.  Yes, this list is skewed with our personal bias.  Yes, we undoubtedly have left some worthy waterfalls off the list.  But we will also update it accordingly as we come across new information and eventually – once we have enough data compiled – we will switch to a system which generates a list based on the 100 highest rated waterfalls based on our ratings system.

Because of the rush to get this website up and publicly functional we opted to release our revised Top 100 list in segments of 10 waterfalls at a time.  Of course this has the added benefit of helping to build a little suspense to see what will make it to the Top 10.  Maybe with a little sleuthing you can figure it out yourselves.  So, without further ado, we present the World Waterfall Database’s Top 100 Waterfalls on Earth, Part 1.  Ideally we’ll release a new set of 10 waterfalls every other week or so (perhaps at shorter intervals even) and have the whole Top 100 list online by sometime around the end of August.

More to come…stay tuned.