A tour to the world’s largest waterfall is a thrilling experience that every traveler should add on his/her bucket list. Located on River Zambezi in the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is a natural wonder worth exploring. The falls’ extreme width of 1,708 meters (5,604ft) and the river height of 108 meters (354 ft) qualify Victoria falls as the world’s largest and strongest waterfall. The falls were first discovered in 1955 by David Livingston the explorer during his missionary works in Africa. The mighty falls are named Victoria after the Queen of England. Local people who live adjacent to the waterfall call it “Mosi – oa-Tunya” translated as the “smoke that thunders”. All communities and national parks in the nearby are called after Victoria Falls.
Just like other falls, Victoria Falls are formed as a result of water pressure. The mighty falls are formed when river Zambezi plummets in a single vertical drop into a transverse chasm 1,7 08 meters wide before it’s carved by the strong waters passed the fracture zone in the basalt plateau of over 80 meters extending for more other 108 meters. The strong waters of river Zambezi squeeze and pour through a 110 meters gorge flowing for a distance of roughly 150 meters before forming a zigzag series of gorges. Water then enters into a second gorge and sharply turn right falling into a deep pool also called the boiling pot. The waterfalls through different gorges at different intervals. The first gorge is where the river falls into forming victoria falls, the second gorge at 250meters is south of falls spanned by the falls bridge, the third gorge at 600 meters has the falls power station, fourth gorge at 1.15 kilometers, fifth gorge at 2.25 kilometers and Songwe Gorge at 5.3 kilometers. The last gorge is named after river Songwe which flows from northeast of Zambia.
About the formation of Victoria Falls
Just like other falls, Victoria Falls are formed as a result of water pressure. The mighty falls are formed when river Zambezi plummets in a single vertical drop into a transverse chasm 1,7 08 meters wide before it’s carved by the strong waters passed the fracture zone in the basalt plateau of over 80 meters extending for more other 108 meters. The strong waters of river Zambezi squeeze and pour through a 110 meters gorge flowing for a distance of roughly 150 meters before forming a zigzag series of gorges. Water then enters into a second gorge and sharply turn right falling into a deep pool also called the boiling pot. The waterfalls through different gorges at different intervals. The first gorge is where the river falls into forming victoria falls, the second gorge at 250meters is south of falls spanned by the falls bridge, the third gorge at 600 meters has the falls power station, fourth gorge at 1.15 kilometers, fifth gorge at 2.25 kilometers and Songwe Gorge at 5.3 kilometers. The last gorge is named after river Songwe which flows from northeast of Zambia.
Tourism to Victoria Falls
Despite its discovery in 1955, Victoria Falls was not visited until 1905. This was after the construction of Bulawayo railway, which gave people easy access to the mighty falls. Also, local people feared the thundering smoke of the waterfall, something they connected to the spiritual world. However, the number of travelers to Victoria Falls increased until 1960 during the guerrilla struggle in Zimbabwe following the collapse of British colonial rule in Zimbabwe. The water levels of Victoria falls reach its peak in April at the end of the rainy seasons. During this period, the water level rises on average to 500,000,000 letters flowing down. Water levels drop in October and November annually. During the dry seasons, water levels of River Zambezi reduce tremendously to the point that one can walk through some parts f the waterfall.Relate Tour Safaris
