The Magic Of Victoria Falls

Sandwiched between the south African countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe is the omnipotent Victoria Falls, ranking among the most spectacular natural wonders in the world. Cleaving through the tropical landscape with a fortitude known only by Mother Nature, this 1.7- kilometer wide, 108-meter tall waterfall is considered the largest in the world, thanks to its roaring height and width.

Known by locals as the “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” or Smoke that Thunders, this massive curtain of water unleashes the entire Zambezi River from its fertile palm. The gargantuan cascade, so vast it incites a duality of dread and awe, then plunges downward, its sheet of water dropping into the unhinged jaw of the basaltic chasm below.

So timeless and powerful is Victoria’s torrent of water, that even David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer who ventured into Africa in the 19th century, gushed in his 1865 Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries, “On reaching that lip, and peering over the giddy height, the wondrous and unique character of the magnificent cascade at once burst upon us.” He continues, “It is rather a hopeless task to endeavor to convey an idea of it in words, since…even by a number of views, could but impart a faint impression of the glorious scene.” Well over a century later, Victoria Falls continues to have an indelible impact on the memories of its spectators.

Aside from its colossal height and width, Victoria Falls’ prominence is attributed to its geological makeup, which rivals some of the world’s greatest waterfalls, including Niagara Falls. Whereas Niagara was formed the gradual recession of rock over which the Niagara River falls, Victoria Falls has been, according to Livingstone, “formed by a crack right across the river, in the hard, black basaltic rock which there formed the bed of the Zambesi.” This mighty rift explains why spectators can view the entire length of Victoria head-on, in a frontal panorama that is ineffably breathtaking. In fact, visitors can stand a mere 200 feet from the waterfall, making for an equally intimate excursion.

Each year, visitors flock to Victoria Falls’ to humble themselves before this powerful cascade. Rendered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, Victoria Falls was inscribed for “both geological and ecological values,” according to unesco.org.

By: Enid Glasgow

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Enid Glasgow is a travel writer who enjoys traveling to remote destinations. She enjoys traveling with Big Five Tours, providers of luxury South Africa tours.