The River’s Leap#
On Africa’s Zambezi River, a river reached the edge of a cliff.
It didn’t stop. It leaped off, “flying” straight down.
This is Victoria Falls — one of the largest waterfalls in the world.
A “Water Curtain” 1,700 Meters Wide#
How spectacular is Victoria Falls?
It’s 1,700 meters wide — about 20 football fields laid end to end.
It’s 108 meters tall — higher than a 30-story building.
Every second, 7,500 cubic meters of water crash over the cliff — equal to 30 swimming pools.
The water hits the bottom and sprays mist 300 meters into the air — higher than many skyscrapers.
The locals gave it a name: “The Smoke That Thunders.”
Because you can hear the roar from 30 kilometers away.
Devil’s Pool: Swimming at the Edge#
At the top of Victoria Falls, there’s a natural pool called Devil’s Pool.
Every dry season (September to December), the water level drops, revealing a shallow area at the cliff’s edge.
Brave visitors can lie at the pool’s edge and look over — below is a 108-meter drop!
It’s被称为 “the world’s most dangerous swimming pool.”
Sunset on the Zambezi#
Victoria Falls isn’t just spectacular during the day — it’s romantic at dusk.
On the Zambezi River upstream from the falls, watching the sunset from a small boat is one of Africa’s most beautiful experiences.
The sun slowly sinks into the river, the sky turns orange-red, hippos poke their heads out of the water, elephants drink at the riverbank…
In that moment, you feel: the world is so big, and so beautiful.
Learn from the World#
Victoria Falls teaches us one thing: sometimes, being brave enough to take one step lets you see the most beautiful scenery.
The river reached the cliff’s edge, didn’t hesitate, and leaped — creating the most spectacular waterfall in the world.
Knowledge Card#
- Location: Border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa
- Type: Natural Wonder
- Key Numbers: 1,700 m wide, 108 m tall, 7,500 cubic meters per second
- Discovered by: British explorer David Livingstone in 1855, named after Queen Victoria
- Fun Fact: Victoria Falls creates the world’s largest “water mist screen” — on full moon nights, a moonbow (rainbow made by moonlight) appears in the mist
- UNESCO: Listed as a World Heritage Site in 1989
- Source: UNESCO