World's Tallest Waterfall: Angel Falls in Venezuela

The largest waterfall on Earth is Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela.

Vital Statistics

• Total height: 979 meters (3,212 ft)
• Uninterrupted plunge: 807 meters (2,648 ft) — world's highest single drop
• Width: ~150 m at base (varies seasonally)
• Flow: Highly seasonal (May–Nov rainy season; trickle in dry)
• Location: Canaima National Park, Bolívar State, Venezuela (UNESCO World Heritage)
• Source: Churún River → Auyán-tepui (tabletop mountain/tepui)

Discovery & Name

• 1933: US aviator Jimmie Angel crash-landed on Auyán-tepui; falls named for him
• Indigenous name: Kerepakupai Merú (Pemón: "waterfall of the deepest place")
• 2009: Chávez proposed official rename to indigenous name; not universally adopted

Why It's the Tallest

Tepuis (tabletop mountains) of the Guiana Shield create sheer cliffs from ancient sandstone. Angel Falls drops from Auyán-tepui's rim—nearly 1 km of freefall before hitting the talus slope.

Visiting

• Access: Fly to Canaima camp → motorized canoe (4–6 hrs) → hike (1 hr) to viewpoint
• Best time: June–December (rainy season = full flow)
• Alternative: Scenic flights from Canaima/Puerto Ordaz

Notable Runners-Up

• Tugela Falls (South Africa): 948 m (5 tiers; 2nd tallest)
• Tres Hermanas (Peru): 914 m
• Olo'upena (Hawaii, USA): 900 m
• Yumbilla (Peru): 896 m

Angel Falls stands alone in sheer vertical majesty—a Venezuelan treasure and planetary wonder.