Victoria Falls / Mosi-oa-Tunya

Main falls of Mosi-oa-Tunya or Victoria Falls
Location	Livingstone, Zambia Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Coordinates	17°55′28″S 25°51′24″E / -17.92444, 25.85667
Total height	108 metres (360 ft)
Number of drops	1
Average flow rate	1088 m³/s (38,430 cu ft/s)

The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that thunders) is a waterfall situated in southern Africa between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are, by some measures, the largest waterfall in the world, as well as being among the most unusual in form, and having arguably the most diverse and easily seen wildlife of any major waterfall site. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 468 KB) First uploaded to de. ... Memorial to David Livingstone Livingstone, main street Livingstone also Maramba is a town and provincial capital in Zambia, located about 10 km from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. ... Victoria Falls from the far side of the gorge Victoria Falls is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfalls. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... For other uses, see Waterfall (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Waterfall (disambiguation). ...

Introduction

At lower water levels, more of the First Gorge can be seen.

Mosi-oa-Tunya is the name used by the local people and Victoria Falls is the later name given by Europeans (see pre-colonial history, below).

Although Victoria Falls constitute neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, the claim it is the largest is based on a width of 1.7 kilometres (1 mi) and height of 108 meters (3 60 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls' maximum flow rate compares well with that of other major waterfalls (see table below).^[1] Angel Falls (indigenous name: Parekupa-meru) is the worlds highest free-falling, freshwater waterfall at 979 m (3,212 ft), with an uninterrupted drop of 807 m (2,648 ft). ... The Khone Falls is a waterfall on the Mekong River in Laos in the Ban Hang Khone province near its border with Cambodia. ...

The unusual form of Victoria Falls enables virtually the whole width of the falls to be viewed face-on, at the same level as the top, from as close as 60 metres (200 ft), because the whole Zambezi River drops into a deep, narrow slotlike chasm, connected to a long series of gorges. Few other waterfalls allow such a close approach on foot.^[2] Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ... USGS image In geology, a rift is a place where the Earths crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart. ... Grand Canyon, Arizona Noravank Monastery complex and canyon in Armenia. ...

Many of Africa's animals and birds can be seen in the immediate vicinity of Victoria Falls, and the continent's range of river fish is also well represented in the Zambezi, enabling wildlife viewing and sport fishing to be combined with sightseeing.^[3]

Victoria Falls are one of Africa's major tourist attractions, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (see box below). The falls are shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and each country has a national park to protect them and a town serving as a tourism centre: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Livingstone in Zambia, and Victoria Falls National Park and the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.^[4] (Latitude/longitude -17.925292 25.857611) A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - ‘The Smoke Which Thunders’, is home to the mighty and spectacular Victoria Falls. ... Memorial to David Livingstone Livingstone, main street Livingstone also Maramba is a town and provincial capital in Zambia, located about 10 km from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. ... Open to visitors throughout the year, the Victoria Falls National Park protects the south bank of the Zambezi river, just below the famous Victoria falls. ... Victoria Falls from the far side of the gorge Victoria Falls is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfalls. ...

Physical features

The Eastern Cataract, on the Zambian side.

For a considerable distance above the falls, the Zambezi flows over a level sheet of basalt, in a shallow valley bounded by low and distant sandstone hills. The river's course is dotted with numerous tree-covered islands, which increase in number as the river approaches the falls. There are no mountains, escarpments, or deep valleys which might be expected to create a waterfall, only flat plateau extending hundreds of kilometres in all directions.^[2][3] For the cities, see Basalt, Colorado and Basalt, Idaho. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley (also called a vale or dale) is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... For other meanings, see Plateau (disambiguation). ...

The falls are formed as the full width of the river plummets in a single vertical drop into a chasm 60–120 metres (200–400 ft) wide, carved by its waters along a fracture zone in the basalt plateau. The depth of the chasm, called the First Gorge, varies from 80 metres (262 ft) at its western end to 108 metres (360 ft) in the centre. The only outlet to the First Gorge is a 110-metre-wide (360 ft) gap about two-thirds of the way across the width of the falls from the western end, through which the whole volume of the river pours into the Victoria Falls gorges.^[2][3] Gorges, the plural of the French word for throat, usually refers to a canyon. ...

There are two islands on the crest of the falls that are large enough to divide the curtain of water even at full flood: Boaruka Island (or Cataract Island) near the western bank, and Livingstone Island near the middle. At less than full flood, additional islets divide the curtain of water into separate parallel streams. The main streams are named, in order from Zimbabwe (west) to Zambia (east): Leaping Water (called Devil's Cataract by some), Main Falls, Rainbow Falls (the highest) and the Eastern Cataract.^[3]

Flood and dry season flow rates

‘The Smoke that Thunders’, rainy season, 1972 . . . and dry season, September 2003
Size and flow rate of Victoria Falls with Niagara and Iguazu for comparison
Parameters	Victoria Falls		Niagara Falls		Iguazu Falls
Height in metres and feet:[1]	108 m	360 ft	51 m	167 ft	64-82 m	210-269 ft
Width in metres and feet:[1]	1700 m	5577 ft	1203 m	3947 ft	2700 m	8858 ft
Flow rate units (vol/s):	m³/s	cu ft/s	m³/s	cu ft/s	m³/s	cu ft/s
Mean annual flow rate:[1]	1088	38,430	2407	85,000	1746	61,600
Mean monthly flow[5] — max:	3000	105,944
— min:[5]	300	10,594
— 10yr max:[5]	6000	211,888
Highest recorded flow:[1]	12,600	444,965	8269	292,000	12,800	452,000
Notes: See references for explanation of measurements. For water, cubic metres per second = tonnes per second. Half the water approaching Niagara is diverted for hydroelectric power. Iguazu has two drops; height given for biggest drop and total height. 10 falls have greater or equal flow rates, but are not as high as Iguazu and Victoria Falls.[5]

The Zambezi basin above the falls experiences a rainy season from late November to early April, and a dry season the rest of the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May with a peak in April,^[5] The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 400 metres (1,300 ft), and sometimes even twice as high, and is visible from up to 50 km (30 miles) away. At full moon, a "moonbow" can be seen in the spray instead of the usual daylight rainbow. During the flood season, however, it is impossible to see the foot of the falls and most of its face, and the walks along the cliff opposite it are in a constant shower and shrouded in mist. Close to the edge of the cliff, spray shoots upward like inverted rain, especially at Zambia's Knife-Edge Bridge.^[3] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (904x611, 115 KB) Victoria Falls from the air, taken from Rhodesian side in 1972 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Victoria Falls ... Victoria Falls from the sky, September 2003 Photo by Vberger This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... For other uses, see Niagara Falls (disambiguation). ... Devils throat from the Brazilian side. ... The wet season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ...

As the dry season takes effect, the islets on the crest become wider and more numerous, and in September to January up to half of the rocky face of the falls may become dry and the bottom of the First Gorge can be seen along most of its length. At this time it becomes possible (though not necessarily safe) to walk across some stretches of the river at the crest. It is also possible to walk to the bottom of the First Gorge at the Zimbabwean side. The minimum flow, which occurs in November, is around a tenth of the April figure; this variation in flow is greater than that of other major falls, and causes Victoria Falls' annual average flow rate to be lower than might be expected based on the maximum flow.^[3]

Victoria Falls are roughly twice the height of North America's Niagara Falls and well over twice the width of its Horseshoe Falls. In height and width Victoria Falls is rivalled only by South America's Iguazu Falls. See table for comparisons. For other uses, see Niagara Falls (disambiguation). ... Horseshoe Falls, viewed from 16th floor of a hotel on Fallsview Blvd Horseshoe Falls, viewed from the pathway running along side the falls in Niagara Falls, Canada The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is a waterfall on the Niagara River, located mostly on the Canadian side of... Devils throat from the Brazilian side. ...

The Victoria Falls Gorges

Satellite image showing the broad Zambezi falling into the narrow cleft and subsequent series of zigzagging gorges (top of picture is north).

Victoria Falls Bridge spanning the Second Gorge.

The whole volume of the Zambezi River pours through the First Gorge's 110-metre-wide (360 ft) exit for a distance of about 150 metres (500 ft), then enters a zigzagging series of gorges designated by the order in which the river reaches them. Water entering the Second Gorge makes a sharp right turn and has carved out a deep pool there called the Boiling Pot. Reached via a steep footpath from the Zambian side, it is about 150 metres (500 ft) across. Its surface is smooth at low water, but at high water is marked by enormous, slow swirls and heavy boiling turbulence.^[3] Objects that are swept over the falls, including the occasional hippo or even human, are frequently found swirling about here or washed up at the north-east end of the Second Gorge. This is where the bodies of Mrs Moss and Mr Orchard, mutilated by crocodiles, were found in 1910 after two canoes were capsized by a hippo at Long Island above the falls.^[6] Download high resolution version (1000x662, 169 KB)Victoria Falls seen from the International Space Station. ... Download high resolution version (1000x662, 169 KB)Victoria Falls seen from the International Space Station. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 76 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Victoria Falls Metadata This file contains... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 76 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Victoria Falls Metadata This file contains...

The principal gorges are (see reference for note about these measurements):^[7][8]

• First Gorge: the one the river falls into at Victoria Falls
• Second Gorge: (spanned by the Victoria Falls Bridge), 250 m south of falls, 2.15 km long (270 yd south, 2350 yd long)
• Third Gorge: 600 m south, 1.95 km long (650 yd south, 2100 yd long)
• Fourth Gorge: 1.15 km south, 2.25 km long (1256 yd south, 2460 yd long)
• Fifth Gorge: 2.55 km south, 3.2 km long (1.5 mi south, 2 mi long)
• Songwe Gorge: 5.3 km south, 3.3 km long, (3.3 mi south, 2 mi long) named after the small Songwe River coming from the north-east, and the deepest at 140 m (460 ft), at the end of the dry season.
• Batoka Gorge: the gorge below the Songwe is called the Batoka Gorge (which is also used as an umbrella name for all the gorges). It is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) long (the straight line distance to its end is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of the falls) and takes the river through the basalt plateau to the valley in which Lake Kariba now lies.

The walls of the gorges are nearly vertical and generally about 120 metres (400 ft) high, but the level of the river in them varies by up to 20 metres (65 ft) between wet and dry seasons.^[3] For the cities, see Basalt, Colorado and Basalt, Idaho. ... For other meanings, see Plateau (disambiguation). ... The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River basin in Southern Africa (28. ...

Formation

"Leaping Waters", the westernmost cataract of Victoria Falls and the start of a line of weakness where the next falls will form.

The recent geological history of Victoria Falls can be seen in the form of the gorges below the falls. The basalt plateau over which the Upper Zambezi flows has many large cracks filled with weaker sandstone. In the area of the current falls the largest cracks run roughly east to west (some run nearly north-east to south-west), with smaller north-south cracks connecting them. By Michael W. Carroll Taken from http://www. ... By Michael W. Carroll Taken from http://www. ...

Over at least 100,000 years, the falls have been receding upstream through the Batoka Gorges, eroding the sandstone-filled cracks to form the gorges. The river's course in the current vicinity of the falls is north to south, so it opens up the large east-west cracks across its full width, then it cuts back through a short north-south crack to the next east-west one. The river has fallen in different eras into different chasms which now form a series of sharply zig-zagging gorges downstream from the falls.^[3]

Ignoring some dry sections, the Second to Fifth and the Songwe Gorges each represents a past site of the falls at a time when they fell into one long straight chasm as they do now.^[3] Their sizes indicate that we are not living in the age of the widest ever Mosi-oa-Tunya.

The falls have already started cutting back the next major gorge, at the dip in one side of the "Leaping Waters" (also known as "Devil's Cataract") section of the falls. This is not actually a north-south crack, but a large east-north-east line of weakness across the river, and that is where the next full width falls will eventually form.

Further geological history of the course of the Zambezi River is in the article of that name. Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ...

Pre-colonial history

Archaeological sites around the falls have yielded Homo habilis stone artefacts from 3 million years ago, 50,000-year-old Middle Stone Age tools and Late Stone Age (10,000 and 2,000 years ago) weapons, adornments and digging tools.^[4] Iron-using Khoisan hunter-gatherers (bushmen) displaced these Stone Age people and in turn were displaced by Bantu tribes such as the southern Tonga people known as the Batoka/Tokalea, who called the falls Shungu na mutitima. The Matabele, later arrivals, named them aManz' aThunqayo, and the Batswana and Makololo (whose language is used by the Lozi people) call them Mosi-oa-Tunya. All these names mean essentially "the smoke that thunders".^[9] Khoisan (increasingly commonly spelled Khoesan or Khoe-San) is the name for two major ethnic groups of southern Africa. ... In anthropology, the hunter-gatherer way of life is that led by certain societies of the Neolithic Era based on the exploitation of wild plants and animals. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (light brown) vs. ... The Tokaleya people are indigenous to the area surrounding Victoria Falls. ... The Matabele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shakas army. ... TSWANA (singular Motswana, plural Batswana) is the name of a Southern African people, and of its Bantu language. ... The Makololo are a people of Southern Africa, closely related to the Basotho, from which they separated themselves in the early 19th century. ... The flag of the Lozi people The Lozi people are an ethnic group primarily of western Zambia, inhabiting the region of Barotseland. ...

The first European to see the falls was David Livingstone on 17 November 1855, during his 1852–56 journey from the upper Zambezi to the mouth of the river. The falls were well known to local tribes, and Voortrekker hunters may have known of them, as may the Arabs under a name equivalent to "the end of the world". Europeans were sceptical of their reports, perhaps thinking that the lack of mountains and valleys on the plateau made a large falls unlikely.^[10][11] David Livingstone (19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873) was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and explorer in central Africa. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Voortrekker Monument built in 1949. ...

Livingstone had been told about the falls before he reached them from upriver and was paddled across to a small island that now bears the name Livingstone Island. Livingstone had previously been impressed by the Ngonye Falls further upstream, but found the new falls much more impressive, and gave them their English name in honour of Queen Victoria. He wrote of the falls, "No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight."^[3] Ngonye Falls, western Zambia Ngonye Falls is a waterfall on the Zambezi river in Western Zambia, near the town of Sioma and a few hundred kilometres upstream from the Victoria Falls. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ...

In 1860, Livingstone returned to the area and made a detailed study of the falls with John Kirk. Other early European visitors included Portuguese explorer Serpa Pinto, Czech explorer Emil Holub, who made the first detailed plan of the falls and its surroundings in 1875 (published in 1880),^[12] and British artist Thomas Baines, who executed some of the earliest paintings of the falls. Until the area was opened up by the building of the railway in 1905, though, the falls were seldom visited by other Europeans. John Kirk (Dec 19, 1832 – Jan 15, 1922) was a Scottish physician, naturalist, companion to explorer David Livingstone, and British administrator in Zanzibar. ... Alexandre Alberto da Rocha de Serpa Pinto (April 20, 1846 - December 28, 1900) was a Portuguese explorer and colonial administrator who crossed southern and central Africa on a difficult expedition and mapped the interior of the continent. ... Dr. Emil Holub Emil Holub was Czech doctor, traveller in Africa and writer. ... Self-portrait, c1865. ...

History since 1900

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Victoria Falls' Second Gorge (with bridge) and Third Gorge (right). The peninsular cliffs are in Zambia, the outer cliffs in Zimbabwe.
State Party	Zambia and  Zimbabwe
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, viii
Reference	509
Region†	Africa
Inscription history
Inscription	1989  (13th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (983x683, 878 KB) Summary Related material on Commons Image:Victoria Falls bridge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (983x683, 878 KB) Summary Related material on Commons Image:Victoria Falls bridge. ... As of 2006, there are a total of 830 World Heritage Sites located in 138 State Parties. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Zambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Zimbabwe. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

The Victoria Falls Bridge initiates tourism

European settlement of the Victoria Falls area started around 1900 in response to the desire of Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company for mineral rights and imperial rule north of the Zambezi, and the exploitation of other natural resources such as timber forests north-east of the falls, and ivory and animal skins. Before 1905, the river was crossed above the falls at the Old Drift, by dugout canoe or a barge towed across with a steel cable.^[6] Rhodes' vision of a Cape-Cairo railway drove plans for the first bridge across the Zambezi and he insisted it be built where the spray from the falls would fall on passing trains, so the site at the Second Gorge was chosen. See the main article Victoria Falls Bridge for details.^[3] From 1905 the railway offered accessible travel to whites from as far as the Cape in the south and from 1909, as far as the Belgian Congo in the north. The falls became an increasingly popular attraction during British colonial rule of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), with the town of Victoria Falls becoming the main tourist centre. Cecil Rhodes Cecil John Rhodes, PC, DCL, (July 5, 1853 – March 26, 1902[1]) was a British-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. ... The flag of the British South Africa Company The British South Africa Company (BSAC) was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company, Ltd. ... Mineral rights, mining rights, oil rights or drilling rights, are the rights to remove minerals, oil, or sometimes water, that may be contained in and under some land. ... A dugout is a boat which is basically a hollowed tree trunk. ... Rhodes: Cape to Cairo The Cape-Cairo Railway is an uncompleted project to cross Africa from south to north by rail. ... Victoria Falls Bridge The Victoria Falls Bridge crosses over the Zambezi River just below the Victoria Falls, linking Zimbabwe to Zambia. ... Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1]  - Type City council  - Mayor Helen Zille  - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area  - Total 2,499 km² (964. ... Motto: Travail et Progres (Work and Progress) The Belgian Congo Capital Léopoldville/Leopoldstad Political structure Colony Governor  - 1908-1910 Baron Wahis  - 1946-1951 Eugène Jacques Pierre Louis Jungers  - 1958-1960 Henri Arthur Adolf Marie Christopher Cornelis History  - Established 15 November, 1908  - Congolese independence 30 June, 1960 The Belgian... Flag of Northern Rhodesia. ... Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated immediately to the north of South Africa, known today as Zimbabwe. ... Victoria Falls from the far side of the gorge Victoria Falls is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfalls. ...

Zambia's independence and Rhodesia's UDI

In 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia. The following year, Rhodesia made a unilateral declaration of independence that was not recognized by Zambia, the United Kingdom or the vast majority of states, and which led to war on the southern side of the Zambezi: the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia War. In response to the emerging crisis, in 1966 Zambia restricted or stopped border crossings; it did not re-open the border completely until 1980. Visitor numbers began to drop, particularly on the Rhodesian (Zimbabwean) side. The war affected Zambia through military incursions, causing the latter to impose security measures including the stationing of soldiers to restrict access to the gorges and some parts of the falls. This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ... This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ... Combatants Rhodesia ZANLA ZIPRA Government of Botswana Government of Tanzania Government of Zambia Mozambican Liberation Front [1] Commanders Ian Smith P. K. van der Byl Peter Walls ZANU: Robert Mugabe ZAPU: Joshua Nkomo Casualties unknown unknown Civilians killed = Around 30,000 The Rhodesian Bush War —­ as it was known at...

Zimbabwean independence in 1980 brought comparative peace, and the 1980s witnessed renewed levels of tourism and the development of the region as a centre for adventure sports. Activities that gained popularity in the area include whitewater rafting in the gorges, bungee jumping from the bridge, game fishing, horse riding, kayaking, and flights over the falls.^[4] Extreme sports (now also known as action sports) is a general, somewhat hazily-defined term for a collection of newer sports involving adrenaline-inducing action. ... Rafting is a recreational activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other body of water. ... Bungee Jump in Normandy, France (Souleuvre Viaduct) Bungee jumping (or bungy jumping) is the sport that originated from New Zealand and was created by maverick daredevil A J Hackett, and his original jump from a bridge in Greenhithe, Auckland. ... Big-game fishing, sometimes called Offshore sport fishing or Offshore game fishing, is a form of recreational fishing, targeting large bony fish such as tuna and marlin in the open sea, often some distance from land and, in some fishing grounds, out of sight of land. ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... Sea Kayaking at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Australia Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. ...

Tourism in recent years

Victoria Falls entrance

Tourists swimming in a naturally formed safe^{[citation needed]} pool, accessed via Livingstone Island.

By the end of the 1990s, almost 300,000 people were visiting the falls annually, and this was expected to rise to over a million in the next decade. Unlike the game parks, Victoria Falls has more Zimbabwean and Zambian visitors than international tourists as they are accessible by bus and train and therefore comparatively inexpensive to reach.^[4] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Victoria Falls ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Victoria Falls ...

The two countries permit tourists to make day trips from one side to the other without the necessity of obtaining a visa in advance, but visas issued at the border are expensive, particularly upon entering Zimbabwe. Entry visa valid in Schengen treaty countries. ...

The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there. However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between supporters and opponents of president Robert Mugabe increased. In 2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity, with rates reaching US$630 per night.^[13][14]The rapid development has prompted the United Nations to consider revoking the Falls' status as a World Heritage Site.^[15] In addition, problems of waste disposal and a lack of effective management of the falls' environment are a concern.^[16] Mugabe redirects here. ... USD redirects here. ...

Natural environment

Two white rhinos at Mosi-oa-Tunya national park in May 2005. They are not indigenous, but were imported from South Africa.

Image File history File linksMetadata White_rhino_Livingstone. ... Image File history File linksMetadata White_rhino_Livingstone. ... Binomial name Ceratotherium simum Burchell, 1817 The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exists and is one of the few megaherbivore species left. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ...

National parks

The two national parks at the falls are relatively small — Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is 66 square kilometres (16,309 acres) and Victoria Falls National Park is 23 square kilometres (5,683 acres). However, next to the latter on the southern bank is the Zambezi National Park, extending 40 kilometers (25 mi) west along the river.^[3] Animals can move between the two Zimbabwean parks and can also reach Matetsi Safari Area, Kazuma Pan National Park and Hwange National Park to the south.^[4] Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - ‘The Smoke Which Thunders’, is home to the mighty and spectacular Victoria Falls. ... Open to visitors throughout the year, the Victoria Falls National Park protects the south bank of the Zambezi river, just below the famous Victoria falls. ... Kazuma Pan National Park is situated in Zimbabwes extreme north-western corner. ... Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe. ...

On the Zambian side, fences and the outskirts of Livingstone tend to confine most animals to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. In addition fences put up by lodges in response to crime restrict animal movement.^[16]

Vegetation

Mopane woodland savannah predominates in the area, with smaller areas of Miombo and Rhodesian Teak woodland and scrubland savannah. Riverine forest with palm trees lines the banks and islands above the falls. The most notable aspect of the area's vegetation though is the rainforest nurtured by the spray from the falls, containing plants rare for the area such as pod mahogany, ebony, ivory palm, wild date palm and a number of creepers and lianas.^[4] Vegetation has suffered in recent droughts, and so have the animals that depend on it, particularly antelope. Binomial name Colophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth. ... Distribution of miombo forests (the dotted area), according to Campbell et al. ... Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are a grassland biome located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... For other uses, see Ebony (disambiguation). ...

Wildlife

The national parks contain abundant wildlife including sizable populations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of antelope. Lion and leopard are only occasionally seen. Vervet monkeys and baboons are common. The river above the falls contains large populations of hippopotamus and crocodile. Elephants cross the river in the dry season at particular crossing points.^[4] Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas antiquus † Elephas beyeri † Elephas celebensis † Elephas cypriotes † Elephas ekorensis † Elephas falconeri † Elephas iolensis † Elephas planifrons † Elephas platycephalus † Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pachyderm, and the only remaining family in the order Proboscidea... Species Syncerus caffer Subspecies Syncerus is a genus of bovines found in Africa, the only extant member of which is the African Buffalo, or Cape Buffalo. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Range map The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species. ... For other uses, see Zebra (disambiguation). ... This article is about the herbivorous mammals. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Species Chlorocebus sabaceus Chlorocebus aethiops Chlorocebus djamdjamensis Chlorocebus tantalus Chlorocebus pygerythrus Chlorocebus cynosuros The vervet monkeys or green monkeys are primates from the family of Old World monkeys. ... Species Papio hamadryas Papio papio Papio anubis Papio cynocephalus Papio ursinus The Baboon is the largest non-hominid member of the primate order. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758[2] Range map[1] The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), from the Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopotamos, hippos meaning horse and potamos meaning river), often shortened to hippo, is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal, one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other being the Pygmy... For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation). ...

Klipspringers and clawless otters can be glimpsed in the gorges, but they are mainly known for 35 species of raptors. The Taita Falcon, Black Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Augur Buzzard breed there. Above the falls, herons, Fish Eagles and numerous kinds of waterfowl are common.^[4] Binomial name Oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmerman, 1783) The Klipspringer (literally rock jumper in Afrikaans), Oreotragus oreotragus, also known colloquially as a mvundla (from Xhosa umvundla, meaning rabbit), is a small African antelope that lives from the Cape of Good Hope all the way up East Africa and into Ethiopia. ... This article is about the carnivorous mammals. ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ... Binomial name Falco fasciinucha Reichenow & Neumann, 1895 The Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha is one of the smallest Falcons in the Southern African Sub-region. ... Binomial name Ictinaetus malayensis (Temminck, 1822) The Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) is a bird of prey. ... Binomial name Tunstall, 1771 Global range (shaded green, dark dots on islands) The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), occasionally known in North America as the Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 380–530 millimetres (15–21 in) long. ... Binomial name Buteo rufofuscus (Forster, 1798) The Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) is a 55-60 cm long African bird of prey with three main subspecies. ... For other uses, see Heron (disambiguation). ... Fish eagle can refer to several birds: African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer Sanfords Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus sanfordi Madagascar Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vociferoides Lesser Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ...

Just last year, poachers killed one of the rhinos and injured the other.

Fish

The river is home to 39 species of fish below the falls and 89 species above it, illustrating the effectiveness of the falls as a dividing barrier between the upper and lower Zambezi.^[4] For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ...

Media

Victoria Falls in the winter season.

See also

• Zambezi River
• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
• Livingstone
• Victoria Falls National Park
• Town of Victoria Falls

Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ... Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - ‘The Smoke Which Thunders’, is home to the mighty and spectacular Victoria Falls. ... Memorial to David Livingstone Livingstone, main street Livingstone also Maramba is a town and provincial capital in Zambia, located about 10 km from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. ... Open to visitors throughout the year, the Victoria Falls National Park protects the south bank of the Zambezi river, just below the famous Victoria falls. ... Victoria Falls from the far side of the gorge Victoria Falls is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfalls. ...

References

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company in New York City, New York, USA, with Asian and European editions, and a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million as of 2006, with 931,000 paying online subscribers. ... is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... This article is about the day. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Victoria Falls

• A useful list of further reading is included on the United Nations Environment Programme website's page for Mosi-oa-Tunya.
• Zambia National Tourist Bureau page on Victoria Falls
• Visit Zambia Campaign
• Zimbabwe Tourist Authority page on Victoria Falls
• NASA Earth Observatory page
• Entry on UNESCO World Heritage site
• The first photographs of Victoria Falls from 1891
• TIME magazine article about tourism in the area
• View a short video embedded in Google Maps
• Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) in Pictures, virtual tour
• Photos and video of Victoria Falls