The short answer
The world’s tallest waterfall is Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela at 979 meters (3,212 feet) total height, with a longest single drop of 807 meters. The runner-up is Tugela Falls in South Africa at 948 m (3,110 ft). The top 5 are all in remote tropical or subtropical mountains, accessible only by serious travel.
Famous waterfalls like Niagara, Iguazu, and Victoria do not rank in the top 100 by height because they are wide and voluminous rather than tall. The tallest waterfalls and the most voluminous waterfalls are almost never the same.
This guide covers the top 15 tallest waterfalls, the measurement controversies that make ranking lists differ, and what makes a waterfall tall instead of merely impressive.
The top 15 tallest waterfalls
The canonical ranking by World Waterfall Database, using total height:
| Rank | Waterfall | Country | Height (m) | Height (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) | Venezuela | 979 | 3,212 |
| 2 | Tugela Falls | South Africa | 948 | 3,110 |
| 3 | Three Sisters Falls (Tres Hermanas) | Peru | 914 | 2,999 |
| 4 | Olo’upena Falls | USA (Hawaii) | 900 | 2,953 |
| 5 | Cattaract Falls | Indonesia | 853 | 2,799 |
| 6 | Yumbilla Falls | Peru | 896 | 2,940 |
| 7 | Vinnufossen | Norway | 860 | 2,822 |
| 8 | Pu’uka’oku Falls | USA (Hawaii) | 840 | 2,756 |
| 9 | Browne Falls | New Zealand | 836 | 2,743 |
| 10 | James Bruce Falls | Canada | 840 | 2,756 |
| 11 | Strupenfossen | Norway | 820 | 2,690 |
| 12 | Colonial Creek Falls | USA (Washington) | 788 | 2,584 |
| 13 | Mongefossen | Norway | 774 | 2,539 |
| 14 | Yosemite Falls | USA (California) | 739 | 2,425 |
| 15 | Mutarazi Falls | Zimbabwe | 762 | 2,500 |
Notice how concentrated the list is: Norway alone has multiple peaks in the top 15, the result of glacially carved fjords with thin water sources that drop almost vertically.
Why rankings vary between sources
You will see different “tallest waterfall” lists from different publishers because the measurement criteria differ. The main variables:
Total height vs single drop: Angel Falls has a 979 m total height made up of a 807 m main drop plus a smaller cascade. Tugela Falls is 948 m of multiple tiered drops. If you rank by longest single uninterrupted drop, the order shifts. By single drop alone, Vinnufossen in Norway might rank higher than its total-height ranking would suggest.
Tributary vs single-source falls: some waterfalls are fed by combined streams that converge at the top of the falls. World Waterfall Database tends to count these. Other sources disqualify them.
Seasonal vs perennial: many of the tallest waterfalls have a flow that varies dramatically by season. Tugela Falls is dry for several months a year. Some lists exclude waterfalls that are not year-round.
Glacier vs free-fall: some waterfalls on mountain glaciers (like Strupenfossen) have water emerging from glacial melt rather than a watershed source. Inclusion in waterfall lists depends on the source’s view.
The result: published rankings can shuffle the top 5 around without anyone being technically wrong. Angel Falls is consistently #1 because its 807 m single drop is far longer than any other known waterfall’s single drop, making it dominant regardless of which definition is used.
For the conversion of these meter heights to feet, use the calculator on the homepage or the precomputed conversion pages. The 979 m Angel Falls height equals 3,212.27 ft.
Famous waterfalls and how tall they actually are
A number of waterfalls are world-famous for volume or accessibility rather than height. For perspective:
| Waterfall | Country | Height | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara Falls (Horseshoe) | USA / Canada border | 53 m (174 ft) | High volume, easy access, hydroelectric |
| Iguazu Falls (Devil’s Throat) | Argentina / Brazil border | 82 m (269 ft) | High volume, multiple cascades |
| Victoria Falls | Zambia / Zimbabwe border | 108 m (354 ft) | High volume, wide front |
| Sutherland Falls | New Zealand | 580 m (1,902 ft) | First measured tall waterfall outside Norway |
| Yosemite Falls | USA | 739 m (2,425 ft) | Tallest in continental US |
| Angel Falls | Venezuela | 979 m (3,212 ft) | World’s tallest |
Notice that Victoria and Niagara are well under 200 m, while the tallest waterfalls are over 700 m. The “tallness” of a waterfall and its “impressiveness” to a tourist are different things. Victoria Falls dwarfs Angel Falls in raw water volume and visual presence, despite being one-ninth the height.
For visual comparison to tall buildings: Angel Falls (979 m) is taller than the Burj Khalifa (828 m, the tallest building in the world). It is also taller than the highest cruise altitude of most commercial jets above the ground (commercial cruise is about 10 km above sea level, but only about 8 to 9 km above terrain in most flight paths).
Tallest waterfalls by continent
Different continents have very different tallest waterfalls:
| Continent | Tallest waterfall | Height |
|---|---|---|
| South America | Angel Falls (Venezuela) | 979 m (3,212 ft) |
| Africa | Tugela Falls (South Africa) | 948 m (3,110 ft) |
| Asia | Hannoki Falls (Japan) | 497 m (1,640 ft) |
| North America | Olo’upena Falls (Hawaii, USA) | 900 m (2,953 ft) |
| Oceania | Browne Falls (New Zealand) | 836 m (2,743 ft) |
| Europe | Vinnufossen (Norway) | 860 m (2,822 ft) |
| Antarctica | (no permanent waterfalls known) | n/a |
The continental rankings can also vary depending on which catalog you use. Hawaii’s Olo’upena Falls is sometimes treated as US territory and sometimes as Pacific Oceania, depending on the source.
For the mountain elevation guide covering the related topic of peak heights, see the dedicated article. Mountains and waterfalls are usually colocated because tall waterfalls require both abundant water and significant vertical relief.
Travel notes
Most of the top 10 tallest waterfalls are difficult to visit. Practical accessibility varies widely:
- Angel Falls: requires a 4-hour boat trip from Canaima village in Venezuela, often with overnight camping. Light aircraft tours also available.
- Tugela Falls: hike from Witsieshoek to the top, 3 to 4 hours. From the bottom, view from Royal Natal National Park is the iconic photograph.
- Yosemite Falls: easy access from Yosemite Valley, full year except peak summer. Often goes dry by late summer.
- Niagara Falls: world-class tourist infrastructure on both Canadian and American sides. Major airport (Buffalo) and direct rail from Toronto / NYC. Trivially accessible.
- Vinnufossen: 30-minute hike from a marked viewpoint along Norway’s E-39 highway. Norway’s road network makes Vinnufossen the easiest of the top 15 to visit.
Most tall waterfalls flow heaviest in spring and early summer (snowmelt and rainy season), and reduced to a trickle by autumn. Best photography conditions: morning light, full water flow, partly cloudy sky for diffuse lighting.
For more on natural and built-world heights, see our guides on the world’s tallest buildings and mountain elevation feet vs meters.
Sources and further reading: