The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, also known as Kerepakupai Vená ('waterfall of the deepest place') in the local language. These falls are over 3200 feet tall and include an uninterrupted drop of around 2650 feet.
In comparison, the Horseshoe Falls, the highest part of the Niagara Falls group, are 188 feet tall at their highest point. However, the Niagara Falls are considered extraordinary for their width and power. Together, these falls have one of the highest flow rates of any waterfall in the world. More than 6 million cubic feet of water can pass over the Niagara Falls every minute during peak season.
More about waterfalls:
- Angel Falls were named for Jimmie Angel, an aviator who was the first to fly over them in 1933.
- Angel Falls was the inspiration for the waterfall featured in the Disney animated film "Up", although the falls in that film were called "Paradise Falls".
- There is controversy about the true height of Angel Falls, with some geologists contending that Tugela Falls in South Africa, usually awarded second place at about 3,100 feet tall, is actually the taller of the two.