Is Niagara the Tallest Waterfall in the World?

No, Niagara Falls is not the tallest waterfall in the world. About 50 other waterfalls are “taller” including the Angel Falls in Venezuela, ranking first at a height at 979 metres (3,212 feet). However, some of the tallest waterfalls in the world have very little water flowing over them. What makes Niagara Falls so special is its combined height and volume.

The crestline of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls measures approximately 670 metres (2,200 feet), the American Falls measures approximately 260 metres (850 feet) and the Bridal Veil Falls is approximately 15 metres (50 feet).

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls has a vertical plunge of 57 metres (188 feet) to the Niagara River below. The height of the American Falls from the top of the falls to the talus (rock) below is 21 to 34 metres (70 to 110 feet). Calculated to the river below it is 57 metres (188 feet).

During peak tourist viewing hours 168,000 cubic metres (6 million cubic feet) of water goes over the Falls every minute! That’s approximately one million bathtubsful of water going over the Falls every second. In the winter, only half this volume goes over the Falls. The reason is that water is diverted above the Falls through tunnels to produce electricity down river at water generating plants at Lewiston N.Y. and Queenston, Ontario.