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World's Tallest Waterfall: Venezuela's Kerepakupai Merú
24 Jun
Summary
- Angel Falls, also known as Kerepakupai Merú, is the world's tallest waterfall.
- It plunges 979 meters from Auyán Tepui in Venezuela's Canaima National Park.
- An underwater cascade, Denmark Strait Cataract, dwarfs all land waterfalls.
The title of the world's tallest waterfall belongs to Kerepakupai Merú, widely recognized internationally as Angel Falls. This magnificent cascade is situated in the remote wilderness of Venezuela's Canaima National Park, descending from the summit of Auyán Tepui, a massive sandstone plateau.
With a total recorded height of 979 meters, Angel Falls features a remarkable uninterrupted plunge of approximately 807 meters. The falling water often disperses into a fine mist long before reaching the rainforest floor below, contributing to its ethereal appearance.
The Indigenous Pemón people have long known this natural wonder by its traditional name, Kerepakupai Merú. Its widespread English name, Angel Falls, was popularized in the 1930s by American pilot Jimmie Angel, who flew over the region.
While Kerepakupai Merú reigns supreme among visible waterfalls, the Denmark Strait Cataract, located beneath the waters of the North Atlantic between Greenland and Iceland, is far larger. This underwater phenomenon involves cold, dense water dropping over 3.5 kilometers between ocean layers, dwarfing any terrestrial waterfall. However, due to its submerged nature, it is excluded from conventional waterfall records.
