Niagara Falls in North America and Victoria Falls in Southern Africa are two of the world’s most well-known waterfalls. Victoria Falls is among the Seven Natural Wonders.
A common similarity between these waterfalls (Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls) is that they are located on the border between two countries. They remain a natural wonder to behold, attracting tourists from different parts of the world each year.
While the source of Victoria Falls is the Zambezi River, Niagara Falls comprises three different waterfalls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian ‘Horseshoe’ Falls).
We have discussed more about the difference between Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls in this article.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a natural waterfall in North America. It comprises three separate waterfalls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian “Horseshoe’ Falls).
Out of the three waterfalls, two are located in the United States and one is in Canada. Niagara Falls is at the southern end of Niagara Gorge- stretching across the border between the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada.
Canadian ‘Horseshoe’ is the largest waterfall of the three, which is on the international border between the U.S. and Canada, while the smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie within the U.S.
The Goat Island separates the Bridal Veil Falls from the Canadian ‘Horseshoe’ Falls. Bridal Veil Falls is also separated from the American Falls by Lina Island.
Niagara Falls is formed by the Niagara River. It’s a natural outlet from one of the Five Great Lakes that reaches another. It drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls has the highest flow rate of any natural fall on the continent.
It has a vertical drop of over 50 metres (160 feet). The Canadian ‘Horseshoe’ Falls is the most powerful waterfall on the continent.
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Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is a natural spectacular waterfall in Southern Africa. It’s a waterfall on the Zambezi River on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The waterfall is also known as Tonga: Shungu Namutitima,“Boiling Water” and Lozi: Mosi-oa-Tunya, “Thundering Smoke”. Victoria Falls serves as the natural habitat for many species of animals and plants.
Regarded as one of the Seven Natural Wonders, Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. It has a width that measures about 1,708 metres (5,604 feet).
Victoria Falls is a spectacular waterfall that is approximately twice the width and depth of Niagara Falls. At Victoria Falls, the river plunges over a precipice to a drop of 108 metres (355 feet).
At the fall, the mean flow is approximately 935 cubic meters (33,000 cubic feet) per second.
Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls- Name Origin
According to Wikipedia, Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingston was the first European to have seen the waterfall in 1855. The area is now known as Livingstone Island.
David Livingstone named the natural waterfall in honour of Queen Victoria, hence the name Victoria Falls. However, the Sotho language name for the falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, “Thundering Smoke”.
Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: Difference between Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls
Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls are two of the world’s natural waterfalls.
Victoria Falls is a waterfall that is located in Southern Africa- having a width of about 1,708 metres (5,604 feet). Victoria Falls is wider than the Niagara Falls by a mile.
In contrast, the Canadian ‘Horseshoe’ Falls, which is the largest of the three waterfalls is 675 meters wide (2,200 feet), while the American Falls is 328 metres wide (1,078 feet).
Victoria Falls was initially named Mosi-oa-Tunya, “Thundering Smoke” by the native people living in the area before the arrival of the Europeans. The falls flow into the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
David Livingston was the first European to have seen the natural waterfall in 1855.
Victoria Falls remains a great tourist attraction site, with loads of safari tours available in the area. It’s a spectacular sight to behold, with lots of visitors coming to the area to get up close to the amazing wildlife on the African continent.
Niagara Falls is also a great tourist attraction site. It’s estimated that over 20 million tourists visit Niagara Falls in a year.
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Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: Comparison Chart
| Niagara Falls | Victoria Falls | |
| Description | A natural waterfall in North America that comprises three separate waterfalls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian “Horseshoe’ Falls). | Victoria Falls is a natural spectacular waterfall in Southern Africa. It’s a waterfall on the Zambezi River on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| Location | On the international border of Canada and the United States | On the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe |
| Origin of the name | Iroquois Indian word “Onguiaahra” which means “The Strait”. | David Livingstone named the natural waterfall in honour of Queen Victoria. |
| Watercourse | Niagara River | Zambezi River |
| Width | 1,203 metres | 1,708 metres |
| Type | Cataract | Waterfall |
| Other names | Cayuga: Gahnawehta or Tgahnawehta | Mosi-oa-Tunya |
| Formation | Melting of glaciers | Volcanic activity |
| Flow rate (metre cubic per second) | 1,834 | 1,088 |
Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: More Differences
Niagara Falls is at the southern end of Niagara Gorge- stretching across the border between the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada.
Regarded as one of the Seven Natural Wonders, Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. It has a width that measures about 1,708 metres (5,604 feet).
Victoria Falls is a spectacular waterfall that is approximately twice the width and depth of Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: Is Victoria Falls the Biggest Waterfall in the World
Victoria Falls in Southern Africa is regarded as one of the largest natural waterfalls on the planet. The fall is not the widest nor is it the highest waterfall in the world, but with all dimensions being considered, Victoria Falls seems to have the biggest curtain of falling water.
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Is Niagara Falls the Largest Waterfall in the World?
Niagara Falls may be the most powerful in North America, but it’s not the tallest or the widest waterfall in the world.
Niagara Falls is one of the hundreds of waterfalls across the world. Compared to Victoria Falls, Niagara Falls is smaller in width and height.
The Angel Falls in the South American nation of Venezuela is larger than Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls may not be at the same height as Victoria or The Angel Falls but what makes it unique is the amount of water flowing over the waterfall.
Niagara Falls vs Victoria Falls: What Are the Tallest Water Falls in the World?
Let’s see where Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls are on the list of the world’s tallest waterfalls.
- Niagara Falls: United States and Canada- 57 metres (188 feet)
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina and Brazil 60.96 metres (270 feet)
- Victoria Falls: Zambia and Zimbabwe- 76.2 metres (350 feet)
- Tugela Falls: South Africa- 947.9 metres (3,110 feet)
- Angel Falls: Venezuela- 979 metres (3,212 feet)
- Denmark Strait (an undersea waterfall): Greenland and Iceland- 3,505 metres (11,500 feet)
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Conclusion
Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls are a natural marvel that attracts tourist from different parts of the world.
Niagara comprises three separate waterfalls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian “Horseshoe’ Falls). It’s at the southern end of Niagara Gorge- stretching across the border between the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada.
Over 20 million tourists visit the waterfall each year. Victoria Falls remains a great tourist attraction site, with loads of safari tours available in the area.
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References
- Wikipedia: Niagara Falls
- Victoria Falls
- Britannica: Victoria Falls
