List of waterfalls by flow rate

This list of waterfalls by flow rate in the world includes waterfalls that have an average flow rate greater than 150 cubic metres (5,300 cu ft). This list is sorted by mean annual flow rate of the waterfall by default, but can also be sorted by other criteria, such as average width or tallest single drop.

Largest waterfalls by flow rate
Rank Waterfall Image Average flow rate (m3/s) Tallest drop (m) Average width (m) River Countries Coordinates Notes Ref
1 Inga Falls 25,768 (est.) 21 914 Congo  DRC 5°26′56″S 13°35′18″E The Inga falls, whose status as a true waterfall is controversial, are currently incorporated into the Inga I and Inga II hydroelectric facilities. The volume of the river diverted is approximately 30% of the average discharge. The Grand Inga Dam, potentially the world's largest by generating capacity, is also proposed to be built on the falls. [1]
2 Livingstone Falls 25,060 6 701 Congo  DRC
 Republic of the Congo
 4°52′41″S 14°26′08″E A set of rapids that drops 6 metres (20 ft). Located at the southern end of the Republic of the Congo's border with the Congo River. [2]
3 Boyoma Falls 16,990 5 1,372 Lualaba, Congo  DRC 0°29′27″N 25°12′24″E A series of seven cataracts, also referred to as the Stanley Falls. The last and most significant of these cataracts, at Kisangani, is known as Wagenia.[3] The Boyoma Falls marks the transition to the Congo River from the Lualaba River. [4]
- Guaíra Falls (submerged) 13,309 40 4,828 Paraná  Brazil
 Paraguay		 24°04′03″S 54°17′00″W Submerged beneath the Itaipu Reservoir following the completion of the Itaipu Dam in 1982. The falls were later dynamited by the Brazilian government to promote safer navigation on the river. [5]
4 Khone Phapheng Falls 11,610 21 10,783 Mekong  Laos 13°57′18″N 105°54′10″E A series of falls and rapids that when measured end-to-end is over 10 kilometres in width, making it the world's widest waterfall. Largest waterfall in Asia by average flow rate. [6]
- Celilo Falls (submerged) 5,366 6.1 1,768 Columbia  United States 45°39′05″N 120°58′10″W Submerged beneath the Columbia River following the completion of The Dalles Dam in 1957. The rock formation responsible for the falls remain intact. [7][8]
- Kettle Falls (submerged) 4,682 ? ? Columbia  United States 48°37′52″N 118°07′08″W Submerged beneath Lake Roosevelt following the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam in 1940. The formation responsible for the falls remain intact. [9]
5 Pará Falls 3,540 ? 5,608 Caura  Bolivia
 Venezuela		 6°19′01″N 64°30′33″W Largest extant waterfall in South America by average flow rate. [10]
6 Paulo Afonso Falls 2,832 59 18 São Francisco  Brazil 9°23′21″S 38°11′45″W In 1948, the river was dammed upstream from the falls, drastically reducing its average flow rate. The falls act as a spillway during high rainfall years. [11]
- Urubupunga Falls (submerged) 2,747 13 2,012 Paraná  Brazil 20°36′S 51°33′W Submerged beneath the Paraná River following completion of the Engineer Souza Dias Dam in 1982. The formation responsible for the falls remain intact. [12]
7 Niagara Falls 2,407 51 1,204 Niagara  Canada
 United States		 43°04′48″N 79°04′16″W Largest extant waterfall in North America by average flow rate. [13]
8 Vermilion Falls 1,812 5 1,829 Peace  Canada 58°22′11″N 114°52′18″W [14]
9 Iguazú Falls 1,746 64 2,682 Iguazú  Argentina
 Brazil		 25°41′43″S 54°26′12″W [15]
- Marimbondo Falls (submerged) 1,501 24 2,012 Rio Grande  Brazil 20°18′35″S 49°12′06″W Partially flooded over by the Marimbondo Dam built on top of half the falls. The bottom of part of the dewatered falls is visible to one side of the dam. [16]
10 Victoria Falls 1,088 105 1,707 Zambezi  Zambia Zimbabwe 17°55′27″S 25°51′22″E Produces the largest sheet of falling water in the world. [17]
11 Virginia Falls 1,000 90 259 South Nahanni  Canada 61°36′27″N 125°44′20″W [18]
12 Shivanasamudra Falls 934 98 305 Cauvery  India 12°17′33″N 77°10′03″E This waterfall divides around Sivasamudram Island. One side is known as Gagana chukki and the other side is known as Bara chukki. [19]
13 Willamette Falls 928 13 457 Willamette  United States 45°21′05″N 122°37′09″W Prior to the development of the Oregon City area, it is though the falls may have spanned as much as 762 metres across. [20]
14 Kongou Falls 900 56 3,200 Ivindo  Gabon 0°17′17″N 12°35′17″E [21]
15 Kootenai Falls 731 9 258 Kootenay  United States 48°27′20″N 115°45′48″W [22]
16 Kaieteur Falls 663 226 113 Potaro  Guyana 5°10′30″N 59°28′50″W [23]
17 Rheinfall 595 24 122 Rhein   Switzerland 47°40′40″N 8°36′56″E Largest waterfall in Europe by average flow rate. [24]
18 Kalandula Falls 566 105 411 Lucala  Angola 9°04′26″S 16°00′03″E [25]
19 Great Falls 474 (est.) ? 107 Potomac  United States 38°59′51″N 77°15′09″W [26]
20 Hidden Falls 425 30 ? Yarlung Tsangpo  China 29°46′34″N 95°10′54″E [27]
21 San Rafael Falls 400 94 23 Coca  Ecuador 0°06′15″S 77°34′51″W On 2 February 2020, a large sinkhole formed just above the falls, diverting its flow into three gradually sloping cataracts beneath a large rock arch that survived the collapse. Due to the perceived danger to the public, all tourist access to the site has been stopped. The cause of the sinkhole is still being investigated.[28][29] [30]
22 Urriðafoss 360 4 229 Þjórsá  Iceland 63°55′30″N 20°40′22″W [31]
23 Augrabies Falls 313 56 24 Orange  South Africa 28°35′29″S 20°20′25″E [32]
24 Murchison Falls 300 43 15 White Nile  Uganda 2°16′43″N 31°41′09″E [33]
25 Alexandra Falls 282 32 117 Hay River  Canada 60°30′02″N 116°16′46″W [34]
25 Louise Falls 282 15 183 Hay River  Canada 60°30′12″N 116°14′29″W [35]
27 Dettifoss 269 51 171 Jökulsá á Fjöllum  Iceland 65°48′53″N 16°23′04″W [36]
27 Hafragilsfoss 269 27 85 Jökulsá á Fjöllum  Iceland 65°49′56″N 16°23′57″W [37]
27 Selfoss 269 13 387 Jökulsá á Fjöllum  Iceland 65°48′18″N 16°23′12″W [38]
27 Réttarfoss 269 ? ? Jökulsá á Fjöllum  Iceland 65°52′47″N 16°26′09″W [39]
31 Sandstone Falls 222 4 549 New River  United States 37°45′24″N 80°54′21″W [40]
32 Storforsen 187 35 76 Pite River  Sweden 65°50′59″N 20°24′16″E [41]
33 Rearguard Falls 171 6 61 Fraser River  Canada 52°58′24″N 119°21′51″W [42]
34 Cohoes Falls 161 20 290 Mohawk River  United States 42°47′17″N 73°42′31″W [43]
35 Jog Falls 153 253 472 Sharavati River  India 14°13′45″N 74°48′45″E [44]

The first five waterfalls by power (Guaíra, Khone Phapheng, Iguazú, Niagara, and Victoria) are called the Great Five Waterfalls.[45][46]

Prehistoric waterfalls
See also: Outburst flood
WaterfallMaximum daily flow rate (m3/s)Tallest single drop (m)Width (m)RiverCountries
Gibraltar (Zanclean deluge hypothesis)2×1013[47]Strait of Gibraltar Spain
Morocco
Dry Falls1,906,000[48]1204,828Columbia United States
Bosphorus (Black Sea deluge hypothesis)482,407[49]80Bosphorus Strait Turkey

See also

References
  1. "Inga Falls, Congo, Democratic Republic of the – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  2. "Livingstone, Chutes de, Congo, Democratic Republic of the – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  3. Ndeo, Oscar; Hauffe, Torsten; Delicado, Diana; Busanga, Alidor; Albrecht, Christian (2017-05-02). "Mollusk communities of the central Congo River shaped by combined effects of barriers, environmental gradients, and species dispersal". Journal of Limnology. 76. doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2017.1585.
  4. "Wagenia, Chutes, Congo, Democratic Republic of the – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  5. "Guaíra, Salto del, Brazil – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  6. "Khone, Chutes de, Laos – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  7. "Celilo Falls, Oregon, United States – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  8. Gibson, James R. (1997). The Lifeline of the Oregon Country: The Fraser-Columbia Brigade System, 1811-47. University of British Columbia (UBC) Press. pp. 125–128. ISBN 0-7748-0643-5.
  9. "Kettle Falls, Washington, United States – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  10. "Pará, Salto, Venezuela – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  11. "Paulo Afonso, Cachoeira de, Brazil – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  12. "Urubupunga, Salto do, Brazil – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  13. "Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  14. "Vermilion Falls, Alberta, Canada – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  15. "Iguazú, Cataratas del, Argentina – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  16. "Patos e Maribondo, Saltos dos, Brazil – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  17. "Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  18. "Virginia Falls, Northwest Territories, Canada – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  19. "Sivasamudram Falls, India – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  20. "Willamette Falls, Oregon, United States – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  21. "Kongou Falls, Gabon – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  22. "Kootenai Falls, Montana, United States – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  23. "Kaieteur Falls, Guyana – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  24. "Rheinfall, Switzerland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  25. "Kalandula Falls, Angola – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  26. "Great Falls, Maryland, United States – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  27. "Hidden Falls, China – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  28. "Why did Ecuador's tallest waterfall suddenly disappear?". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  29. "The Disappearance of Ecuador's Tallest Waterfall". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  30. "San Rafael, Cascada de, Ecuador – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  31. "Urriðafoss, Iceland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  32. "Augrabies Falls, South Africa – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  33. "Murchison Falls, Uganda – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  34. "Alexandra Falls, Northwest Territories, Canada – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  35. "Louise Falls, Northwest Territories, Canada – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  36. "Dettifoss, Iceland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  37. "Hafragilsfoss, Iceland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  38. "Selfoss, Iceland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  39. "Réttarfoss, Iceland – World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  40. "Sandstone Falls, West Virginia, United States - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  41. "Storforsen, Sweden - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  42. "Rearguard Falls, British Columbia, Canada - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  43. "Cohoes Falls, New York, United States - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  44. "Jog Falls, India - World Waterfall Database". www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  45. Г. Т. Арсеев. Водопады. — М.: Мысль, 1987. — С. 14. — 127 с.
  46. В. И. Задорожный, К. В. Зворыкин. Методология и региональные физико-географические исследования. — М.: Географическое общество СССР, 1975. — С. 60. — 78 с.
  47. Garcia-Castellanos, D., Estrada, F., Jiménez-Munt, I., Gorini, C., Fernàndez, M., Vergés, J., De Vicente, R. (10 December 2009) Catastrophic flood of the Mediterranean after the Messinian salinity crisis, Nature 462, pp. 778–781, doi:10.1038/nature08555
  48. The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington, United States Geological Survey, retrieved 2012-03-15
  49. Ryan, W.B.F.; Pitman III, W.C., et al. 1997. An abrupt drowning of the Black Sea shelf. Marine Geology, 138: 119–126.
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