Africa's largest waterfall is over a mile wide and divides two massive countries

By Grace Piercy, News Reporter

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in Africa. (Image: Getty)

One of the world's largest waterfalls divides two massive countries in the heart of Africa. 

Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. They were named for Queen Victoria in the 19th century.

It is one of the world’s largest waterfalls, with a width of slightly more than a mile, a height of 354 feet, and a flow rate of over 1,000 cubic metres per second.

Oral history in the local area has a long record of knowledge about the falls. The first European recording of the site was in 1855 by Scottish missionary David Livingstone, who named the falls.

The Sotho name, Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders"), and the Tonga, Shungu Namutitima (“Boiling Water"), continue in common usage.

Victoria Falls sits between Zimbabwe and Zambia. (Image: Getty)

Livingstone also cited an older name, Seongo or Chongwe, which means "The Place of the Rainbow" due to the constant spray.

The site has been a major tourist destination since the mid-20th century, and Zambia and Zimbabwe both have national parks and tourism infrastructure nearby.

The national park in Zambia is named Mosi-oa-Tunya, whereas the national park and town on the Zimbabwean shore are named Victoria Falls.

A famous feature is the naturally formed "Devil's Pool", an infinity pool that sits on the lip of Victoria Falls on the Zambian side.

When the river flow is at a certain level, usually between September and December, a rock barrier allows swimmers to splash around in relative safety in front of the point where the water cascades over the falls.

Set 15 metres back from the sheer drop of the waterfall is the less nerve-wracking “Angel’s Pool.” It is open during the rainy season when the waters are higher and the “Devil’s Pool” is shut.

The national parks contain abundant wildlife, including sizeable populations of elephants, Cape buffalo, giraffes, Grant's zebras, and various antelopes. 

Lions, African leopards and South African cheetahs are only occasionally seen. Vervet monkeys and baboons are common. 

The river above the falls contains large populations of hippopotamus and crocodile. African bush elephants cross the river in the dry season at particular crossing points.

Victoria Falls is double the height of Niagara Falls between the US and Canada. It is only 500 metres wider and has half the annual flow rate.