VICTORIA FALLS
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PHOTO CAPTION: Victoria Falls. SOURCE: falconsafaris
ZAMBIA/ZIMBABWE – Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria by the explorer David Livingstone in 1855. Its original name, however, was Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “the smoke that thunders” for the immense spray and incredible noise caused by the rushing water.
It is located on the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Falls have a combined width of 1,708m and a height of 108m, making it the largest sheet of falling water in the world. It presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River.
Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic metres (over 17 billion cubic feet) of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometres or over a mile, into a gorge over a hundred metres or 300 feet below.
Victoria Falls is of great economic importance to both Zambia and Zimbabwe, primarily due to its role as a major tourist attraction that generates significant foreign exchange and employment opportunities. It supports local businesses, drives infrastructure development, and promotes cultural tourism.
Additionally, the Zambezi River, which feeds the falls, is a crucial source of hydroelectric power for both countries. The area also serves as a key trade and transport link, while eco-tourism around the falls supports environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Victoria Falls is of spiritual importance also for the local communities. It is considered a sacred site, believed to be a place of spiritual healing and a dwelling for ancestral spirits.
It is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
