The world’s most beautiful waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, some are short. Others are wide, narrow, strong, weak, and everything in between. The one thing they all have in common? They’re photogenic.

Let’s take a look at nature’s waterslides. These are the most beautiful waterfalls on the planet.

Stick around for the top 10: they’re worth it.

---

50. Maletsunyane Falls, Lesotho

This 630-foot drop is found in Lesotho, a small nation in South Africa. The crash off water creates a distinctive echo in the valley. Local legend holds these are the cries of those who have drowned here.

49. Cheonjeyeon Falls, South Korea

The Cheonjeyeon falls are located on the island of Jeju. It’s a three-tier waterfall. While it’s only 72 feet high, it’s one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Pacific.

48. Háifoss, Iceland

Iceland has more than its share of the most beautiful waterfalls. It’s a 400 foot drop near the volcano Hekla. You can hike there along the river, but it will take a few hours.

47. Tugela Falls, South Africa

The Tuegla Falls are in the Dragon’s Mountains of South Africa. Spooky name, right? The falls are nearly a kilometer high. However, they’re seasonal.

So you won’t necessarily get to see them.

46. Huangguoshu Falls, China

The name literally means ‘Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfalls’. Huangguoshu is one of the biggest waterfalls in China.

It is 255 feet high and 330 feet wide.

45. Madhabkunda Falls, Bangladesh

Madhabkunda is Bangladesh’s star waterfall. Tourists flock here for hikes and picnics. The lush forests, rock formations, and riverbank make for a tempting day trip.

44. Jog Falls, India

In the dry season, the Jog Falls are a friendly trickle. In the rainy season, however… look out! The pace quickens to a torrent, the drop to a plunge.

The falls have a total height of 829 feet.

43. Sipisopiso Falls, Indonesia

Sipisopiso is a plunge waterfal in Sumatra. It appears to come out of nowhere. That’s because it’s fed by an underground river.

It’s total drop is 390 feet. Tourists flock here to enjoy the views.

42. Manthokha Falls, Pakistan

Manthokha is in Pakistan’s far north. The water comes trickling down the shoulder of a mountain.

Below there are lush plains where shepherds lead their flocks. Remote, but worth a visit.

41. Khone Phapheng Falls, Laos

Khone Phapheng is actually two waterfalls joining efforts. The roaring waters have carved thousands of islands out of the riverbed.

This is the widest waterfall in the world at 35,376 feet.

40. Chiling Waterfalls, Malaysia

Chiling is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Malaysia. You can see it if you’re not afraid to go river-rafting.

Or swimming!

39. Pihtsusköngäs, Finland

Pihtsusköngäs is known as Finland’s Niagara Falls. That may be a bit of a stretch. However, it’s still lovely.

It’s conveniently located in a wilderness area. It’s also accessible by the Nordkalottleden hiking trail.

38. Tinago Falls, Philippines

The name is a Filipino word meaning “hidden”.

It’s an apt moniker as Tinago is indeed concealed in a ravine. Its veil is also obscured by the dense shrubbery.

37. Bambarakanda Falls, Sri Lanka

At 863 feet, this is Sri Lanka’s tallest waterfall.

Though the falls are surrounded by a pine forest, they’re also only a short hike from the highway. The result is easy access to irresistible beauty.

36. Krimml Falls, Austria

Krimml is more than 1,200 feet top to bottom. However, that’s a bit confusing. Krimml has several distinct tiers as it works its way between the trees.

It’s located in a national park, so it won’t be hard to find.

35. Gavarnie Falls, France

Although Gavarnie is located in France, the water comes from Spain.

The flow is fed by a small glacier there. The waterfall is almost 1,400 feet high. It’s one of the most beautiful sites in the Pyrénées.

34. Gjáin, Iceland

Gjáin is a tiny valley of pools and waterfalls. It’s near Háifoss, but closer to civilization. To get here, you’ll only need to take a half-hour walk.

33. Korab Falls, North Macedonia

Korab feeds into the Dlaboka River. It only forms from snow melts in the springtime. However, at 453 feet, it’s the highest waterfall in the Balkans.

32. Vinnufossen, Norway

This snaking waterfall is the tallest in Europe. The water trickles 2,838 feet down the side of a mountain. It winds up in the Driva River.

31. Gocta Cataracts, Peru

This is kind of a new waterfall! What does that mean? It was obviously known to locals since forever. However, only in 2002 inform the world that Peru has one of the world’s prettiest waterfalls.

30. Šútovský Vodopád, Slovakia

Slovakia’s best waterfall is found in the mountain range of Malá Fatra. Not to worry. If you want to visit, it’s only a few miles from the town of Šútovo.

29. Rhine Falls, Switzerland

Rhine Falls has a better claim on being a little Niagara Falls.

Though only 75 feet high, it’s almost 400 feet wide. In the winter, it flows fairly gently. However, it gets pretty rough in the summer months.

28. Athabasca Falls, Canada

You’ll find Athabasca Falls in Jasper, one of Canada’s best national park. (And that’s saying a lot)!

27. Niagara Falls, Canada

Alright, we had to mention it.

Niagara Falls is beautiful on its own. Unfortunately, it’s attached to the Canadian city of the same name. The town, alas, is like a tiny burned out Vegas.

26. Gljúfrafoss, Iceland

The name means “one who lives in the canyon”. You can see why. The waterfall is hidden behind a curtain of rock. Fortunately, you can easily hike inside.

25. La Paz Falls, Costa Rica

This 121-foot waterfall flows from the river of the same name. It’s a gem in the middle of a vast volcanic rainforest landscape. Conveniently, a road runs right next to it.

Again: easy access.

24. Basaseachic Falls, Mexico

This plunge waterfall is the centerpiece of the national park of the same name. At 807 feet tall, it’s Mexico’s second highest waterfall.

23. Bird Woman Falls, USA

You’ll find this one in the USA. Specifically, in Montana’s Glacier National Park. The waterfall is fed by snow melt and glacial runoff.

More than 560 feet high, it is visible from two miles away.

22. Jim Jim Falls, Australia

Here’s another one so pretty it had to be protected. Jim Jim Falls plunges 850 feet into Kakadu National Park.

21. Glymur, Iceland

This is Iceland’s second biggest waterfall.

The drop is 650 feet into the Hvalfjörður fjord. Sadly, a tunnel road was recently cur under the fjord The result has been a decline in tourists.

20. ‘Akaka Falls, USA

You new Hawaii was going to make an appearance. ‘Akaka is another waterfall that inspired its own national park. The water plunges 442 feet through a crack in the rock.

19. Sutherland Falls, New Zealand

The three cascades of Sutherland Falls plunge a combined 1,904 feet. It’s located near Milford Sound on New Zealand’s South Island.

18. Laja Falls, Chile

Laja also invites comparison to Niagara Falls.

It consists of four semi-circular falls. They average about 100 feet high, but their veils are amazingly beautiful.

17. Eternal Flame Falls, USA

Eternal Flame is a small waterfall. It’s unique, however, because of the natural gas that leaks into a cave behind it.

This gas can be lit. Hence the name.

16. Havasu Falls, Arizona

What could be more beautiful than a waterfall in the Grand Canyon? This 100-foot drop provides a popular destination within the canyon itself.

It’s located on Havasupai tribal land.

15. Goðafoss, Iceland

Goðafoss is the perfect storm. A beautiful waterfall located close to a major road. The result, of course, is a big-time attraction.

Though only 40 feet high, it’s mesmerizing. Despite the name, no mythic gods are said to reside here. We don’t know. Maybe it’s Thor’s swimming pool.

14. Shoshone Falls, USA

The pride of Idaho. The Shoshone Falls are found on the Snake River. It’s a 212 foot drop, with a width of about 1,000 feet. There’s a park right next to the falls, so you won’t have to hike to get a peek.

13. Ófærufoss, Iceland

You’ll find this waterfall in the Eldgjá volcanic canyon. The most remarkable thing here is the contrast of greys and greens. Volcanism can be nasty, but it does leave beauty in its wake.

12. Helmcken Falls, Canada

It’s located in Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia. There’s even a viewing station on the edge of the companion. It’s a fairly easy hike through the park for eager nature photographers.

11. Bridal Veil Falls, USA

That’s not a house on top. It’s an electric generator. Still, Bridal Veil cuts an imposing figure. You’ll find plenty of trails and roads leading to this 165-foot waterfall.

10. Kalandula Falls, Angola

Here’s one that’s kind of in the middle of nowhere. But worth it! This many-pronged waterfall is 344 feet high and about 1,300 feet wide.

9. Nohkalikai Falls, India

If you’re a waterfall, where would you want to be? Probably the wettest place on earth. Well, that’s pretty much where Nohkalikai is. The waterfall plunges 1,115 feet into the canyon below.

8. Shifen Falls, Taiwan

The slopes of the rocks create a magical cascade effect here. The Shifen Falls are only 66 feet high, but size definitely isn’t everything.

7. Fjallfoss, Iceland

This cascade waterfall is unforgettable.

The many small trickling streams coalesce to give the impression of a fountain bubbling over. Further down the rock, the streams combine and plunge 330 feet into a gorge.

6. Cascate del Serio, Italy

The tallest waterfall in Italy is just north of Milan. Cascate del Serio is divided into three distinct tiers. Together, they plunge about 1,000 feet down out of the Alps.

5. Seljalandsfoss, Iceland

The picture above was taken from the cave behind Seljalandsfoss. The chance to enter the cave makes this one of Iceland’s top natural attraction.

And they have a ton.

4. Yosemite Falls, USA

This waterfall plunges 2,425 feet into Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Falls, to us, looks like it can’t possibly be real.

Seriously. It looks like it was produced on a green screen. But natural beauty far surpasses anything we can make with computers.

3. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

These iconic falls straddle the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Though the highest drop is only 269 feet, but the whole system is 1.7 miles long. It’s not the tallest, but it’s possibly the largest waterfall in the world.

There’s only one other contender…

2. Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe

…And this is it. Victoria Falls is another border sitter. Victoria Falls has a maximum height of 355 feet, and width of more than 5,700 feet.

1. Angel Falls, Venezuela

It’s also known as “parakupá vená,” — “the fall from the highest point”. From that image, you can see why! Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world.

It drops 3,212 feet from the top of a mountain.

It’s one of the must-see natural destinations in South America. Luckily, it’s impossible to meet in Canaima National Park.