South America is home to many spectacular cascading water bodies that are worthy of being on your travel bucket list.These falls are breathtaking natural wonders of the world from which water cascades beautifully. In this article, we will look at some fun facts about the falls like the Angel Falls and why you should visit them.Some of the largest waterfalls in the world that are present in South America are Iguazú Falls, Salto Grande Waterfall, and Kaieteur Falls, among several others.Kaieteur Falls also features on the world’s largest waterfall list with almost four times the height of Niagra Falls. As these falls are located in a remote location, traveling from the city center, it can take several hours to reach the falls. Iguazú Falls is located on the border of Argentina and Brazil and also qualifies as one of the largest falls in the world with a large volume of water flowing every minute. Salto Grande is also amongst the tallest waterfalls in the world and it is surrounded by the granite peaks of the Paine Massif. This makes the Salto Grande one of the major attractions in the region.After reading about the tallest waterfalls in South America, also check facts about how to make a waterfall and Argentina facts.Fun Facts About The Highest Waterfall In South AmericaLocated in the Guiana Highlands in Venezuela, Angel Falls is one of the most splendid natural wonders of the world. Angel Falls, in South America, is the world’s highest of all known waterfalls. From the mountain Auyan-tepui’s peak, it falls from a height of 3212 ft (979 m) into the Devil’s Canyon, a narrow ravine. Jimmy Angel, an American pilot who landed on top of Auyan-tepui in 1937 in pursuit of gold, is honored with the name of this tremendous cascade.This towering waterfall in Spanish is also referred to as ‘Salto Angel’. It is part of a plateau that is about two billion years old and has had many geographical transformations. It dates back to the Precambrian period when the supercontinent called Pangaea was forming. The Angel Falls was not known to the world before the mid-’50s. The waterfall is about 495 ft (150.9 m) wide and falls into a river called the Kerep.Angel Falls can only be visited through the Canaima National park which is accessible only by air. It can be reached through private charters. At the time of rain, the air around the waterfall turns misty. The best period to visit the falls is from May to November as during this time it is in full bloom. However, it is important to note that travelers are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever before they can visit the waterfall.While visiting any of the tallest waterfalls in South America, you must be prepared to travel to remote locations which might sometimes even take several days to reach from the city center. So, make detailed inquiries regarding the waterfall before embarking on a trip to any of the tallest waterfalls located in Latin America.Facts About South America’s WaterfallsThe South American continent has many of the world’s largest rivers. The density of the waterways that are found here is not found anywhere else on the planet. There are many magnificent waterfalls here.The Iguazu Falls is a waterfall of the River Iguazu. They are found on the border of Parana, a Brazilian state, and the Argentinian province of Misiones. The Iguazu River is divided by the falls into the upper circuit and lower circuit. The river rises near the city of Curitiba. Although the majority of the falls are on the Argentinian side, for most of its course the Iguazu river flows through Brazil.The magnificent Angel Falls are also found here in the Canaima National Park. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana is also one of South America’s waterfalls. Interestingly a single drop from this waterfall is two times the height of Victoria Falls and four times the height of Niagara Falls. Salto Grande, situated in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is another beautiful waterfall that makes it on this list. It is a series of lakes that are interconnected. The lakes are of different colors and of different pH levels. The lakes are too acidic to swim in. This fact makes them very special.Geographical Facts About Iguazu FallsBordering the Brazilian state of Parana and the province of Misiones, Argentina, Iguazú Falls, which are higher than Niagara Falls and wider than Victoria Falls, were formed after volcanic eruptions caused major cracks in the Earth. To understand how these falls formed, we need to rewind more than 130 million years into the Early Cretaceous.At that time, the land of the earth consisted of a very large continent called Pangaea. Due to the forces generated by the flow of the mantle, the continent began to collapse. This lifting phase is responsible for creating the continents we have today. Initially, there was a slight uplift and thinning of the continental crust, and tensile forces began to tear this vast landmass. Around this exact time, volcanoes and crevices formed along the rift zone, which erupted. This led to a large outflow of lava. The early subsidence stage was filled with flood basalt.This happened along the southernmost tip of the South American Plate. The lift stage on both sides of the Atlantic edge has created great potential for oil production. Due to the process of faulting, the basalt flows gradually began the process of erosion. These geographic phenomena resulted in the formation of the waterfalls.Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Iguazu National Park in Argentina and Iguazu National Park in Brazil, now have Iguazu Falls. The tropical forests around this waterfall are rich in flora and fauna. Iguazu National Park houses more than 2,000 species of flora and fauna. It hosts more than 450 species of birds, a wide variety of insects, and a range of mammals too.There is often a debate about which country you should visit to see one of the most beautiful but not the tallest waterfall; Iguazu Falls. Travelers often contemplate whether they should visit the Iguazú Falls in Argentina or Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side. The Argentine side offers a panoramic view of the falls. So, if ‘feeling’ the enormity of falls from a height is something that excites you, then this is for you.Brazil, meanwhile, offers a 360-degree view. If you are someone looking for scenic spots to get the perfect shot, this side of the falls is for you. The beautiful multi-dimensional views are hard to ignore on the Brazilian side. A network of 275 waterfalls spread over an area of about 3 km provides stunning views of the falls from all angles. If a helicopter ride over Magnanimous Falls sounds good, the Brazilian side is the way to go. In general, Brazil is also much cheaper.This slope has a main track unlike many tracks and roads in Argentina. This trail will get you wet and also have great views. It can also save you a few bucks on sailing if your budget is tight. Two-thirds of the Iguazu Falls are found on the territory of Argentina. This site has two observation circuits: an upper path and a lower path. The upper area offers stunning panoramic views from various vantage points, making for an unforgettable experience. You can walk along the bridges to get a spectacular view of the falls. The aerial view that Argentina has to offer for Iguazu Falls allows you to feel the power this massive waterfall exudes. The Argentine side is the ideal place to admire the splendid rainbows. It’s also a popular opinion that it’s much more fun!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 111 facts about the highest waterfall in South America then why not take a look at Argentina historical facts, or Argentina soccer facts.
South America is home to many spectacular cascading water bodies that are worthy of being on your travel bucket list.
