One of the majestic waterfalls created by nature, was opened in 1855, when David Livingston explored the interior of Africa. It should be noted that the brave Briton respected the country and its inhabitants with respect, and was the guest of honor of many leaders of African tribes. The traveler has always called the open geographical objects local names. An exception was made only for this waterfall.
Great waterfall
Today the coordinates of the Victoria Falls are known exactly: 17 ° 55'28 "south latitude and 25 ° 51'24" east longitude.
At the time of Livingstone, the locals of some tribes knew where the Victoria Falls were. The traveler himself found the waterfall by accident, when he traveled from South Africa to the north through Bechuanaland (Botswana) and went to the Zambezi.
This may seem strange, but Livingstone was not happy when he made his discovery, although in the following he described the Victoria Falls as so beautiful that the opening views please the angels. In 1855, before the traveler appeared not a sample of natural beauty, but literally an insurmountable barrier. The height of the Victoria Falls is no less than 110 (according to some sources 120) meters, and has a length of about 1657 meters. The height of the waterfall is 2 times higher than the height of Niagara Falls, and the power of water flows is so great that in a second it passes through the waterfall up to 7,500 cubic meters. The wall of water, literally deafening travelers and stretching literally up to the horizon, seemed travelers to the wall, protecting them from the heart of the mainland. David's plans were to create a navigable path to the heart of Africa, he already mentally paved the way and even chose a plateau suitable for creating a settlement-stop on the way of ships. But the waterfall with one of its presence crossed out all the plans of the traveler.
Environment
The place where the Victoria falls is a huge crack in a plateau formed from sandstone and basalt. The width of the crack is 30 meters. Where there are sandstone and basalt, cracks formed. Zambezi is a river on which the Victoria falls, at this point the plateau reaches a width of two meters. The river reaches the edge of the cracks and collapses into the abyss with incredible speed and power. The water pressure, reaching the foot of the waterfall, rises upwards by a cloud of spray.
In the vicinity of the waterfall giraffes, hippopotamuses, elephants and white rhinos, which are listed in the Red Book, live. The local population has a waterfall named Chongguet, that is the Rainbow Place: very often water streams are decorated with two rainbows.
Today, at the falls, there is the Victoria Falls and the homonymous reserve, which since 1952 is considered a national park.
Wonder of the World
Victoria Falls in Africa is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. To fully enjoy the views of the waterfall can be immediately from several points.
- Fans of extreme sensations can look into the very depths of the gorge, if you have enough spirit to climb onto the Bridge of Dangers and look into the abyss under your feet, where an incredible amount of water is rolling with a roar and roar.
- A cloud of spray rising above the Victoria Falls can be seen even if you move away from the waterfall by 64 km. This cloud of spray envelops everyone and everything, including a small forest, located at the top of the waterfall. In the forest there is a small path, along which everyone can walk to enjoy beautiful views.
- Completely appreciate the beauty and greatness of the waterfall can be from the air or from the raft below. Pilots offer a small air ride, during which you can go down and fly through the gorge. Tourists say that for the grandeur of the sensations are comparable to imaginary flights in intergalactic Star Wars.