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{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox waterfall
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Victoria Falls
| name = Victoria Falls
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| photo = Victoriafälle.jpg
| photo = Victoriafälle.jpg
| photo_caption = Victoria Falls
| photo_caption = Victoria Falls
| location = [[Livingstone, Zambia]]<br/>[[Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe]]
| location = [[Livingstone, Zambia]] Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| coords = {{coord|17|55|28|S|25|51|24|E |type:waterbody_scale:60000 |display=inline,title}}
| coords =  
| watercourse = [[Zambezi River]]
| watercourse = [[Zambezi River]]
| embedded = {{designation list | embed=yes
| embedded = {{designation list | embed=yes
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   | designation1_number = [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509 509]
   | designation1_number = [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509 509]
   | designation1_free1name = State Party
   | designation1_free1name = State Party
   | designation1_free1value = [[Zambia]] and [[Zimbabwe]]
   | designation1_free1value = [[Zambia]] and Zimbabwe
   | designation1_free2name = Region
   | designation1_free2name = Region
   | designation1_free2value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Africa|Africa]]
   | designation1_free2value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Africa|Africa]]
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==Naming==
==Naming==
[[David Livingstone]], the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as [[Livingstone Island]], one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side.<ref name="Livingstone!!! Tourism.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.livingstonetourism.com|title=Livingstone Tourism Association, Victoria Falls, Zambia - Livingstone, Zambia|work=livingstonetourism.com}}</ref> Livingstone named his discovery in honour of [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria of Britain]], but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"the smoke that thunders"—continues in common usage as well. The nearby national park in Zambia is named ''Mosi-oa-Tunya'',<ref name=wicezm>''National Parks and Nature Reserves of Zambia'', [http://www.nationalparks-worldwide.info/zambia.htm World Institute for Conservation and Environment].</ref> whereas the national park and town on  the Zimbabwean shore are both named ''Victoria Falls''.<ref name=wicezw>''National Parks and Nature Reserves of Zimbabwe'', [http://www.nationalparks-worldwide.info/zimbabwe.htm World Institute for Conservation and Environment].</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Medium Term Plan (MTP): January 2010 – December 2015|publisher=Government of Zimbabwe|url=http://www.kubatana.net/docs/econ/goz_medium_term_plan_100706.pdf|accessdate=2013-05-15}}</ref> The [[World Heritage List]] officially recognizes both names.<ref name="WW"/>
[[David Livingstone]], the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side.<ref name="Livingstone!!! Tourism.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.livingstonetourism.com|title=Livingstone Tourism Association, Victoria Falls, Zambia - Livingstone, Zambia|work=livingstonetourism.com}}</ref> Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria of Britain, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"the smoke that thunders"—continues in common usage as well. The nearby national park in Zambia is named ''Mosi-oa-Tunya'',<ref name=wicezm>''National Parks and Nature Reserves of Zambia'', [http://www.nationalparks-worldwide.info/zambia.htm World Institute for Conservation and Environment].</ref> whereas the national park and town on  the Zimbabwean shore are both named ''Victoria Falls''.<ref name=wicezw>''National Parks and Nature Reserves of Zimbabwe'', [http://www.nationalparks-worldwide.info/zimbabwe.htm World Institute for Conservation and Environment].</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Medium Term Plan (MTP): January 2010 – December 2015|publisher=Government of Zimbabwe|url=http://www.kubatana.net/docs/econ/goz_medium_term_plan_100706.pdf|accessdate=2013-05-15}}</ref> The World Heritage List officially recognizes both names.<ref name="WW"/>


In 2013, the government of Zimbabwe declared its intention to officially rename the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya", citing continuity with other renamings such as [[Harare]] (from Salisbury), and Zimbabwe (from [[Rhodesia]]).<ref name=Mosi2013>{{cite news|last=Shoko|first=Janet|title=Zimbabwe to rename Victoria Falls in anti-colonial name bid|url=http://www.theafricareport.com/Southern-Africa/zimbabwe-to-rename-victoria-falls-in-anti-colonial-name-bid.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tar-home+%28The+Africa+Report.com+-+Latest+news%29&utm_content=FaceBook|accessdate=18 December 2013|newspaper=The Africa Report|date=17 December 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, the government of Zimbabwe declared its intention to officially rename the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya", citing continuity with other renamings such as Harare (from Salisbury), and Zimbabwe (from [[Rhodesia]]).<ref name=Mosi2013>{{cite news|last=Shoko|first=Janet|title=Zimbabwe to rename Victoria Falls in anti-colonial name bid|url=http://www.theafricareport.com/Southern-Africa/zimbabwe-to-rename-victoria-falls-in-anti-colonial-name-bid.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tar-home+%28The+Africa+Report.com+-+Latest+news%29&utm_content=FaceBook|accessdate=18 December 2013|newspaper=The Africa Report|date=17 December 2013}}</ref>


==Size==
==Size==
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In 1860, Livingstone returned to the area and made a detailed study of the falls with [[John Kirk (explorer)|John Kirk]]. Other early European visitors included [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorer [[Serpa Pinto]], [[Czech Republic|Czech]] explorer [[Emil Holub]], who made the first detailed plan of the falls and its surroundings in 1875 (published in 1880),<ref>[http://www.radio.cz/en/article/70921 ''The international service of Czech Radio online:] "Statue of explorer Emil Holub unveiled in Livingstone, Zambia" accessed 28 February 2007.</ref> and British artist [[Thomas Baines]], who executed some of the earliest paintings of the falls. Until the area was opened up by the building of the railway in 1905, though, the falls were seldom visited by other Europeans. Nonetherless, many writers still believe that it was the Portuguese priest [[Gonçalo da Silveira]] the first European to catch sight of the falls back in the seventeenth century.<ref>Eric Anderson Walker. ''The Cambridge History of the British Empire'', volume 2.. CUP Archive, 1963. Retrieved 4th October 2015.</ref><ref>Lawrence George Green. ''There's a Secret Hid Away''. H. Timmins, 1956; 244p. ISBN 9780869782071.Retrieved 4th October 2015</ref>
In 1860, Livingstone returned to the area and made a detailed study of the falls with [[John Kirk (explorer)|John Kirk]]. Other early European visitors included [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorer [[Serpa Pinto]], [[Czech Republic|Czech]] explorer [[Emil Holub]], who made the first detailed plan of the falls and its surroundings in 1875 (published in 1880),<ref>[http://www.radio.cz/en/article/70921 ''The international service of Czech Radio online:] "Statue of explorer Emil Holub unveiled in Livingstone, Zambia" accessed 28 February 2007.</ref> and British artist [[Thomas Baines]], who executed some of the earliest paintings of the falls. Until the area was opened up by the building of the railway in 1905, though, the falls were seldom visited by other Europeans. Nonetherless, many writers still believe that it was the Portuguese priest [[Gonçalo da Silveira]] the first European to catch sight of the falls back in the seventeenth century.<ref>Eric Anderson Walker. ''The Cambridge History of the British Empire'', volume 2.. CUP Archive, 1963. Retrieved 4th October 2015.</ref><ref>Lawrence George Green. ''There's a Secret Hid Away''. H. Timmins, 1956; 244p. ISBN 9780869782071.Retrieved 4th October 2015</ref>
==History since 1900==
[[Image:Victoria Falls gorge1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
===Victoria Falls Bridge initiates tourism===
[[Image:Victoria Bridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
European settlement of the Victoria Falls area started around 1900 in response to the desire of [[Cecil Rhodes]]' [[British South Africa Company]] for [[mineral rights]] and imperial rule north of the Zambezi, and the exploitation of other natural resources such as timber forests north-east of the falls, and ivory and animal skins. Before 1905, the river was crossed above the falls at the [[Old Drift cemetery|Old Drift]], by [[Dugout (boat)|dugout canoe]] or a barge towed across with a steel cable. Rhodes' vision of a [[Cape-Cairo railway]] drove plans for the first bridge across the Zambezi and he insisted it be built where the spray from the falls would fall on passing trains, so the site at the Second Gorge was chosen. See the main article [[Victoria Falls Bridge]] for details.<ref name="Spectrum"/> From 1905 the railway offered accessible travel to whites from as far as the [[Cape Town|Cape]] in the south and from 1909, as far as the [[Belgian Congo]] in the north. In 1904 the [[Victoria Falls Hotel]] was opened to accommodate visitors arriving on the new railway.  The falls became an increasingly popular attraction during [[British Empire|British]] colonial rule of [[Northern Rhodesia]] (Zambia) and [[Southern Rhodesia]] (Zimbabwe), with the town of [[Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe|Victoria Falls]] becoming the main tourist centre.
===Zambia's independence and Rhodesia's UDI===
In 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia. The following year, [[Rhodesia]] [[Rhodesia#UDI|unilaterally declared independence]].  This was not recognized by Zambia, the United Kingdom nor the vast majority of states and led to [[United Nations]]-mandated sanctions.  In response to the emerging crisis, in 1966 Zambia restricted or stopped border crossings; it did not re-open the border completely until 1980.  [[Guerilla warfare]] arose on the southern side of the Zambezi from 1972: the [[Rhodesian Bush War]]. Visitor numbers began to drop, particularly on the Rhodesian side. The war affected Zambia through military incursions, causing the latter to impose security measures including the stationing of soldiers to restrict access to the gorges and some parts of the falls.
Zimbabwe's internationally recognised independence in 1980 brought comparative peace, and the 1980s witnessed renewed levels of tourism and the development of the region as a centre for [[Extreme sports|adventure sports]]. Activities that gained popularity in the area include [[whitewater rafting]] in the gorges, [[bungee jumping]] from the bridge, [[game fishing]], [[horse riding]], [[kayaking]], and flights over the falls.<ref name="UNEP"/>
===Tourism in recent years===
[[Image:Tourists swimming at Victoria Falls.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The naturally formed "Devil's Pool", where some tourists swim despite a risk of plunging over the edge]]
By the end of the 1990s almost 400,000 people were visiting the falls annually, and this was expected to rise to over a million in the next decade. Unlike the game parks, Victoria Falls has more Zimbabwean and Zambian visitors than international tourists; the attraction is accessible by bus and train, and is therefore comparatively inexpensive to reach.
The two countries permit tourists to make day trips from each side and visas can be obtained at both border posts. Costs vary from US$45-US$80 ({{as of|2013|12|1|lc=y}}). Visitors with single entry visas are required to purchase a visa each time they cross the border. Frequent changes in visa regulations mean visitors should check the rules before crossing the border.
{{anchor|Devil's Pool}}A famous feature is the naturally formed "Armchair" (now sometimes called "Devil's Pool"), near the edge of the falls on Livingstone Island on the Zambian side. When the river flow is at a certain level, usually between September and December, a rock barrier forms an eddy with minimal current, allowing adventurous swimmers to splash around in relative safety a few feet from the point where the water cascades over the falls.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-561261/Is-ultimate-dangerous-infinity-pool-world-The-natural-water-hole-perched-edge-Victoria-Falls.html|publisher=[[The Daily Mail]]|title=Is this the ultimate (and most dangerous) infinity pool in the world?|date=23 April 2008|accessdate=2012-02-22}}</ref> Occasional deaths have been reported when people have slipped over the rock barrier.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-1052-Tour%20guide%20in%20Vic%20Falls%20plunge/news.aspx|publisher=New Zimbabwe|title=Tour guide in Vic Falls plunge|date=28 September 2009|accessdate=2012-02-22}}</ref>
==Natural environment==
===National parks===
The two national parks at the falls are relatively small—[[Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park]] is {{convert|66|km2|acre|0}} and [[Victoria Falls National Park]] is {{convert|23|km2|acre|0}}. However, next to the latter on the southern bank is the [[Zambezi National Park]], extending {{convert|40|km|mi}} west along the river.<ref name="Spectrum"/> Animals can move between the two Zimbabwean parks and can also reach [[Matetsi Safari Area]], [[Kazuma Pan National Park]] and [[Hwange National Park]] to the south.<ref name="UNEP"/>
On the Zambian side, fences and the outskirts of Livingstone tend to confine most animals to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. In addition fences put up by lodges in response to crime restrict animal movement.<ref name="ENS">[http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2002/2002-03-05-01.asp S Hanyona: "Zambia's Ecotourism Venture Clouded by Ecotroubles."] March 5, 2002. ENS website accessed 9 March 2007.</ref>
In 2004 a separate group of police called the Tourism Police was started. They are commonly seen around the main tourist areas, and can be identified by their uniforms with yellow reflective bibs.<ref>http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/victoria-falls-tourism-police-december-2011.html.</ref>
===Vegetation===
[[Mopane|Mopane woodland savannah]] predominates in the area, with smaller areas of [[miombo]] and Rhodesian teak woodland and [[tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|scrubland savannah]]. Riverine forest with palm trees lines the banks and islands above the falls. The most notable aspect of the area's vegetation though is the [[rainforest]] nurtured by the spray from the falls, containing plants rare for the area such as [[Afzelia|pod mahogany]], [[ebony]], [[ivory palm]], [[Phoenix reclinata|wild date palm]] and a number of creepers and lianas.<ref name="UNEP"/> Vegetation has suffered in recent droughts, and so have the animals that depend on it, particularly antelope.
===Wildlife===
The national parks contain abundant wildlife including sizable populations of [[elephant]], [[Cape buffalo|buffalo]], [[giraffe]], [[Grant's zebra]], and a variety of [[antelope]]. [[Katanga lion]]s, [[African leopard]]s and [[South African cheetah]]s are only occasionally seen. [[Vervet monkey]]s and [[baboons]] are common. The river above the falls contains large populations of [[hippopotamus]] and [[crocodile]]. [[African bush elephant]]s cross the river in the dry season at particular crossing points.<ref name="UNEP"/>
[[Klipspringer]]s, [[honey badger]]s, [[lizard]]s and [[African clawless otter|clawless otters]] can be glimpsed in the gorges, but they are mainly known for 35 species of [[Bird of prey|raptor]]s. The [[Taita falcon]], [[black eagle]], [[peregrine falcon]] and [[augur buzzard]] breed there. Above the falls, [[heron]]s, [[African fish eagle|fish eagle]]s and numerous kinds of [[waterfowl]] are common.<ref name="UNEP"/>
===Fish===
The river is home to 39 species of [[fish]] below the falls and 89 species above it. This illustrates the effectiveness of the falls as a dividing barrier between the upper and lower Zambezi.<ref name="UNEP"/>
The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there. However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between supporters and opponents of president [[Robert Mugabe]] increased. In 2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity, with rates in top hotels reaching [[United States dollar|US$]]630 per night.<ref name="wsj_20061229">"[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116734273561861856.html At African Waterfall, Visitors Confront A Tale of Two Cities]." Trofimov, Y. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. December 29, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E0D91239F932A15755C0A9629C8B63 Victoria Falls Journal; The Best of Times, and the Worst, for Two Tourist Towns]</ref> The rapid development has prompted the [[United Nations]] to consider revoking the Falls' status as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/victoria-falls-at-risk-un-warns-431122.html Victoria Falls 'at risk', UN warns ''[[The Independent]],'' 7 January 2007]</ref> In addition, problems of waste disposal and a lack of effective management of the falls' environment are a concern.<ref name="ENS"/>
==Statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em 0 1em 1em;"
|-align="center" bgcolor="white"
| colspan="7" |[[Image:Victoria Falls from the air 1972.jpg|262px]] [[Image:Victoria5.jpg|220px]]<br/>''‘The Smoke that Thunders’, rainy season, 1972 ... and dry season, September 2003''
|-align="center" bgcolor="white"
| colspan="7" |'''Size and flow rate of ''Victoria Falls'' with ''Niagara'' and ''Iguazu'' for comparison'''
|- align="left"
! Parameters
! colspan="2" |'''''Victoria Falls'''''
! colspan="2" |'''''[[Niagara Falls]]'''''
! colspan="2" |'''''[[Iguazu Falls]]'''''
|- align="right"
| align="left"|'''Height in meters and feet:'''<ref Name="WW"/>
|width="56" |108m
|width="56" |360&nbsp;ft
|width="56" |51 m
|width="56" |167&nbsp;ft
|width="60" |64–82 m
|width="65" |210–269&nbsp;ft
|- align="right"
| align="left"|'''Width in meters and feet:'''<ref Name="WW"/>
| 1,708 m || 5,604&nbsp;ft||1,203 m||3,947&nbsp;ft||2,700 m||8,858&nbsp;ft
|- align="center" style="background:#efefef;"
| align="left" |'''Flow rate units (vol/s):'''
| '''m<sup>3</sup>/s''' || '''cu&nbsp;ft/s''' || '''m<sup>3</sup>/s''' || '''cu&nbsp;ft/s''' || '''m<sup>3</sup>/s''' || '''cu&nbsp;ft/s'''
|- align="right"
| align="left"|'''Mean annual flow rate:'''<ref Name="WW"/>
| 1,088 || 38,430||2,407||85,000||1,746||61,600
|- align="right"
| '''Mean monthly flow<ref Name="WCD"/>—max:'''
| 3,000 || 105,944|| || || ||
|- align="right"
| '''— min:<ref Name="WCD"/>'''
| 300 || 10,594|| || || ||
|- align="right"
| '''— 10yr max:<ref Name="WCD"/>'''
| 6,000 || 211,888|| || || ||
|- align="right"
| align="left"|'''Highest recorded flow:<ref Name="WW"/>'''
| 12,800 || 452,000||6,800 ||240,000 ||45,700 || 1,614,000
|- align="left" bgcolor="white" font="8pt"
| colspan="7" |''Notes: See references for explanation of measurements.<br/>For water, cubic metres per second = tonnes per second.<br/>Half the water approaching Niagara is diverted for hydroelectric power.<br/>Iguazu has two drops; height given for biggest drop and total height.<br/>10 falls have greater or equal flow rates, but are not as high as Iguazu and Victoria Falls.<ref Name="WCD"/>
|}
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* A useful list of further reading is included on the [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/mosi-oa-.html UNEP-WCMC website's page for Mosi-oa-Tunya.]
*[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16309 NASA Earth Observatory page]
*[http://www.victoriafallstourism.org Victoria Falls Tourism]
*[http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=509 Entry on UNESCO World Heritage site]
*[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,218617,00.html TIME magazine article about tourism in the area]
[[Category:Victoria Falls| ]]
[[Category:Waterfalls of Zambia]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Zambia]]
[[Category:Geography of Southern Province, Zambia]]
[[Category:Zambezi River]]
[[Category:Block waterfalls]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Southern Province, Zambia]]
[[Category:Livingstone]]
[[Category:Natural resources of Zambia]]
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