Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls waterfall, c.1 mi (1.6 km) wide with a maximum drop of 420 ft (128 m), in the Zambezi River, S central Africa, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. The falls are formed as the Zambezi plummets into a narrow chasm (c.400 ft/120 m wide) carved by its waters along a fracture zone in the earth's crust. Numerous islets at the crest of the falls divide the water to form a series of falls. The thick mist and loud roar produced there are perceptible from a distance of about 25 mi (40 km). The Boiling Pot, the beginning of a winding gorge (c.50 mi/80 km long) through which the river flows below the falls, is spanned by a 650 ft (198 m) long bridge that is 310 ft (94 m) above the river. The gorge is now partially submerged as a result of the construction of the Kariba Dam . David Livingstone , the British explorer, visited the falls in 1855 and named them for Queen Victoria. The falls are part of two national parks and draw many tourists to the area.

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"Victoria Falls." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Victoria Falls under threat.
Magazine article from: African Business; 7/1/1996
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Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); 3/21/1998
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Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 2/13/2004
Victoria Falls images
Victoria Falls. (Image by Zest-pk, CC)