Victoria Falls

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Africa A continent of endless skies, incredible sights, exotic sounds and conflicting emotions. Victoria Falls Awesome Zambezi River

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“The Smoke that Thunders”

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Africans have known the power for ages – from 20 miles away the towering spray rising a thousand feet in the sky over the Zambezi plain . They called the falls “The Smoke that Thunders”

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In this satellite photo the Zambezi River spreads out into an island-studded channel that extends more than a mile wide and drops abruptly into a rift 328 feet deep.

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The Zambezi River's gentle roll through Africa is interrupted abruptly and spectacularly when the flat basalt basin that forms the river's bed suddenly gives way.

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It is the widest curtain of falling water in the world from February to April which is right after the African rainy season.

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One of the world's mightiest waterfalls is in east-central Africa, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia).

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The normally placid Zambezi plunges over a cliff into a 100-meter (328-foot) deep gash between Victoria Falls and a matching cliff across the way.

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The churning waters -- two kilometers (1 1/4 miles) wide at the point of the falls -- rumble and roar and tumble through a narrow exit into the Batoka Gorge on its way to the Mozambique Channel of Eastern Africa.

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The Victoria Falls Bridge across the Zambezi River, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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As you stand this close to such raw, natural beauty, you can barely hear yourself screaming above the sound of the water

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The low water season is from September to December

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From September to December, due to low water levels, it is possible to swim at the edge of the falls in a naturally formed safe pool, accessed via Livingstone Island.

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Wikitravel says: You will have the opportunity to stand in shallow water, 2 inches (literally) from where the water gushes over the edge of the falls, and swim in Devil's Pool, a reasonable current-free pool a couple of feet from the top of the falls, close enough to lean over the edge. This makes fantastic photo opportunities with a permanent rainbow from the mist of the falls behind you".

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Many of you may think it is a trick. Well, another Flickr user took pictures from the other side, and this is the result ("Putting the maniacs into context“):

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It may look insane, but the guy in the picture is not a silhouette placed over a fake landscape. He's swimming at the Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool at the very top of the Victoria Falls

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Livingston Island has an attraction that very few knew of called “The Devil’s Pool” Livingston Island The Devil’s Pool

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I’m just a tad nervous as we board the little boat over to Livingston Island above one of the largest waterfalls in the world!

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Livingston Island The Devil’s Pool

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As you can see, pictures taken by Flickr users show smiling families and groups swimming at the pool. No one of them seem to be scared, they're just having a good time

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A 328’ (100m) drop ! ...I'm starting to think my acrophobia is an evolutionary advantage.