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The world's highest waterfall is Angel Falls, which drops a total of 3212 feet, including a single drop of 2648 feet, on Auyan Tepui in Canaima National Park, Bolivar province, Venezuela. The waterfall was discovered in 1910 by Ernesto de Santa Cruz, and is named for pilot Jimmy Angel, who in 1937 became the first westerner to see the waterfall. In the local Pemon language, the waterfall is called "Kerepakupai Meru," which means "fall from the deepest place."

The second highest waterfall, and the highest on the continent of Africa, is Tugela Falls on the Tugela River, which drops a total of 3110 feet, including a single drop of 1350 feet, on Mont Aux Sources in Royal Natal National Park, Kwazulu Natal state, South Africa.

The third highest waterfall is Cataratas las Tres Hermanas, or Three Sisters Falls, which drops a total of 3000 feet on Rio Cutivireni in Cordillera Oriental, Ayacucho province, Peru.

The fourth highest waterfall is Olo'upena Falls, which drops a total of 2953 feet in Olo'upena, Molokai, Hawaii.

The fifth highest waterfall, and the highest on the continent of Europe, is Vinnufossen, which drops a total of 2822 feet, including a single drop of 1378 feet, in Sunndal, More Og Romsdal, Norway.

The highest waterfalls on other continents are:

James Bruce Falls, eighth highest in the world and the highest in North America, drops a total of 2755 feet in Loquilts Creek, Princess Louisa Provincial Marine Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Hannoki-no-taki, eighty-eighth highest in the world and the highest in Asia, drops a total of 1640 feet in Tateyama, Toyama, Honshu, Japan.

Wollomombi Falls, one hundred thirty-third highest in the world and the highest in Australia, drops a total of 1392 feet, with a single drop of 852 feet, in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Armidale, New South Wales.

Learn more about this author, Dan Birchall.
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