Camels crossing the desert near Africa's highest sand dunes at Temet, Air and Tenere Natural Reserves world heritage site, NigerElephants crossing the Zambezi river in Mana Pools National Park world heritage site, ZimbabweIce cliffs near the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park world heritage site, TanzaniaBlack and white ruffed lemur, Rainforests of the Atsinanana world heritage site, Madagascar

Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe and Zambia

Map showing the location of Victoria Falls (Mosi au tunya) National Park and world heritage site, on the border between Zambia and ZimbabweArea: 68 km2

Inscribed: 1989

Criteria: (vii) aesthetic; (ix) ecological processes 

Values: This is perhaps Africa's single most outstanding feature, and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The Zambezi River, which is more than two kilometres wide at this point, plunges 108m into a narrow chasm and noisily down a series of basalt gorges. The world heritage site covers both banks of the Zambezi River, including the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side and the Mosi-ao Tunya National Park in Zambia. When the river is in full flood in February and March, it forms the world's largest sheet of falling water with some 540 million cubic meters of water per minute pouring over the edge and creating a spray plume which is visible 20km away.  The local name for the falls - Mosi-ao Tunya - means the ‘smoke that thunders', a suitable description for a place that stirs every sense.

 

Slideshow of the Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls world heritage site.

    

Impressions (based on a visit in September 2005): This is a well managed site, although clearly suffering from the downturn of tourism in Zimbabwe resulting from that country's present political and economic troubles. The development of tourism infrastructure around the site has been well done, and the landscape values are well preserved. There were some problems on the Zambian side over personal security, and piles of litter scattered everywhere along the road between the two border posts are a disgrace, requiring greater cooperation between the two state parties. Nevertheless, this is a truly exceptional place.

 

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Links: Google Earth | WCMC Site Description | Official UNESCO Site Details |OurPlace Photos |Management Authorities:  Zimbabwe Parks |Zambia Wildlife Authority | Birdlife IBA Zambia | Birdlife IBA Zimbabwe

 

 Victoria Falls National Park world heritage site, aptly called 'Mosi au Tunya' by local people, meaning 'the smoke that thunders' (Zambia/Zimbabwe border)White water rafting, bungy jumping and other sporting events are carried out around the Victoria Falls National Park world heritage site (Zambia/Zimbabwe border)Below the falls the mighty Zambezi river carves its way through a steep gorge at Victoria Falls National Park world heritage site  on the Zambia/Zimbabwe borderThe mighty Zambezi river falls into a deep gorge in the Victoria Falls National Park world heritage site (Zambia/Zimbabwe border)

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