Highest Waterfalls of the World

Highest Waterfalls of the World

Name(s) (foreign) Location Source/River Height ft. m Angel (Salto Angel) Canaima Nat'l Park, Venezuela upper trib. of Rio Caroni 3,212 979 Tugela Natal Nat'l Park, South Africa Tugela River 3,110 947 Utigord (Utigordsfoss) Norway glacier fed 2,625 800 Monge (Mongefoss) Marstein, Norway Mongebeck 2,540 774 Gocta Cataracts Chachapoyas, Peru   2,532 771 Mutarazi (Mtarazi) Nyanga Nat'l Park, Zimbabwe Mutarazi River 2,499 762 Yosemite Yosemite Nat'l Park,  California, U.S. Yosemite Creek 2,425 739 Espelands (Espelandsfoss) Hardanger Fjord, Norway Opo River 2,307 7031 Lower Mar Valley (Østra Mardolafoss) Eikesdal, Norway Mardals Stream 2,151 6552 Tyssestrengene Odda, Norway Tyssa River 2,123 6472 Cuquenan (Salto Kukenan) Kukenan Tepuy, Venezuela Cuquenan River 2,000 610 Sentinel Yosemite Nat'l Park, California, U.S. Sentinel Creek 2,000 610 Dudhsagar Goa/Karnataka, India Khandepar River 1,969 600 Sutherland Milford Sound, New Zealand Arthur River 1,904 580 Kjell (Kjellfossen) Gudvanger, Norway Gudvangen Glacier 1,841 561 Kahiwa Molokai, Hawaii, U.S. Unknown 1,750 533 Takkakaw Yoho Nat'l Park, B.C., Canada Takkakaw Creek 1,650 503 Ribbon Yosemite Nat'l Park, California, U.S. Ribbon Stream 1,612 491 King George VI Guyana Courantyne River 1,600 488 Upper Mar Valley (Mardalsfossen) nr. Eikesdal, Norway Mardals Stream 1,536 468 Kaliuwaa (Sacred) Pahu, Hawaii, U.S. Kalanui Stream 1,520 463 Della Strathcona Provincial Park,  B.C., Canada Della Lake 1,444 440 Gavarnie nr. Lourdes, France Gave de Pau 1,384 422 Cachoeira da Fumaça (Glass or Smoke) Chapada Diamantia Nat'l Park,  Brazil — 1,378 420 Giessbach Bern, Switzerland Giessbach River 1,312 400 Krimmler Hohe Tauern Nat'l Park, Austria Krimmler Ache 1,250 381 Vettis (Vettisfoss) Jotunheimen, Norway Utla (Trib. Mörkedola) 1,215 370 Papalaua Molokai, Hawaii, U.S. Kawai Nui Stream 1,200 366 Tin Mine Kosciusko Nat'l Park, Australia Tin Mine Creek 1,182 360 Silver Strand (Widows' Tears) Yosemite Nat'l Park, California, U.S. Silver Strand Creek 1,170 357 Honokohau Maui, Hawaii, U.S. Honokohau Stream 1,120 341 Wallaman nr. Ingham, Australia Wallaman Creek 1,001 305 Spray Stream (Staubbachfalle) Lauterburnnental, Switzerland Staubbach Brook 984 300 King Edward VIII Guyana Courantyne 850 259 Gersoppa (Jog) Western Ghats, India Sharavati 830 253 Hunlen British Columbia, Canada Atnarko River 830 253 Basaseachic (Salto Basaseachic) Barance del Cobre, Mexico Piedra Volada Creek 812 246 Waipio Kauai, Hawaii, U.S. Kekee Stream 800 244 Kaieteur Guyana Potaro  (trib. Rio Essequibo) 740 225 Kalambo Tanzania/Zambia Kalambo River 726 221 Wollomombi nr. Armidale, Australia Wollomombi 722 220 Feigum Lusterfjord, Norway Feigumelvi 715 218

1. Unofficial (estimated) height. Subject to revision. 2. Incorporated in hydroelectric scheme. Greatly diminished flow. Sources: Merriam Webster's Geographical Dictionary, Third Edition (1997); www.britannica.com; www.waterfallsnorthwest.com; www.americanparknetwork.com; www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/landforms/waterfal.htm/; www.atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/waterfalls.html; The State of Hawaii Data Book 2001; John Steven Lasher, Fifth Continent Australia Pty Ltd.

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Large Lakes of the World

Large Lakes of the World

Name and Location Area Length Maximum Depth sq. mi. km mi. km ft. m Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan-Russia-  Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran1 152,239 394,299 745 1,199 3,104 946 Superior, U.S.-Canada 31,820 82,414 383 616 1,333 406 Victoria, Tanzania-Uganda 26,828 69,485 200 322 270 82 Huron, U.S.-Canada 23,010 59,596 247 397 750 229 Michigan, U.S. 22,400 58,016 321 517 923 281 Aral, Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan 13,000 33,800 266 428 223 68 Tanganyika, Tanzania-Congo 12,700 32,893 420 676 4,708 1,435 Baikal, Russia 12,162 31,500 395 636 5,712 1,741 Great Bear, Canada 12,000 31,080 232 373 270 82 Nyasa, Malawi-Mozambique-Tanzania 11,600 30,044 360 579 2,316 706 Great Slave, Canada 11,170 28,930 298 480 2,015 614 Chad,2 Chad-Niger-Nigeria 9,946 25,760 — — 23 7 Erie, U.S.-Canada 9,930 25,719 241 388 210 64 Winnipeg, Canada 9,094 23,553 264 425 204 62 Ontario, U.S.-Canada 7,520 19,477 193 311 778 237 Balkhash, Kazakhstan 7,115 18,428 376 605 87 27 Ladoga, Russia 7,000 18,130 124 200 738 225 Onega, Russia 3,819 9,891 154 248 361 110 Titicaca, Bolivia-Peru 3,141 8,135 110 177 1,214 370 Nicaragua, Nicaragua 3,089 8,001 110 177 230 70 Athabaska, Canada 3,058 7,920 208 335 407 124 Rudolf, Kenya 2,473 6,405 154 248 — — Reindeer, Canada 2,444 6,330 152 245 — — Eyre, South Australia 2,4003 6,216 130 209 varies varies Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan 2,394 6,200 113 182 2,297 700 Urmia,2 Iran 2,317 6,001 81 130 49 15 Torrens, South Australia 2,200 5,698 130 209 — — Vänern, Sweden 2,141 5,545 87 140 322 98 Winnipegosis, Canada 2,086 5,403 152 245 59 18 Mobutu Sese Seko, Uganda 2,046 5,299 100 161 180 55 Nettilling, Baffin Island, Canada 1,950 5,051 70 113 — — Nipigon, Canada 1,870 4,843 72 116 — — Manitoba, Canada 1,817 4,706 140 225 22 7 Great Salt, U.S. 1,800 4,662 75 121 15–25 5–8 Kioga, Uganda 1,700 4,403 50 80 about 30 9

NOTE: Area more than 1,700 sq. mi. 1. The Caspian Sea is called “sea” because the Romans, finding it salty, named it Mare Caspium. Many geographers, however, consider it a lake because it is land-locked. 2. Figures represent high-water data. 3. Varies with the rainfall of the wet season. It has been reported to dry up almost completely on occasion. Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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World's Largest Dams

World's Largest Dams

Dam	Location	Volume (thousands)		Year completed
		cu m	cu yds
Three Gorges	China	39,300,000	51,402,459	UC08
Syncrude Tailings	Canada	540,000	706,320	UC
Chapetón	Argentina	296,200	387,410	UC
Pati	Argentina	238,180	274,026	UC
New Cornelia Tailings	United States	209,500	274,026	1973
Tarbela	Pakistan	121,720	159,210	1976
Kambaratinsk	Kyrgyzstan	112,200	146,758	UC
Fort Peck	Montana	96,049	125,628	1940
Lower Usuma	Nigeria	93,000	121,644	1990
Cipasang	Indonesia	90,000	117,720	UC
Atatürk	Turkey	84,500	110,522	1990
Yacyretá-Apipe	Paraguay/Argentina	81,000	105,944	1998
Guri (Raúl Leoni)	Venezuela	78,000	102,014	1986
Rogun	Tajikistan	75,500	98,750	1985
Oahe	South Dakota	70,339	92,000	1963
Mangla	Pakistan	65,651	85,872	1967
Gardiner	Canada	65,440	85,592	1968
Afsluitdijk	Netherlands	63,400	82,927	1932
Oroville	California	59,639	78,008	1968
San Luis	California	59,405	77,700	1967
Nurek	Tajikistan	58,000	75,861	1980
Garrison	North Dakota	50,843	66,500	1956
Cochiti	New Mexico	48,052	62,850	1975
Tabka (Thawra)	Syria	46,000	60,168	1976
Bennett W.A.C.	Canada	43,733	57,201	1967
Tucuruíi	Brazil	43,000	56,242	1984
Boruca	Costa Rica	43,000	56,242	UC
High Aswan (Sadd-el-Aali)	Egypt	43,000	56,242	1970
San Roque	Philippines	43,000	56,242	UC
Kiev	Ukraine	42,841	56,034	1964
Dantiwada Left Embankment	India	41,040	53,680	1965
Saratov	Russia	40,400	52,843	1967
Mission Tailings 2	Arizona	40,088	52,435	1973
Fort Randall	South Dakota	38,227	50,000	1953
Kanev	Ukraine	37,860	49,520	1976
Mosul	Iraq	36,000	47,086	1982
Kakhovka	Ukraine	35,640	46,617	1955
Itumbiara	Brazil	35,600	46,563	1980
Lauwerszee	Netherlands	35,575	46,532	1969
Beas	India	35,418	46,325	1974
Oosterschelde	Netherlands	35,000	45,778	1986

NOTE: UC = under construction. 
Source: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and International Water Power and Dam Construction.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

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Principal Deserts of the World

Principal Deserts of the World

Deserts are arid regions, generally receiving less than ten inches of precipitation a year, or regions where the potential evaporation rate is twice as great as the precipitation. The world's deserts are divided into four categories. Subtropical deserts are the hottest, with parched terrain and rapid evaporation. Although cool coastal deserts are located within the same latitudes as subtropical deserts, the average temperature is much cooler because of frigid offshore ocean currents. Cold winter desertsare marked by stark temperature differences from season to season, ranging from 100° F (38° C) in the summer to 10° F (–12° C) in the winter. Polar regions are also considered to be deserts because nearly all moisture in these areas is locked up in the form of ice.

Desert Location Size Topography SUBTROPICAL DESERTS Sahara Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia 3.5 million sq. mi. 70% gravel plains, sand, and dunes. Contrary to popular belief, the desert is only 30% sand. The world's largest nonpolar desert gets its name from the Arabic word Sahra', meaning desert Arabian Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen 1 million sq. mi. Gravel plains, rocky highlands; one-fourth is the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”), the world's largest expanse of unbroken sand Kalahari Botswana, South Africa, Namibia 220,000 sq. mi. Sand sheets, longitudinal dunes Australian Desert        Gibson Australia (southern portion of the Western Desert) 120,000 sq. mi. Sandhills, gravel, grass. These three regions of desert are collectively referred to as the Great Western Desert—otherwise known as “the Outback.” Contains Ayers Rock, or Uluru, one of the world's largest monoliths  Great Sandy Australia (northern portion of the Western Desert) 150,000 sq. mi.  Great Victoria Australia (southernmost portion of the Western Desert) 250,000 sq. mi.  Simpson and   Sturt Stony Australia (eastern half of the continent) 56,000 sq. mi. Simpson's straight, parallel sand dunes are the longest in the world—up to 125 mi. Encompasses the Stewart Stony Desert, named for the Australian explorer Mojave U.S.: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, California 54,000 sq. mi. Mountain chains, dry alkaline lake beds, calcium carbonate dunes Sonoran U.S.: Arizona, California; Mexico 120,000 sq. mi. Basins and plains bordered by mountain ridges; home to the Saguaro cactus Chihuahuan Mexico; southwestern U.S. 175,000 sq. mi. Shrub desert; largest in North America Thar India, Pakistan 175,000 sq. mi. Rocky sand and sand dunes

COOL COASTAL DESERTS
Namib	Angola, Namibia, South Africa	13,000 sq. mi.	Gravel plains
Atacama	Chile	54,000 sq. mi.	Salt basins, sand, lava; world's driest desert
COLD WINTER DESERTS
Great Basin	U.S.: Nevada, Oregon, Utah	190,000 sq. mi.	Mountain ridges, valleys, 1% sand dunes
Colorado Plateau	U.S.: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming	130,000 sq. mi.	Sedimentary rock, mesas, and plateaus—includes the Grand Canyon and is also called the “Painted Desert” because of the spectacular colors in its rocks and canyons
Patagonian	Argentina	260,000 sq. mi.	Gravel plains, plateaus, basalt sheets
Kara-Kum	Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan	135,000 sq. mi.	90% gray layered sand—name means “black sand”
Kyzyl-Kum	Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan	115,000 sq. mi.	Sands, rock—name means “red sand”
Iranian	Iran	100,000 sq. mi.	Salt, gravel, rock
Taklamakan	China	105,000 sq. mi.	Sand, dunes, gravel
Gobi	China, Mongolia	500,000 sq. mi.	Stony, sandy soil, steppes (dry grasslands)
POLAR
Arctic	U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia	5.4 million sq. mi.	Snow, glaciers, tundra
Antarctic	Antarctica	5.5 million sq. mi.	Ice, snow, bedrock

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Important Lines and Boundaries

Important Lines and Boundaries

Durand Line is the line demarcating the boundaries of India and Afghanistan. It was drawn up in 1896 by Sir Mortimer Durand.

Hindenburg Line is the boundary dividing Germany and Poland. The Germans retreated to this line in 1917 during World War I.

Mason-Dixon Line is a line of demarcation between four states in the United States.

Marginal Line was the 320 km line of fortification built by France along its border with Germany before World War II, to protect its boundary from German attack.

Mannerheim Line is the line of fortification on the Russia-Finland border. Drawn up by General Mannerheim.

MacMahon Line was drawn up by Sir. Henry MacMahon, demarcating the frontier of India and China. China did not recognize the MacMahon line and crossed it in 1962.

Medicine Line is the border between Canada and the United States.

Order-Neisse Line is the border between Poland and Germany, running along the Order and Neisse rivers, adopted at the Poland Conference (Aug 1945) after World War II.

Radcliffe Line was drawn up by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, demarcating the boundary between India and Pakistan. Siegfried Line is the line of fortification drawn up by Germany on its border with France.

17th Parallel defined the boundary between North Vietnam and South Vietnam before the two were united.

24th Parallel is the line which Pakistan claims for demarcation between India and Pakistan. This, however, is not recognized by India.

26th parallel south is a circle of latitude which crosses through Africa, Australia and South America.

30th parallel north is a line of latitude that stands one-third of the way between the equator and the North Pole.

33rd parallel north is a circle of latitude which cuts through the southern United States, parts of North Africa, parts of the Middle East, and China.

35th parallel north forms the boundary between the State of North Carolina and the State of Georgia and the boundary between the State of Tennessee arid the State of Georgia, the State of Alabama, and the State of Mississippi.

36th parallel forms the southernmost boundary of the State of Missouri With the State of Arkansas.

36°30' parallel north forms the boundary between the Tennessee and Commonwealth of Kentucky between the Tennessee River and the Mississippi River, the boundary between Missouri and Arkansas west of the White River, and the northernmost boundary between the Texas and the Oklahoma.

37th parallel north formed the southern boundary of the historic and extralegal Territory of Jefferson.

38th Parallel is the parallel of latitude which separates North Korea and South Korea.

39th parallel north is an imaginary circle of latitude that is 39 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

40th parallel north formed the original northern boundary of the British Colony of Maryland.

41st parallel north forms the northern boundary of the State of Colorado with Nebraska and Wyoming and the southern boundary of the State of Wyoming with Colorado and Utah.

42nd parallel north forms most of the New York - Pennsylvania Border.

43rd parallel north forms most of the boundary between the State of Nebraska and the State of South Dakota and also formed the northern border of the historic and extralegal Territory of Jefferson.

The parallel 44° north is an imaginary circle of latitude that is 44 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

45th parallel north is often called the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. The 45th parallel makes up most of the boundary between Montana and Wyoming.

45th parallel of south latitude is the east-west line that marks the theoretical halfway point between the equator and the South Pole.

49th Parallel is the boundary between USA and Canada.

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