Angel Falls

Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall on Earth. It is deep in the jungles of Venezuela in South America. The water drops from a flat-topped mountain called Auyan-Tepui. Angel Falls is almost 20 times taller than Niagara Falls.

So Very Tall

Angel Falls drops 3,212 feet from top to bottom. That is almost a kilometer straight down. The water falls so far that it turns into mist before reaching the bottom. The falls are hard to reach because they are deep in the jungle.

A huge flat-topped mountain rises where Angel Falls drops.
A huge flat-topped mountain rises where Angel Falls drops. (Heribert Dezeo / Wikimedia Commons)

How It Got Its Name

The falls are named after a pilot named Jimmie Angel. In 1933, he flew over the falls and saw them from his plane. His last name became the English name for the falls. In the local Pemon language, they are called 'Kerepakupai Meru'.

Fun Facts

  • The top of the mountain is almost always covered in clouds.
  • Visitors usually reach the falls by boat and a jungle hike.
  • The falls are inside Canaima National Park.

Did You Know?

Angel Falls appears in the Disney-Pixar movie 'Up' as the famous Paradise Falls.