Angel Falls (known as Kerepakupai-merú in the indigenous Pemón language) was the consensus tallest waterfall in the world dropping nearly a kilometer (about 979m total drop with 807m freefall). Of all the famous waterfalls that Julie and I have been to, this one seemed to invoke a sense of mystery and adventure.

Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall at 979 meters, has a flow that is surprisingly modest compared to its immense height. On average, approximately 14 cubic meters (nearly 500 cubic feet) of water falls over the edge per second. During the peak of the tropical rainy season, this volume can increase significantly, turning the falls into a thundering curtain of water. However, because the drop is so extreme (807 meters in its first plunge), much of the water actually evaporates into a fine mist or is carried away by the wind before it ever touches the canyon floor. This phenomenon creates a permanent, ethereal cloud of spray around the base of the Auyán-tepui mountain. In 2026, hydrologists continue to monitor these flow rates, noting that while it is the tallest, it is technically a "ribbon" waterfall, lacking the massive volumetric power of sites like Niagara or Victoria Falls, which move thousands of cubic meters per second.