The world waterfall database posts the 100 Best Waterfalls on the Planet list. I have no idea who these people are, but it’s a fascinating site. You can search, for example, the world’s largest waterfalls-limiting results to waterfalls with a volume value greater than whatever you specify, and view the results on a comparison spreadsheet. You can do the same with the world’s tallest waterfalls. I can’t think why you’d want to do that, but isn’t it nice to know that you can, if you so chose?  There is a wealth of intricate detail-number of drops, average width, average volume, height in feet and meters, etc. but not much in the way of photos or tourist information.

 If you want an easier to digest list, the World of Waterfalls (run by a couple of waterfall “collectors”) ranked the top ten waterfalls they’ve personally visited, as well as regional top tens for Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Latin America, USA, and Hawaii.

 I can see how easy it would be to become a collector of waterfalls. They tend to be sited in gorgeous locations, and often come complete with a swimming hole–that’s an unbeatable combo in my book. I’m slowly working my way through the waterfalls in Ann Marie Brown’s book California Waterfalls, and have visited a few of World of Waterfall’s regional choices-Hraunfossar, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Gullfoss in Iceland; Lower Calf Creek Falls, McWay Falls, Illilouette Fall, Havasu Falls, Vernal, Nevada and Bridalveil Falls, Lower Falls, and Yosemite Falls in the US, and Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls in Hawaii.

I Am Legend ipod

And if you’d like to photogrpah some of these gorgeous waterfalls, the Digital Photography School has this great tutorial on photographing waterfalls

Two Brothers full

. What’s your vote for best waterfall on the planet?