Augrabies Falls

Augrabies Falls is the major waterfall of the Orange River in South Africa. The falls are commonly cited as being 480 feet tall, but this appears to be a figure quoting the change in elevation from the top to the bottom of the canyon - over a stretch of about 4 1/2 kilometers. The main part of the falls in actuality stand about 183 feet tall. In full flood, the Orange River fills the canyon below the falls - in many places almost 500 feet deep - nearly to the brink, and in truely epic events, the falls themselves can be almost submerged. It has been reckoned that 95% of the flow of the Orange River goes over the falls in low water. In flood, 80% is said to go over the falls. The remaining water forms 19 minor falls, most of which exceed the main fall in height. The name Augrabies comes from Aukoerebies, a Khoi name meaning "the place of the Great Noise".