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Vaipō Waterfall

Coordinates: 8°54′25″S 140°09′58″W / 8.907°S 140.166°W / -8.907; -140.166
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vaipo Waterfall
Map
LocationNuku Hiva, Marquesas
TypeHorsetail
Total height350 m / 1148 ft
Number of drops1
Longest drop350 m / 1148 ft
Average
flow rate
1 m³/s / 25 ft³/s
World height ranking199[1]

Vaipo Waterfall (also Ahuii or Ahuei) is a waterfall on the island of Nuku Hiva, in the Marquesas of French Polynesia. It is a horsetail-type waterfall with a single drop of height 1148 ft (350 m), making it the tallest waterfall in Polynesia outside of New Zealand and Hawaii.[1]

The waterfall lies in Hakaui Valley. The top of the waterfall is basalt, from which the water spouts as a single jet from its gouged channel. Before reaching the bottom of the fall, the water vaporizes into mist which coats the walls of the canyon, giving them a glossy sheen.[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "World's Tallest Waterfalls". World Waterfall Database. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. ^ Peter Crawford, Nomads of the Wind, London: BBC Books, 1993, p. 162-163

8°54′25″S 140°09′58″W / 8.907°S 140.166°W / -8.907; -140.166