SPRING THAW’S MOST WONDERFUL WATERFALLS

Photographer Trey Ratcliff captured a beautiful iced-over river near Ísafjörður, Iceland, as it was beginning to thaw and flow freely again. It is, of course, just one of thousands of rivers that are beginning to move again, with Spring on the horizon.

Some flow into waterfalls for even more powerful drama. Enjoy our collection below.

1. GULLFOSS (GOLDEN FALLS) -- ICELAND

First Iceland’s Hvítá River flows over the edge to plunge 36 ft/11m, then it falls another 68 ft/21m to form Gullfoss, also known as Golden Falls. That’s not so high, but it is particularly beautiful the Hvítá, appears to disappear into the abyss.

2. PLITVICE WATERFALLS -- CROATIA

There are 16 azure to green, grey, and blue lakes in Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, that are a result of the confluence of small above-ground and subterranean karst rivers.

They are all interconnected and follow the water flow to spill over the edges of natural travertine dams, formed by and accumulation of moss, algae and bacteria deposits.

Plitvice is a natural UNESCO World Heritage site.

3. ANGEL FALLS -- VENEZUELA

The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its uninterrupted 3,212 ft (979 m) cascade.

Although it might seem to touch the heavens, it is actually named after its discoverer US aviator Jimmie Angel.

Angel Falls is located in Canaima National Park, which is protected by UNESCO.

4. KAIETEUR FALLS -- GUYANA

Kaieteur Falls, in Guyana, tumbles for 741 ft (226 m) before it reaches the first of the many steep cascades.

5. YOSEMITE FALLS -- CALIFORNIA

Yosemite Falls, in Yosemite National Park, California, is the highest waterfall in North America --  2,425 feet. Water flows and drops over three cascades: the Upper Yosemite Fall, Middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall.

6. RAMONA FALLS -- OREGON

Ramona Falls, in Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon, looks like ruffles of liquid lace, as water flows over the basalt rocks, falling a total of 120 feet.

7. FALLING SPRING FALLS -- VIRGINIA

This waterfall isn’t famous. It doesn’t break any records for height, or number of cascades. There’s no huge drama in its history. But Falling Spring Falls, near Covington, Virginia, is right up there with the best of the beauties when its winter ice begins to melt.

The source of the water that flows into this 80-foot waterfall is a naturally heated spring, so it was not frozen, although its surroundings were. Check out the beautiful icicles that dangle from its cliff face.

8. MULTNOMAH FALLS -- OREGON

Not the tallest cascade in the world, or in North America, but Multnomah Falls is the tallest in the state of Oregon. Waters flow forth, plunging first 542 feet, then another 59 feet in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

9. CAÑO CRISTALES -- COLUMBIA

Columbia’s Caño Cristales River flows red during a few months year, in the short time between the wet and dry seasons, when a unique species of plant growing on the riverbed, Macarenia clavigera, turns a brilliant red.

From September through November, the red flows against its yellow, green, and blue surroundings like a rainbow here in "Serrania de la Macarena National Park, accessible only via horseback.

10. FROZEN AVALON FALLS -- MARYLAND

It’s been a hard winter in the US, especially in places, like Maryland, that don’t usually get so cold. The frozen Avalon Falls, in the Orange Grove area of Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore, were captured by photographer Nicolas Raymond in an HDR composite from multiple exposures.

The falls have recently begun to release their torrential flow now that thaw has been underway for just a couple of weeks.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Photo: by Trey Ratcliff. Delicate Ice in Spring. Ísafjörður, Iceland.
2. Photo: by Ulf Bodin. Gullfoss, Iceland.
3. Photo: by Chris. Plitvice Waterfalls, Croatia.
4. Photo: by Ron Brinkmann. Angel Falls, Venezuela.
5. Photo: by Soren Riise. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana.
6. Photo: by Rennett Stowe. Yosemite Fantasy. Yosemite, California.
7. Photo: by Stokes RS. Let there be light-Ramona Falls. Oregon.
8. Image: Courtesy of Take a Hike. Falling Springs Falls, Virginia.
9. Photo: by Dan Klimke. Multnomah Falls, Oregon.
10. Photo: by Mario Carvajal. Caño Cristales River, Columbia.
11. Photo: by Nicolas Raymond. Frozen Avalon Falls, Maryland.
12. Photo: by Nicolas Raymond. Stream of Frozen Hope. Maryland.
13. Photo: by John Britt. Little River near Elkmont Smoky Mountains, Tennessee.
14. Photo: by Wernher Krutein. Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite, California.