Who was the first European to see the Victoria Falls?

Who was the first European to see the Victoria Falls?

David Livingstone
‘No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. David Livingstone became the first European to see Victoria Falls.

Who first discovered the Victoria Falls?

Dr. David Livingstone
A World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls is one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles and the stuff of legends, romance and myth. Long before the Scottish missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the Falls in 1855, the local Batonga people had named them Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the smoke that thunders’.

Why was it named Victoria Falls?

Victoria Falls was named after the British monarch, Queen Victoria by a missionary, David Livingstone, the first white person to set sight on one of the world’s seven natural wonders.

What do Zambians call Victoria Falls?

Mosi-oa-Tunya
One of the most spectacular sights in Africa, Victoria Falls is a mile-long marvel of mist and spray marking the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Known to locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders”, the roar from the world’s largest single curtain of falling water can be heard 40km away.

When was Victoria Falls discovered date?

The Victoria Falls Bridge across the Zambezi River, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. The British explorer David Livingstone was the first European to see the falls (November 16, 1855).

What’s the largest waterfall in the world?

Angel Falls
Image via Wikipedia. The Denmark Strait cataract is more than 3 times the height of Angel Falls in Venezuela, which is considered Earth’s tallest waterfall (on land).

Why did the Europeans come to Victoria Falls?

European settlement of the Victoria Falls area started around 1900 in response to the desire of Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company for mineral rights and imperial rule north of the Zambezi, and the exploitation of other natural resources such as timber forests north-east of the falls, and ivory and animal skins.

Who was the first person to see Victoria Falls?

In November 1855, David Livingstone was the first European who saw the falls, when he travelled from the upper Zambezi to the mouth of the river between 1852 and 1856. The falls were well known to local tribes, and Voortrekker hunters may have known of them, as may the Arabs under a name equivalent to “the end of the world”.

When did Livingstone go to see Victoria Falls?

In early November 1855, Livingstone traveled down the Zambezi River to see for himself the area the natives called “smoke that thunders.” Approaching the spot in canoes, the party could see the columns of spray and hear the thunderous roar of water miles away from the falls:

When did Victoria Falls become a World Heritage Site?

Regular changes in visa regulations mean visitors should check the rules before crossing the border. In 1989 Victoria Falls was inscribed as a World Heritage Site. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application.