Earth’s biggest waterfall lies beneath Arctic

Earth.com describes in its article that while iconic waterfalls like Angel Falls and Niagara Falls draw millions of visitors each year, there’s an even more awe-inspiring waterfall hidden beneath the Arctic waters. 

This hidden giant isn't a waterfall cascading down a mountainside or roaring over a cliff. Instead, it descends slowly and invisibly, deep beneath the icy waters of the Arctic, earning the distinction of being Earth's largest waterfall.

Most waterfalls are found on land, formed when a river or stream flows over a sudden drop in the terrain. Essentially, the water falls off a cliff or steep ledge, creating that iconic cascading effect.

Over time, the relentless flow of water erodes the rock below, which can make the drop even steeper. In some areas, softer rock erodes more quickly than harder rock, resulting in unique shapes or even causing the waterfall to recede upstream.

In addition to their visual appeal, waterfalls have a significant impact on their surroundings. The turbulent water at the base can carve deep pools, and the constant mist encourages lush plant growth in the area.

Many waterfalls also foster distinct ecosystems, thanks to the cooler temperatures and higher humidity created by their misty spray.

Then, there are underwater waterfalls. While they differ from the loud, visible waterfalls found on land, they are just as breathtaking in their unique way.

Hidden beneath the cold Arctic waters, between Iceland and Greenland, lies the Denmark Strait cataract. 

With an impressive vertical drop of 11,500 feet (3,500 meters), it’s more than three times the height of the world’s tallest land waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela.

Stretching about 300 miles (480 kilometers) in width, this submerged giant plays a vital role in the ocean’s circulation.

The waterfall exists because of the meeting of cold water from the Nordic Seas and warmer water from the Atlantic Ocean. 

The significant differences in temperature and salinity create a powerful flow, capable of moving enormous volumes of water along the ocean floor.

Despite its immense size, the waterfall remains unseen by the human eye and can only be detected with advanced oceanographic technology.

Mike Clare, who heads marine geosystems at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, stated, "If you were down there, you probably wouldn’t notice much happening." 

Yet, beneath the tranquil surface, powerful natural forces are at play, influencing global ocean currents and helping regulate the Earth's climate.

The Denmark Strait cataract is not a recent phenomenon; it is an ancient formation, created between 17,500 and 11,500 years ago during the last Ice Age. 

As massive glaciers reshaped the landscape, they also sculpted the structure of this colossal underwater waterfall.

In contrast to its terrestrial counterparts, this hidden wonder exists within a dynamic environment, continuously shaped and maintained by millennia of shifting ocean currents, temperature changes, and geological activity.

By Naila Huseynova