Denmark Strait unveils world's grandest hidden waterfall
The Denmark Strait is home to a remarkable natural wonder: the world's largest waterfall. This awe-inspiring cataract surpasses even Angel Falls in Venezuela, recognised as the tallest waterfall on land, reaching a height of 979 metres. In contrast, the waterfall in the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland plunges to an extraordinary depth of roughly 3,500 metres, truly distinguishing it from any other known waterfall.
Known as the Denmark Strait cataract, this underwater marvel is significantly taller than Angel Falls. The water here falls to a staggering depth of about 3,500 metres, over three times the height of the land-based Venezuelan giant.
Unique features of the cataract
The Denmark Strait cataract spans an immense width of approximately 480 kilometres. Its waters flow at a speed of about half a metre per second (nearly 2 km/h), considerably slower than that of renowned waterfalls like Niagara Falls.
The formation of this underwater cataract can be traced back to the last ice age, between 17,500 and 11,500 years ago. It plays a vital role in ocean circulation by transporting colder polar waters from the Greenland, Norwegian, and Icelandic Seas to the Irminger Basin.
Invisible from the surface
Despite its remarkable scale, the Denmark Strait cataract remains invisible from the surface and cannot be observed from space. As Anna Sanchez Vidal from the University of Barcelona, cited by the Live Science portal, explains, the presence of this underwater waterfall can only be detected through temperature and salinity mapping.
Experts note that the waters north of the cataract cascade downward over a slope. The upper part of the waterfall remains at the water surface and mixes with the northward-flowing waters through the strait. Meanwhile, the lower portion moves south along the seabed, connecting with ocean currents in a process known as thermohaline circulation.
Although there are other underwater waterfalls worldwide, none compare in size to the Denmark Strait cataract. Mike Clare from the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton explains that similar formations occur along continental margins but are substantially smaller.
