Best Tiered and Cascade Waterfalls
Tiered waterfalls drop in multiple discrete steps; cascades flow continuously down rock without distinct lips. Both forms produce the most varied visual effects. All ten on the map.
1. Plitvice cascades, Croatia
Dozens of travertine steps between 16 connected lakes in the UNESCO park — the most concentrated cascade system in Europe.
2. Iguazú, Argentina/Brazil
275 individual falls along 2.7 km — the world's broadest cascade system, half of it on the Argentine side.
3. Sutherland Falls, NZ
Three perfect steps of 248 + 229 + 103 metres on the Milford Track — total 580 metres of tiered cascade.
4. Krka, Croatia
Skradinski Buk: 17 travertine steps over 46 metres on the Krka river. Wooden boardwalk loops over and around.
5. Hérisson cascades, France
Seven cascades on a 7 km signposted walk through the Jura — Éventail, Grand Saut, Saut Girard and others.
6. Marmore Falls, Italy
165 m in three Roman-engineered steps. The middle step is the photogenic centrepiece; the lower viewpoint puts you in the spray.
7. Sgwd yr Eira and the Four Falls, Wales
The 'Four Waterfalls' loop in the Brecon Beacons strings four travertine cascades together over 9 km.
8. Pongour, Vietnam
Seven travertine tiers, 40 metres tall and 100 metres wide, south of Dalat. Local festival each lunar new year.
9. Aliwagwag, Philippines
84 distinct steps over 388 metres on Mindanao — the world's most stepped major cascade.
10. Vermilion Falls and the Athabasca cascade chain, Jasper
A chain of rapids and small falls on the Athabasca through Jasper's canyon system — continuous cascade rather than single drop.
Plan your next trip
All of these are pinned on our interactive map.