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Maletsunyane Falls

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Maletsunyane Falls is a famous waterfall in Lesotho. This country sits in Southern Africa. The falls are part of the Maletsunyane River. They sit near a small town called Semonkong. The name Semonkong means "Site of smoke."

This name likely comes from the way the water looks. The mist rises up like smoke from the river. It is a very special place to see.

The water falls over a ledge of dark rock. This rock is called basalt. It formed during the Triassic and Jurassic periods. The water drops down into a deep basin.

When the water hits the bottom, it makes a loud sound. This sound creates a reverberating echo. An echo is a sound that repeats. It bounces off the rocks and walls.

Local people have many stories about this sound. There is a legend about the loud echo. It is said the sound comes from people. These people supposedly drowned in the falls.

The legend says they are wailing. Wailing is a loud way of crying. It makes the falls feel very mysterious. Many people visit to hear the water.

This place is also known for world records. In December 2017, a group called How Ridiculous visited. They are a YouTube channel from Australia.

They broke a Guinness World Record here. They made the highest basketball shot ever. The shot was 200 meters high. That is about 660 feet. This record lasted until May 2023. Then, Dude Perfect broke it in Las Vegas. They shot a ball from 885 feet.

Other people use the falls for adventure too. The Semonkong Lodge manages a special activity. They hold a Guinness World Record for abseiling. Abseiling is when you climb down a rope.

This is the longest abseil run by a business. It is a very long way down. People come from all over to try it. The falls are truly a place of wonder.

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