Photographs selected by Jeff Campagna

Few things add beauty to a landscape as effectively as high, cascading waterfalls. Lakes and rivers around the globe help create these stunning wonders that are sometimes just there to adore from afar. However, at some locations, hiking, swimming or sailing close enough to feel their refreshing, cooling spray is allowed.

Whether you’re interested in just enjoying the views and snapping a few pictures, or if you prefer to bungee jump off a waterfall’s cliff, these images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest will inspire you.

Niagara Falls at sunset
A gorgeous sunset helps to bring out the fall colors of the foliage surrounding Niagara Falls, while silhouetting the cityscape in the background.
  Smrithan Ravichandran, New York, 2022
Plitvice Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Plitvice Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia, boasting multiple scenic cascading waterfalls.
  Veronika Szappanos, Croatia, 2019
The Austfonna icecap
The Austfonna icecap, the third largest in the world, is a breathtaking expanse nestled on Nordaustlandet Island within Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. Thomas Vijayan, Norway, 2022

a waterfall in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
More than 75 waterfalls can be found in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
  Zeb Andrews, Oregon, 2008
waterfall located on Table Mountain
Winter rain feeds this waterfall located on Table Mountain, outside of Oroville.
  Eric DaBreo, California, 2014
Atlantic archipelago of the Faroe Islands
A sunset mostly concealed by the low, thick mist creates a scenic moment in the Atlantic archipelago of the Faroe Islands.
  Anton Andreev, Faroe Islands, 2021

multiple levels of a waterfall
Not all waterfalls offer heights of hundreds of feet. On this calm river, jagged rock formations allow for smaller waterfalls that are just big enough to create stunning natural scenes.
  Erik Fetty, West Virginia, 2022
the Skogafoss falls
More than 525 steps lead visitors from the base of the Skogafoss falls to an observation platform near the top.
  Michael Slay, Iceland, 2019
Grand Falls
Grand Falls is located 30 miles northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona, in the Painted Desert on lands of the Navajo Nation. The 185-foot falls can run dry during certain times of the year, but during monsoon seasons, they are incredibly powerful.
  Monica Saaty, Arizona, 2013

620-foot-tall Multnomah Falls
Each year, more than two million people visit the 620-foot-tall Multnomah Falls, one of the most photographed in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
  Tamara Neal, Oregon, 2023
A waterfall surrounded by woods
Canada, known for its maple leaves and fall color, is also a country with some of the richest freshwater resources in the world.


  Zhenhuan Zhou, Canada, 2022

a waterfall spilling from the sky above.
Walking through a narrow rock formation leads to this awesome sight: a waterfall spilling from the sky above.
  Mark Murray, Iceland, 2021
Huangguoshu Waterfall
Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest in Asia, at 220 feet high and 273 meters wide.
  Huimin Wang, China, 2023
The Augrabies Falls on the Orange River
The Augrabies Falls on the Orange River, the largest river in South Africa, is called the “Place of Great Noise” by the local Khoisan people. Its spray can be seen from miles away.
  Gita Claassen, South Africa, 2022

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Jeff Campagna

Jeff Campagna is a photo editor at Smithsonian magazine. You can follow him on Instagram at @jeffcampagna.

Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.