International Waterfall Day
June 16
About International Waterfall Day
International Waterfall Day takes place every year on 16 June, a date set aside to celebrate waterfalls and encourage people to seek them out, photograph them, and learn about their place in the natural world. It is a light-hearted, travel-focused observance founded in 2020 that invites anyone, anywhere, to appreciate one of nature’s most striking features. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 16 June.
How to Celebrate International Waterfall Day
The whole point of the day is to get out and enjoy waterfalls, or at least dream about the ones you would most like to see. Here are plenty of ways to take part:
- Visit a local waterfall – Look up the nearest cascade to where you live. Many countries have waterfalls within an easy drive, from roadside trickles to thundering drops, and a short walk is often all it takes to reach one.
- Plan a bigger trip – If there is nothing nearby, use the day to start planning a future visit to a famous waterfall such as Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls, or Victoria Falls. Mapping out a route and a wish list is half the fun.
- Photograph the falls – Waterfalls are a favourite subject for photographers. Experiment with a slow shutter speed to blur the water into a silky ribbon, or freeze the spray with a fast one.
- Go chasing waterfalls on foot – Many hiking trails are built around a waterfall finale. Pack water, sturdy footwear, and a picnic, and make a day of it.
- Learn about record-breakers – Read up on the world’s highest, widest, and most powerful waterfalls. The facts are genuinely jaw-dropping, and they make great conversation starters.
- Share your favourite – Post a photo or memory of a waterfall you have visited using #InternationalWaterfallDay and #WaterfallDay so others can add it to their own lists.
- Support conservation – Waterfalls depend on healthy rivers and catchments. Donate to or volunteer with a group that protects local watercourses, or simply pick up litter on your next visit.
- Bring it indoors – If you cannot get outside, watch a documentary, set a waterfall as your screen background, or fall asleep to the sound of cascading water. The day is as much about appreciation as adventure.
What is International Waterfall Day?
International Waterfall Day is an annual celebration of waterfalls in all their forms, from gentle cascades to colossal plunges hundreds of metres high. It is an informal, grassroots observance rather than an official campaign, and it is open to everyone: hikers, photographers, travellers, and armchair admirers alike. The aim is simple, to spend a day noticing, enjoying, and appreciating waterfalls, and to encourage others to do the same. There is no single organising body, which is part of its charm; people mark it in whatever way suits them.
When is International Waterfall Day?
International Waterfall Day is held on 16 June every year. In 2026 that falls on a Tuesday. The date is fixed, so it lands on 16 June regardless of the day of the week, which makes it easy to plan a visit or outing around. It sits neatly in the early summer of the northern hemisphere, when many waterfalls are fed by spring meltwater and are at their most impressive.
The History of International Waterfall Day
International Waterfall Day is a recent invention. It was created in 2020 by Bob Matthews from Rochester, New York. Matthews and his wife were keen waterfall enthusiasts who sought out cascades wherever their travels took them. The idea for a dedicated day came during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when travel restrictions kept the couple at home and unable to make their usual trips.
Wanting to channel that longing into something positive, they settled on 16 June as a date to celebrate waterfalls everywhere, even if only in spirit. The idea spread quickly online as people shared photographs and memories of their favourite spots. In the years since, the day has grown into a small but enthusiastic annual tradition, with travellers, photographers, and nature lovers using it as a prompt to revisit old favourites or plan new adventures.
Because the day grew organically rather than through a formal organisation, accounts of its exact origin vary slightly, and some sources reference earlier observances. The most consistent and detailed accounts credit Bob Matthews with launching it in 2020.
Fun Facts About Waterfalls
- The world’s tallest waterfall is Angel Falls in Venezuela, plunging 979 metres (3,212 feet) over the edge of the Auyan-tepui mountain in Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The widest waterfall is generally considered to be Khone Phapheng Falls in Laos, which stretches roughly 10,700 metres (around 35,000 feet) across at peak flow.
- Many geographers rank Inga Falls on the Congo River as the most powerful by volume, carrying an enormous flow of water rather than the greatest height.
- Waterfalls are constantly reshaping the landscape; the erosive force of falling water gradually wears the rock away, causing many waterfalls to slowly retreat upstream over thousands of years.
- Niagara Falls, on the border between the United States and Canada, sees around 3,160 tonnes of water flow over its crest every second at peak times, drawing millions of visitors a year.
- Some waterfalls freeze in winter, creating ice climbing routes that draw adventurers from around the world.
Why International Waterfall Day Matters
Waterfalls are more than beautiful scenery. They mark the health of the rivers and catchments that feed them, support distinctive plants and wildlife, and draw visitors whose spending sustains local communities and conservation efforts. A day spent admiring waterfalls is also a quiet reminder to protect the freshwater systems they depend on. If you enjoy this kind of nature-focused observance, you might also like Nature Photography Day, which celebrates capturing the outdoors through a lens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Waterfall Day?
It is an annual celebration of waterfalls held on 16 June, encouraging people to visit, photograph, learn about, and appreciate waterfalls around the world. It is an informal, grassroots observance with no single organising body.
When is International Waterfall Day in 2026?
International Waterfall Day falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The date is fixed and is the same every year.
Who started International Waterfall Day?
It was created in 2020 by Bob Matthews from Rochester, New York, who, along with his wife, was a keen waterfall enthusiast. The couple devised the day during the COVID-19 lockdowns when travel restrictions kept them from visiting waterfalls in person.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best waterfall photos on social media with #InternationalWaterfallDay and #WaterfallDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to seek out a cascade of their own!
Related Awareness Days
- Nature Photography Day – Celebrates photographing the natural world, with waterfalls among the most popular subjects.
- World Environment Day – The United Nations day for protecting the planet, including the rivers and ecosystems that sustain waterfalls.
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought – Highlights the importance of water and healthy land, the very things waterfalls depend on.
Links
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