Horizontal Waterfalls in Talbot Bay, Australia
The Horizontal Falls or Horizontal Waterfalls are located in
the Talbot Bay in the Kimberley region of western Australia. Although
called waterfalls, this natural phenomenon actually consist of a pair of
openings or gorges in the McLarty Range through which massive amount of
water are pushed by tidal waves, creating temporary waterfalls up to 5
meters high. When the tide changes, so does the direction of the flow.
The
twin gaps are located on two ridges running parallel approximately 300
meters apart. The first and most seaward gap is about 20 meters wide and
the second, most spectacular, gap is about 10 meters wide. When the
rising or falling tide occurs, the water builds up in front of the gaps
faster than it can flow through them. This in turn creates an amazing
waterfall effect as the water rushes through and then down to the lower
levels on the other side of the ridgelines. The process is reversed and
it is repeated again in the opposite direction.
The
tides in this area have a 10 meter variation which occurs over six and a
half hours from low tide to high tide and vice versa. On a slack tide
it is possible to drive boats through the two gaps to the bay behind.
The waterfall phenomena has been described by David Attenborough as "one of the greatest natural wonders of the world".
