Gavarnie Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gavarnie Falls |
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Gavarnie Falls
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 Location in France
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| Location | Hautes-Pyrénées (France) |
| Coordinates | 42°41′36″N 0°00′16″W / 42.69333°N 0.00444°W |
| Elevation | ~ 2 200 m |
| Total height | 422 m |
| Number of drops | 2 |
| Longest drop | 281 m |
| Total width | 15 m |
| Watercourse | Gave de Pau |
The Gavarnie Falls (in French: Grande Cascade de Gavarnie) is a beautiful waterfall located in France. It is the highest waterfall in mainland France. This amazing waterfall drops a total of 422 meters (about 1,385 feet).
You can find the falls in the Cirque de Gavarnie. This is a large, natural rock amphitheater. It is near the village of Gavarnie in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of France.
Where the Water Comes From
The Gavarnie Falls is the starting point of the Gave de Pau stream. The water for the waterfall comes from two main sources. It is fed by melting snow from the mountains. It also gets water from a small glacier. This glacier is actually located in Spain, just across the border.
The water from the melting snow and glacier seeps underground. It travels a hidden path. Then, it reappears at the very top edge of the waterfall.
Water Flow and Changes
The amount of water flowing over the falls changes throughout the year. On average, about 3 cubic meters of water flow per second. That's like three large bathtubs full of water every second!
In summer, the flow becomes much stronger. This is when the snow melts the most. The water flow can reach up to 200 cubic meters per second. That's a huge amount of water! In winter, the weather gets very cold. Sometimes, the waterfall can even freeze completely. When it freezes, the water stops flowing.
Waterfall Drops
The Gavarnie Falls is not just one single drop. It has two or three main steps or sections. The tallest single drop of the waterfall is 281 meters (about 922 feet). This makes it a very impressive sight to see.
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Cirque de Gavarnie, with the waterfall to the left
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Centre of the cirque in summer
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Wider view of Cirque de Gavarnie
See also
In Spanish: Cascada de Gavarnie para niños
