The Horizontal
Waterfalls are to be found in the Talbot Bay in the Kimberley region of
Western Australia. However; called waterfalls, this stunning natural
phenomenon in fact consist of a pair of openings or gorges
in the McLarty Range through which immense amount of water are pushed
by tidal waves, creating temporary waterfalls up to 5 meters high. And
when the tide changes, so does the direction of the flow too. 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 2nd the most fantastic; 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 make an astonishing waterfall
effect as the water rushes through and then down to the lower levels on
the other side of the ridgelines. The course of action is reversed and
it is repeated again in the opposite direction.
The tides in this vicinity have a 10 meter variation which occurs over 6
1/2 hours from low tide to high tide and vice versa. On a slack tide it
is likely to drive boats through the two gaps to the bay behind. The
gorgeous waterfall phenomena has been described
by David Attenborough as "one of the greatest natural wonders of the
world".
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