Explained: World’s biggest waterfall is hidden under ocean – here’s what you never knew about Denmark Strait Cataract | World News

New Delhi: When people think of the world’s largest waterfall, they often imagine towering cascades like Niagara or Victoria Falls. But the world’s largest waterfall is not on land. It is hidden deep beneath the ocean surface. This natural phenomenon is known as Denmark Strait Cataract.

It is located in the narrow passage between Greenland and Iceland known as the Denmark Strait. Unlike traditional waterfalls, this waterfall flows under water. There is no dramatic curtain of water visible from above. The entire process takes place thousands of meters below the ocean surface.

Waterfalls form due to differences in water temperature and density. Extremely cold, dense water from the Greenland Sea flows southward. Once it reaches an underwater ridge in the Denmark Strait, it dives into the warmer, lighter waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The fall is approximately 3,500 meters deep. This makes it much taller than any waterfall on land.

In terms of scale, the Denmark Strait Cataract is huge. Its width extends to approximately 480 kilometers. Scientists estimate that millions of cubic meters of water fall down every second. The flow rate is several times greater than that of the largest visible waterfalls in the world. That’s why it is considered the most powerful waterfall in the world.

This underwater cascade plays an important role in the global ocean circulation system. It forms part of the thermohaline circulation, often described as the planet’s “global conveyor belt”. This circulatory system helps regulate the earth’s climate by dissipating heat into the oceans. The Denmark Strait Cataract contributes to the movement of cold and warm water masses, which affects weather patterns, especially in Europe.

This feature was studied and mapped during oceanographic research missions in the 20th century. Scientists used sonar technology and deep-sea instruments to measure depth and flow. Since the waterfall is formed entirely under water, it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Its existence is known through scientific research and data collection.

The Denmark Strait Cataract shows that some of the world’s most powerful natural forces operate deep below the surface, where we cannot see them. Although it cannot be seen by people standing on the shore, it is the largest waterfall on the planet, helping to control ocean currents and influencing global climate.