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[[Image:Victoria Falls Zambezi.jpg|thumb|right|At lower water levels, more of the First Gorge can be seen]]
The Victoria Falls have become one of the most famous waterfalls: the sevennaturalwonders.org website ranks them as one of [[Wonders of the World| "Seven Natural Wonders of the World"]].<ref name="The Seven Natural Wonders">[http://sevennaturalwonders.org/the-original/victoria-falls The Seven Natural Wonders Website] accessed 29 April 2009.</ref> [[David Livingstone]], the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European recorded to view the Victoria Falls — which he did from what is now known as 'Livingstone Island' in Zambia, the only land accessible in the middle of the falls.<ref name="Livingstone!!! Tourism.com">[http://www.livingstonetourism.com Livingstone Tourism Association]</ref> David Livingstone gave the falls the name 'Victoria Falls' in honour of his [[Queen Victoria|Queen]], but the indigenous name of 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' — literally meaning the 'Smoke that Thunders' — is also well known. The [[World Heritage List]] recognizes both names.<ref name="WW"/> While it is neither the [[Angel Falls|highest]] nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of {{convert|1,708|m|ft}}<ref>Southern Africa Places (2009). Victoria Falls. Retrieved on 2009-05-18 from [http://www.places.co.za/html/vicfalls.html Victoria Falls] - South Africa Places</ref> and height of {{convert|108|m|ft}}, forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls' maximum flow rate compares well with that of other major waterfalls (see table [[#Flood and dry season flow rates|below]]).<ref name="WW">[http://www.world-waterfalls.com/index.php World Waterfalls Website] accessed 1 March 2007</ref>
For a considerable distance upstream from the falls, the Zambezi flows over a level sheet of [[basalt]], in a shallow [[valley]] bounded by low and distant [[sandstone]] hills. The river's course is dotted with numerous tree-covered [[island]]s, which increase in number as the river approaches the falls. There are no mountains, [[escarpments]], or deep valleys which might be expected to create a waterfall, only flat [[plateau]] extending hundreds of kilometres in all directions.
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