The Rhine Falls have thundered at the border of Switzerland and Germany for thousands of years, long before any traveler had words to describe them. Formed during the last Ice Age – about 15,000 years ago – the falls emerged when shifting glaciers redirected the course of the Rhine River, forcing it over a hard band of ancient limestone. As the water carved the land, the river split into channels and cascades, creating the broad, powerful waterfall.
The Rhine Falls stand as Europe’s largest waterfall by volume, attracting millions each year who watch the torrent crash around the iconic central rock, rising defiantly in the middle of the river.