What is the largest waterfall in the world by width?

Khone Falls is the world’s largest waterfall by width, spanning about 10,783 metres across its many channels.

Located on the Mekong River in southern Laos, the falls are a broad complex of cascades and rapids rather than one single vertical curtain of water. The river breaks around numerous islands in the Si Phan Don, or “Four Thousand Islands,” region near the Cambodian border. The highest drops reach about 21 metres.

Because the water spreads across multiple channels, measurements describe the overall width of the waterfall system. This is different from measuring the width of one individual drop. The same distinction explains why Khone Falls can hold the width record while Angel Falls is famous for height and Niagara Falls for its iconic flow and gorge.

The falls have also shaped regional history and transport. They block continuous navigation on the Mekong, helping explain why the river cannot serve as an uninterrupted shipping route from southern Laos toward China. “Khone Phapheng Falls” is the more specific common name for the wider waterfall complex.