Waterfalls, Tourism and Landscape

Abstract

Waterfalls have long been popular tourist attractions, with a few outstanding cataracts becoming tourist destinations. This article discusses the historic role of waterfalls in tourism and the impact of their development on the landscape. As well as giving aesthetic pleasure, waterfalls also provide opportunities for a wide range of, sometimes incompatible, outdoor leisure activities. Typically found in difficult, even dangerous, terrain, waterfalls are often made easier to reach and enjoy by the construction of footpaths and other amenities. These developments and the increased number of visitors they encourage can spoil the aesthetic enjoyment of waterfalls. Harnessing waterfalls for power generation also detracts from their aesthetic qualities and value as tourist attractions. Many tourists dislike the commercial development at some waterfalls and so are encouraged to go to other, less developed falls. This, in turn, contributes to the development and degradation of remoter, more pristine waterfall sites, thus incurring the further spread of tourism blight.