Horizontal Falls

The Horizontal Falls or Horizontal Waterfalls (nicknamed the "Horries") is the name given to a natural phenomenon on the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world" (Attenborough, 2013). They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The Waterfalls run horizontally compared to vertically. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. Within each change of the tide the direction of the falls reverses, creating vast tidal whirlpools. Within this area live the Balangarra, Bardi Jawa, Uunguu, and Dambimangari indigenous communities, which tour companies must take care to respect.

The northern, most seaward gorge is (16°22′35″S 123°57′34″E / 16.37639°S 123.95944°E / -16.37639; 123.95944) 20 m (66 ft)-wide and the southern, more inland gorge (16°22′59″S 123°57′29″E / 16.38306°S 123.95806°E / -16.38306; 123.95806) is 12 m (39 ft). Above each of the gorges are natural reservoirs between 6–8 km (3.7–5.0 mi)-long which fill and empty with seawater through the gorge openings. The inner gorge is also partly fed by fresh water from Poulton Creek.

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