GEOGRAPHERS DEFIED

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 232, 2 October 1935, Page 16

GEOGRAPHERS DEFIED

Height of Victoria Falls

Geographers will in future have an interesting topic of discussion, for Victoria Falls, in Northern Rhodesia, greatest of the world’s waterfalls, have been officially taken down a peg. They are not as high as they rfrere supposed to be. This has been stated in an official announcement by the Northern Rhodesia Survey Department. The interesting point for mapmakers here is that mystery still surrounds the falls. Nobody appears to know how high the falls were before, or even how high they are now. The strange reticence of the falls to let their real height be known was revealed in two recent reports. “The Victoria Falls are 50 feet less than supposed,” the first declared. “For long they have been said to be over 400 feet high, now they are authoritatively stated to be only 353”. “The perennial arguments as to the dimensions of the falls .are settled.” The second read. “The mean height is 347 "feet.” Consulted immediately, the Encyclopedia Britannica gave its opinion, that the height “varies from 250 feet to 343 feet.” It seemed that, contrary to the general belief, the falls had been

smaller some years ago and were now getting bigger. This view was, however, temporarily shaken by a visit to the Northern Rhodesia Information Office, and a talk to a high official. “I am afraid I kavo no official report on the matter,” tho high official said, “but it may bo on its way. So I cannot say anything officially, but I believe the height has been reduced by 10 feet.” “How high were the falls?” he continued. “Well, we have always been taught to say off pat to tourists, ‘4OO feet.’ And now it is 10 feet less, so it must be 390 feet, but, of course, I don’t know.” N Nest, in a feeling of confidence, the facts were laid before the Royal Geographical Society. “No,” the society replied, “we have not heard anything about the new statement of height. But in 1904 an authoritative survey published in the Royal Geographical Magazine stated the height to be 357 feet.” And there the matter rests, for the moment. Meanwhile geography students may take their pick, according to individual fancy or country of birth, 400, 390, 357, 353 or 347. “The Smoke that Thunders” will probably continue its mighty fall.