Reichenbach Falls, Waterfall cascade in Schattenhalb, Switzerland.

The Reichenbach Falls drop about 250 metres over seven steps on the Rychenbach stream, with the upper Grand Reichenbach Fall falling 110 metres. In the upper fall, water splits into a narrower left strand and a wider right strand before merging into a foamy white mass. A pale mist rises where the cascade meets the dark, irregular rock, and a sheer cliff of horizontal strata with green shrubs stands to the left.

The falls were painted by J. M. W. Turner in the early 19th century. In 1893 Arthur Conan Doyle published "The Final Problem", in which Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty fall to their deaths here. Doyle had been shown the falls by Sir Henry Lunn during a Swiss holiday; a plaque at the funicular station commemorates Holmes, and the ledge where Moriarty fell is marked by a plaque reading "At this fearful place, Sherlock Holmes vanquished Professor Moriarty, on 4 May 1891."

The falls gained worldwide recognition as the setting of the confrontation between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty in The Final Problem. Visitors today find a memorial plaque and a small museum that recall this literary connection and draw fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories.

A funicular railway connects the town of Meiringen to the viewing platforms and operates from spring through autumn, offering convenient access. Visitors should wear weatherproof clothing, as spray from the falls can dampen the paths when conditions are windy.

A hydroelectric power station controls the water flow of the falls during specific periods, temporarily altering their natural appearance and intensity. During these controlled phases, the water appears calmer and less forceful, offering visitors an unusual contrast to the full natural display.