King George VI Falls, Remote waterfall in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Guyana
This waterfall plunges vertically 214 meters down the Oshi River and ranks among the largest cascades in western Guyana. The falling water creates a powerful mist before reaching the pool below, forming swirling currents in the basin.
An American entomologist named Paul A. Zahl first documented this site in 1938 while attempting to measure its height. His initial calculation was inaccurate because he dropped rocks to estimate the fall, recording roughly 1,600 feet instead of the actual measurement.
The Paruima community living nearby has maintained deep roots to this place, and visitors are asked to seek permission beforehand out of respect. The people here are generous in sharing their knowledge of this significant waterway with those who visit.
Access is on foot from Paruima village, which typically takes five to seven hours of walking. The village itself can be reached by small plane or boat departing from Kamarang.
The water pressure at the base creates hurricane-force weather conditions that make the ground immediately below the falls extremely hazardous. These extreme conditions make it difficult to approach closely or take precise measurements of the site.
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