Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay Kimberley region WA 2020
Channel: Tarmo Talv
Date: 2021-02-27

The Horizontal Falls are an unusual natural phenomenon on the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, where tidal flows cause waterfalls on the ebb and flow of each tide. These incredible natural wonders are the work of some of the largest tidal movements in the world.
The falls are formed when water pours horizontally through two narrow gorges, about 300 metres (980 ft) apart, in the coastal McLarty Ranges situated within Talbot Bay  in the Buccaneer Archipelago. The falls occur after water backs up behind the range during tidal flows in each direction, when tides of up to 10 metres (33 ft) regularly occur. The seaward gap is about 20 metres (66 ft) in width, while the landward one is about 10 metres (33 ft). The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 4 metres (13 ft) With each change of the tide, the direction of the falls reverses.