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Photo: Leruswing, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China and the largest on the legendary Yellow River. As a result it is often claimed that this is "the only yellow waterfall in the world." At Hukou, located right on the border between Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces, the 300-meter-wide Yellow River suddenly narrows and is forced violently through a 20-meter-wide gorge before falling turbulently into a stone pond 30 meters below prior to continuing its voyage towards the sea. Over 1000 cubic meters of water per second rush frothily through this narrow opening in the rock, somewhat resembling water being poured from a giant teapot. It is this appearance, plus all of this mist which the waterfall throws off, which gives rise to the waterfall's Chinese name, "Kettle Spout Falls." With viewing platforms just above the falls, visitors can view the Hukou Waterfall from close up.
The Hukou Waterfalls is the largest waterfall on the Yellow River, the second largest waterfall in China, and the world's largest yellow waterfall. It is located at the intersection of the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, 165 km (103 mi) to the west of Fenxi County, and 50 km (31 mi) to the east of Yichuan County where the middle reaches of the Yellow River flow through Jinxia Grand Canyon. The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually 30 metres (98 ft) wide but increasing to 50 m (164 ft) during flood season. It has a height of over 20 m (66 ft). When the Yellow River approaches the Hukou Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to 20–30 m (66–98 ft). The water's velocity increases, and then plunges over a narrow opening on a cliff, forming a waterfall 15 m (49 ft) high and 20 m (66 ft) wide, as if water were pouring down from a huge teapot. Hence it gets the nickname Hukou Waterfall.
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