Following the Equator

Swimming atop Victoria Falls

The precipice of the awesome and powerful Victoria Falls—with a drop of more than 350 feet—may seem like a terrifying place for a refreshing dip. But, sure enough, thrill-seekers and adventurous tourists are being tempted by the Devil's Swimming Pool.

A naturally formed rock pool at the edge of the falls creates an exhilarating—€”and relatively safe—€”place to swim. See for yourself:

When the flow of the Zambezi River isn't too strong, usually from September to December, visitors can swim right to the edge of the falls. A natural rock wall at the edge slows the water and allows swimmers to brave the most amazing view of Victoria Falls.

You can watch more videos and see more photos of the Devil's Swimming Pool.

Friday Fun Fact: Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, which straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River, may not be the tallest nor the largest waterfall in the world, but it's certainly one of the most spectacular.

The falls—which are twice as wide and twice as deep at Niagara Falls—were named Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "The Smoke That Thunders," by the local Kalolo-Lozi people. But British explorer David Livingstone, who was the first European to see the falls in 1855, named them after Queen Victoria. Livingstone wrote of the falls:

"No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight."

Photo: Zest-pk via Flickr

Travel Tidbits: Navigating the Louvre

The Louvre in Paris claims to be the world's largest museum. With more than 35,000 works of art and more than 652,000 square feet of exhibition space, it's easy to get lost among the masterpieces.

Globespotters recommends a handy solution to navigating the paintings, the sculptures, the treasures: a new multimedia gadget called the XP-vision.

The device, which was introduced last November and can be rented for six euros, includes a small video screen and headphones. You can choose various tours, or even customize one, through the vast collection. One of the best features is a virtual map, which helps you find your way through the maze of rooms.

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