The wettest places on earth are picked based on the amount of precipitation they receive in different forms like fog, snow, rain and/or drizzle. The volume of precipitation is further affected by factors like wind patterns, land topography, temperatures, latitudes, proximity to water bodies, and more. Monsoons bring out the beauty of nature. When the water meets the land it enhances its natural bright green hue. While people usually prefer not to travel during the rain, the wet season does allow you to experience special things that are available only during the rain.
The 8 Wettest Places On Earth
1. Wettest Place In The World: Mawsynram, India
Mawsynram receives an annual rainfall of 11,871 millimetres making it the world’s wettest place. Situated amongst the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, India, Mawsynram’s proximity to the Bay of Bengal is one of the main reasons for its precipitation. The warm and moist monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal are pushed to converge at Mawsynram by the mountains and cause the highest rainfall in the world. The wettest place on earth is blessed with many rivers and waterfalls. The residents of Mawsynram have adapted to the wet climate by making covers out of reeds to use while farming. They also use grass on their roofs to soundproof their huts from the rain. Also called the Abode of the Clouds, Meghalaya offers many natural beauties, waterfalls and root bridges that are alive.
2. Rains That Don’t Stop For 15-21 Days: Cherrapunji, India
With an annual rainfall of 11,777 millimetres, Cherrapunji is the second wettest place on earth. Situated 15 kilometres away from Mawsynram, Cherrapunji sometimes faces heavy rainfall for 15-21 days continuously during the monsoons. Also located on Khasi Hills, Cherrapunji is at 4,500 feet above sea level. In winter, the residents face a shortage of water and the temperature dips to 7 degrees Celsius. In summer, the average temperature is around 23 degrees Celsius. Meghalaya is also famous for having more than 1,000 caves and one of the most visited caves is Mawsmai, near Cherrapunji.
3. Dark And Cloudy Skies: Tutunendo, Columbia
One of the wettest places on earth, Tutunendo witnesses sunshine only for three or four hours a day. The sky remains cloudy for the rest of the day. High humidity, less wind, warm temperatures, and a lot of precipitation define the atmosphere of Tutunendo, Columbia. Located beside the wettest city in the world, Quibdo, Tutunendo has two monsoons annually, and even in dry months like March and February, there is rainfall for about 20 days in a month. It has an annual rainfall of 11,770 millimetres. One of the main attractions of the area are the different rivers that flow as beautiful waterfalls.
4. Just Nine Kilometres In Length: Cropp River
With an annual rainfall of 11,516 millimetres, Cropp River in New Zealand is among the wettest places on earth. The nine-kilometre-long river is the wettest place in New Zealand as well. The region once recorded its highest rainfall at 1,049 millimetres on December 12 and 13, 1995. The river offers different activities like kayaking, but tourism has yet to develop the area.
5. On Africa’s West Coast: San Antonio de Ureca, Africa
The wettest place in Africa, San Antonio de Ureca is located on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea. The dry seasons of the region are between November and March, and this is when they host a lot of tourists who visit San Antonio de Ureca to watch turtles visit the shore and lay eggs. With an average annual rainfall of 10,450 millimetres, the region is located 32 kilometres from the western coast of Africa.
6. The Equator, Ocean And Mountain: Debundscha, Africa
One of the wettest places on earth, Debundscha has an average annual rainfall of 10,299 millimetres. Situated at the foot of Mount Cameroon, Debundscha is the second wettest place in Africa. There are three causes behind the heavy rainfall—its proximity to the equator, mountains, and the Atlantic coast. The equator provides a humid climate, the rain clouds from the ocean cannot pass as Mount Cameroon measures up to 4,095 metres. The location offers beautiful sights to experience.
7. Turning Green For The Tourists: Big Bog, Hawaii
An island on Maui, Big Bog is believed to be the wettest mountain in Hawaii. Big Bog has an average annual rainfall of 10,272 millimetres and is located in the Haleakala National Park. Many tourists visit the region. The rain ensures that the island is green and makes for a buzzing tourist location. The heavy rains in the area are caused by moisture that is brought in by trade winds from the Pacific Ocean.
8. Overflowing Water: Mount Waialeale, Hawaii
Mount Waialeale in Kauai, Hawaii, is an extinct volcano that is one of the wettest regions on Earth. Waialeale means “overflowing water” or “rippling water”, and the name of this mountain is named after its wet and rainy weather. The mountain receives an average annual rainfall of 9,763 millimetres, which is five times more than other peaks on the island like Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Mount Waialeale has natural attractions such as Weeping Wall, the basin of Waialeale, Kuilau Ridge Trail in Wailua and amazing treks on the Alaka‘i Swamp Trail at Koke‘e State Park.
Also Read: What to See and Do in Cherrapunji – One of the Wettest Places on Earth
Heavy Rains And Foliage
Among the wettest places on earth, Kukui in Maui, Hawaii with an annual rainfall of 9,293 millimetres, and Emei Shan in Sichuan Province, China with an average rainfall of 8,169 millimetres also fit the list. If you plan on visiting these places, make sure to visit them in the dry months as the monsoon is tough even for the residents.
