Dangerous Selfies: The Deadly Price of Cliffside Photos Revealed

① Best Photos at a Waterfall on a Cliff

Accidents resulting in death while taking photos are occurring worldwide. According to a study, there have been around 400 deaths from 2008 to 2021 while taking pictures. Most of the victims were young women in their twenties, and the most common cause was drowning after falling while taking a picture. Accidents often happen when people act recklessly to capture photos in dizzying locations.

On Instagram, a video taken at a waterfall on a cliff has become a hot topic online. In the video, a man and a woman are sitting on the edge of a cliff, holding hands. Although they were wearing safety equipment, their situation looked dangerous at first glance. The video was shot at the top of the Salto de Dios waterfall near Meta in Colombia.

The Salto de Dios waterfall, at an altitude of 2,135 feet, is the highest in Colombia. They risked their lives sitting on the waterfall’s edge and taking photos. A foreign company was even advertising a tour product that allows you to take such images. People were lying or sitting on the cliff and taking pictures in their shared photos.

Victoria Falls, which runs along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa, is one of the three largest waterfalls in the world. There is a spot called Devil’s Pool at this location. It looks dizzying in photos, but there is a rock wall at the end of the waterfall.

Tourists often take dizzying photos here. This spot is closed off when the weather conditions are unfavorable. It is only open between September and October when the water level is relatively low. Safety precautions should be taken to prepare for potential situations, even at Victoria Falls.

② Best Photos at an Altitude of 3,280 feet

In Norway, Trolltunga is a rock that juts out over a cliff. It is located at an altitude of 3,280 feet. The place was named Trolltunga, which means troll’s tongue because it looks like the tongue of a troll from Norwegian folklore. It takes a round-trip 10-hour hiking course to visit this spot. Despite this, many tourists visit to take photos with the precipice as the backdrop.

Some people even sit on the edge to take pictures or pretend to jump, creating dangerous scenes. In 2015, a woman from Australia fell while taking a selfie at the cliff’s edge. However, tourists still visit this place to take photos. They often take pictures in positions that look dangerous at first glance.

Trolltunga is without special safety devices, so extra caution is needed.

③ The Accidents Continue Even in National Parks

Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia, is where you can fully experience nature. The Boroka Lookout is the most famous spot among tourists. It has become a popular spot for the best photos, as you can capture the spectacular view of the national park all at once. There is a separate area with railings installed to prevent accidents. However, many tourists go to the cliff’s edge to take more thrilling photos.

In 2020, a woman fell and died while taking a photo here. On Instagram, you can see many pictures taken at the Boroka Lookout. You can see photos of people hanging off the cliff or doing backflips, creating dangerous situations.

The act of risking danger to take thrilling photos on cliffs is enough to make one cringe. Australian authorities have urged the public to pay attention to safety signs and guidelines. They also left a message saying, “No photo is worth more than a person’s life.”

Yosemite National Park in California, USA, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even from a distance, the towering mountain peaks create a majestic view. Taft Point in Yosemite is known for its excellent view.

Many people take dizzying photos on the cliff here. Due to the danger, there have been several incidents of people falling to their deaths while taking pictures. An Indian couple died after falling while standing at the top of a cliff to take a photo. While taking pictures is good, safety should always be the top priority.