The Jog waterfall is the tallest waterfall in India, located in Karnataka state, southern India. It is created by the river Sharavati , falling through a height of 292 m. The river splits up into four streams just before the waterfall; the four streams are named in accordance with their perceived trajectories:
- Raja (King): Named so because of its apparently 'dignified' and 'serene' fall (first from the left in the picture).
- Rani (Queen), also called Lady: The stream has a winding, twisting trajectory, said to resemble the movements of a female dancer (third from the left in the picture).
- Roarer: This stream appears out of a mass of rocks, making a tremendous amount of noise (hence the name) (second from left, starting from middle height).
- Rocket: Consists of a large volume of water streaming out of a small opening at a very high speed (first from the right).
Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganamakki dam across the Sharavati river, and the hydro-electric power station that it serves. The power station has been operational since 1949, and is, at 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydro-electric stations in India. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra Hydro-Electric project, after the King of Mysore at the time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric Project. It was served by the Hirebhaskara dam until the 1960s. At this time, a dam across the Sharavati river was built just before the river jumps into the Jog Falls, and this dam has been used for power generation since then.
The dam has led to a reduction of the amount of water reaching the falls during the summer months. During the rainy season (June-October), the floodgates of the dam need to be opened and the waterfall runs full. This is also the main tourist season at the waterfall.
