The top 10 rainiest places in the world
Cape Town, South Africa, is set to be the world’s first major city to run out of water in less than three months, and the significance of rainfall seems more important than ever before.
When rain falls, the water either evaporates, is transpired by plants, collects in streams, or settles in soil and rocks.
Rainfall patterns are drastically shifting with Earth’s changing climate, yet some regions of the world are blessed with steady amounts of precipitation. The following places receive more consistent rain than anywhere else in the world.
Mawsynram, Meghalaya State, India
Record monsoon seasons bring an annual rainfall average of 467 inches to Mawsynram, making this region of India and its surrounding villages the wettest places in the world.
Cherrapunji, Meghalaya State, India
With rain falling up to three weeks straight, Cherrapunji accumulates over 463 inches of rain each year.
Tutendo, Colombia, South America
Two rainy seasons dump an average of 463 inches of rain in Tutendo, and nearby Quibdo is considered to be the wettest city in the world.
Cropp River, New Zealand
An incredible 453 inches of rain fills this river annually. The record amount of rainfall in this region is 708 inches in a single year.
Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
San Antonio de Ureca on Bioko Island is the wettest place in Africa, collecting around 411 inches of precipitation each year.
Debundscha, Africa
A yearly total of 405 inches of rainfall can be expected in this village at the foot of Mount Cameroon.
Big Bog, Maui, Hawaii
With an average annual rainfall total of 404 inches, Big Bog experiences precipitation almost constantly.
Puu Kukui, Maui, Hawaii
Puu Kukui, the highest peak in the West Maui Mountains, receives an average of 386 inches of rain.
Mount Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii
A record of 683 inches of rain fell in Mount Waialeale in 1912. The yearly average is 384 inches.
Mount Emei, Sichuan Province, China
Mount Emei is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and collects around 321 inches of rain every year.
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
