The Top 10 wettest places in the world

Some parts of the world experience a rainy season, like in southeast Asia, while other parts of the world see consistent rain year-round, like in the Pacific northwest. But some places experience more rain than anywhere else in the world. Earth.com presents: the Top 10 wettest places on Earth.

Emei Shan, China

Mount Emei is the tallest of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism as located in the Sichuan Province of China. The “Cloud Sea” there, which is named for the clouds visible above and below from the top of the mountain, is responsible for the heavy rainfall, which averages 8,169 mm annually––the most rainfall in China.

Kukui, Hawaii

Pu’u Kukui is the highest peak of Mauna Kahalawa (the West Maui Mountains) and came to be when a crater formed by a volcanic collapse created the I’ao Valley below. With 9,239 mm of rainfall a year, it is the third wettest place in Hawaii.

Mount Waialeale, Hawaii

This extremely slippery, rain forested mountain is the second highest point on the island of Kaua’i and the second wettest place in Hawaii with 9,763 mm of rainfall a year. Its name can be translated to “overflowing water.”

Big Bog, Hawaii

The wettest place in Hawaii is on the island of Maui and is a popular tourist destination even though access to the island requires either a helicopter ride or two days of hiking. Annual rainfall averages 10,272 mm.

Debundscha, Africa

This village in the south-western region of the Republic of Cameroon lies at the foot of Mount Cameroon––the highest peak in Africa, and faces the south Atlantic Ocean. The weather there is in stark contrast to the dry weather affecting of most of the continent and rainfall averages 10,299 mm a year.

San Antonio de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea

This region on Bioko Island is the wettest place on the African continent. During the brief dry season from November to March, tourists flock to see turtles come ashore and lay eggs. Annual rainfall averages 10,450 mm.

Cropp River, New Zealand

This river flows east for 9 km before it joins with the Whitcombe River. Rainfall over the body of water averages 11,516 mm a year.

Tutendo, Comombia

This city in the north western region of Colombia, South America has a population of less than 1,000 people and is the third wettest place on earth with an average rainfall of 11,770 mm a year.

Cherrapunji, India

The town Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra, can be found in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Despite being the second wettest place in the world averaging 11,777 mm of rainfall a year, the region faces acute annual water shortages during the dry months of winter.

Mawsynram, India

This village, found in the same East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya (15 km from Cherrapunji), is the wettest place on earth. Villagers reportedly use grass to soundproof their domiciles from the deafening sound of pelting rain during the wet seasons. Their annual rainfall averages 11,871 mm.

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By Darryl Joseph, Earth.com Staff Writer