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The recent dizzying incident that occurred at Iguazu Falls in Brazil clearly shows how far modern people's insensitivity to safety has reached. The actions of a tourist who jumped into the rapids tens of meters down a cliff with the sole intention of recovering a smartphone chilled the hearts of those who saw him. Giant waterfalls like Iguazu are beautiful on the outside, but inside are deadly vortices and unpredictable currents that can swallow even adults in an instant. Park authorities strongly recommend that you do not search for your belongings yourself and always seek help from a professional rescue team if you drop your belongings, but the number of cases of people crossing the restricted area and putting themselves in harm's way is not decreasing. This is more than a simple personal mistake, it can be said to be a tragic aspect of human-centered arrogance that mistakenly believes that nature is within one's control.

On the other hand, from the perspective of natural damage and restoration, the history of the forest where the waterfall is located leaves us with another lesson. The case of Juwangsan Mountain in Gyeongsangbuk-do proved the amazing resilience of nature through light green new shoots sprouting again in places where fire had swept away. Although the ridges that were blackened by previous forest fires cannot be easily healed by human power, the process by which the moist broad-leaved forest in the valley acted as a natural firewall and protected the ancient temple suggests the greatness of nature's own defense mechanism. Humans try to conquer nature, but nature sometimes burns itself to prepare nourishment for the next generation. This is why, when we visit a waterfall, we must not just consume the scenery, but must also respect the order of the ecosystem and the years that have been silently endured to maintain the scenery.

Waterfalls are also a space where human religious aspirations and cultural aspirations are reflected. The case of those who visited Jangbaek Falls on Mt. Baekdu, despite not being able to see the face of heaven and earth, felt the energy of the nation in the stream and pledged to practice ninjutsu, which clearly shows the essence of comfort that nature provides to humans. In addition, the waterfalls in each region, such as Ogravis Falls in Africa or Deungseon Falls on Samaksan Mountain in Chuncheon, go beyond simple geological attractions and become huge museums and healing places that provide relaxation and inspiration to local residents and visitors. Sometimes, like the artificially created Maebawi Waterfall, it cools off the sweltering heat in the summer and opens up new challenges such as ice climbing in the winter, filling human life with variety. In this way, waterfalls form an inseparable relationship with human life and teach us the endless cycle of life force.

However, in order to enjoy these natural benefits, there is a minimum line that must be observed. As in the case of the Jirisan Guryong Falls trail, which was blocked due to falling rocks, nature sometimes does not allow humans to enter or warns of danger. Safety is not simply a matter of protecting one's health; it is also a matter of courtesy for humans to humbly maintain their place in the great order of nature. Control by management authorities is not intended to oppress us, but is a minimum safety measure to prevent damage to nature and protect precious human life. We deserve to enjoy the grandeur of waterfalls, but that qualification can only be achieved when we view nature as an object of respect, not an object of conquest.