while the waterfall may represent a grand feat of nature, its home by the camorim reservoir is a man-made phenomenon. planned by samoel correa and built by henrique de novaes as far back as 1908.

the reservoir's unique name comes from the word 'camury' in the language of the indigenous tupi-guarani people. the word 'ca' means to kill, and 'mury' describes a fly or mosquito. this is also the name of the neighborhood where the main access road to the dam and waterfall is located.