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A '''waterfall''' is usually a ] ] resulting from water, often in the form of a ], flowing over an ]-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. Waterfalls may also be artificial, and they are sometimes created as ] and ] ornament. A '''waterfall''' is usually a ] ] resulting from water, often in the form of a ], flowing over an ]-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. Waterfalls may also be artificial, and they are sometimes created as ] and ] ornament.


Some waterfalls form in ] environments where ] is rapid and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as ]s or ]. Some waterfalls form in ] environments where ] is rapid and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as ]s, ]s or ].

The hobby of ] is blossoming in many parts of the world.


==Formation == ==Formation ==
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==Examples of large waterfalls== ==Examples of large waterfalls==
{{main|List of waterfalls}} {{main|List of waterfalls}}

⚫ {{commons|Waterfall}}
* ], the world's highest at 979 m (3212 ft), in ] * ], the world's highest at 979 m (3212 ft), in ]
* ], the world's second highest at 947 m (3110 ft), in ] province, Republic of ]. * ], the world's second highest at 947 m (3110 ft), in ] province, Republic of ].
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* ], India's highest and second highest in ], located in ] state, ] * ], India's highest and second highest in ], located in ] state, ]
* ] in ] is said to be the tallest man-made waterfall in the world * ] in ] is said to be the tallest man-made waterfall in the world

==External links==
⚫ {{commons|waterfall}}
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Revision as of 01:50, 6 November 2006

For other uses, see Waterfall (disambiguation).
Waterfalls redirects here. For the Paul McCartney single, see Waterfalls (Paul McCartney song).
Hopetoun Falls near Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia

A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. Waterfalls may also be artificial, and they are sometimes created as garden and landscape ornament.

Some waterfalls form in mountain environments where erosion is rapid and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as landslides, faults or volcanic action.

Formation

Formation of a waterfall

Typically, a stream flow across an area of formations strata will form shelves across the streamway, elevated above the further stream bed when the less erosion-resistant rock around it disappears. Over a period of years, the edges of this shelf will gradually break away and the waterfall will steadily retreat upstream, creating a gorge of recession. Often, the rock strata just below the more resistant shelf will be of a softer type, meaning undercutting, due to splashback, will occur here to form a shallow cave-like formation known as a rock shelter (also known as a rock house) under and behind the waterfall. Eventually, the outcropping, more resistant cap rock will collapse under pressure to add blocks of rock to the base of the waterfall. These blocks of rock are then broken down into smaller boulders by attrition as they collide with each other, and they also erode the base of the waterfall by abrasion, creating a deep plunge pool.

Waterfalls can also form due to glaciation, whereby a stream or river flowing into a glacier continues to flow into a valley after the glacier has receded or melted. The large waterfalls in Yosemite Valley are examples of this phenomenon.

Streams become wider and more shallow just above waterfalls due to flowing over the rock shelf, and there is usually a deep pool just below the waterfall due to the kinetic energy of the water hitting the bottom.


Havasu Falls, near Supai, Arizona, is an example of a plunge waterfall.

Types of waterfalls

Block
Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
Cascade
Water descends a series of rock steps.
Cataract
A large waterfall. See Cataracts of the Nile for a well-known sequence of six.
Fan
Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.
Horsetail
Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
Plunge
Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.
Punchbowl
Water descends in a constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool.
Segmented
Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
Tiered
Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
Multi step
A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Examples of large waterfalls

Main article: List of waterfalls

External links

Category: