|
|
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | {{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}}
| + | waterfalls are sweet. |
| − | {{otheruses}}
| + | i like waterfalls. |
| − | [[Image:Jogmonsoon.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Jog Falls]] in India, a roaring giant]]
| + | waterfalls have water |
| − | A '''waterfall''' is usually a [[geology|geological]] [[geologic formation|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 or [[nickpoint]].
| + | water comes from the sky |
| − | | + | i like to drink water. |
| − | Some waterfalls form in [[mountain]] environments where the [[erosion|erosive water force]] is high 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 [[landslide]]s, [[Geologic fault|fault]]s or [[volcano|volcanic action]].
| + | but fish have sex in water. |
| − | | + | so thats kinda weird! |
| − | Waterfalls may also be artificial, and they are sometimes created as [[garden]] and [[landscape]] ornaments.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Formation ==
| |
| − | [[Image:Waterfall formation23.png|thumb|350px|right|Formation of a waterfall]]
| |
| − | Typically, a river flows over a large step in the rocks which may have been formed by a fault line. 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 [[stratum]] 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]] or plunge pool under and behind the waterfall. Eventually, the [[outcrop]]ping, 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]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | Streams becomes thinner and shallower just above waterfalls due to flowing over the rock shelf, and there is usually a deep pool(plunge pool) just below the waterfall because of the [[kinetic energy]] of the water hitting the bottom.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Waterfalls can occur along the edge of [[glacial trough]], 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. The rivers are flowing from [[hanging valley]]s.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Classifying Waterfalls==
| |
| − | The International Waterfall Classification System is the generally accepted scientific method of classifying the world's waterfalls. Waterfalls are grouped into 10 broad classes based on the average volume of water present on the fall using a logarithmic scale. Class 10 waterfalls include Niagara Falls, Paulo Alfonso Falls and Khone Falls. Class designations of other well known waterfalls include Victoria Falls and Kaieteur Falls (Class 9); Rhine Falls, Gullfoss and Sutherland Falls (Class 8); Angel Falls and Dettifoss (Class 7); Yosemite Falls and Lower Yellowstone Falls (Class 6). Source: International Waterfall Classification System (Outskirts Press 2006)
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Types of waterfalls==<!-- This section is linked from [[Hyrule]] -->
| |
| − | [[Image:Havasu Falls 1a md.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Havasu Falls]], near Supai, [[Arizona]], is an example of a plunge waterfall]]
| |
| − | [[Image:Dark Hollow Falls.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Dark Hollow Falls, near [[Skyline Drive]], [[Virginia]], is an example of cascade waterfall]]
| |
| − | [[Image:Powerscourt HPIM1262.JPG|thumb|250px|left|[[Powerscourt Waterfall]], near [[Enniskerry]], [[County Wicklow|Wicklow County]], is an example of a horsetail waterfall]]
| |
| − | [[Image:Kakadu 2432.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Kakadu National Park]]]]
| |
| − | * '''Block''': Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
| |
| − | * '''Cascade''': Water descends a series of rock steps.
| |
| − | * '''Cataract''': A large waterfall.
| |
| − | * '''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|List of waterfalls}}
| |
| − | Significant waterfalls include these alphabetically:
| |
| − | * [[Angel Falls]], the world's highest at 979 [[metre]]s (3212 [[Foot (unit of length)|feet]]), in [[Venezuela]]
| |
| − | * [[Bridalveil Fall (Yosemite)|Bridalveil Fall]], California - 189 m (620 ft) high: sheer drop when flowing
| |
| − | * [[Cascata delle Marmore]] in [[Italy]] is the tallest man-made waterfall in the world
| |
| − | * [[Cautley Spout ]] at 175 m (580 ft) is the tallest waterfall in the [[United Kingdom]]
| |
| − | * [[Gocta]], the fifth-highest in the world at 771 m (2533 ft), located in the province [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]], [[Peru]]
| |
| − | * [[Kaieteur Falls]], (Potaro River in central Guyana) located in the Kaieteur National Park, a region that is also claimed by Venezuela. It is 226 m (741 ft)
| |
| − | * [[High Force]] on the [[River Tees]] is one of the tallest waterfalls in England
| |
| − | * [[Iguazu Falls]], a tall and extremely wide fall located in [[South America]] on the [[Argentina]]/[[Brazil]] border
| |
| − | * [[Jog Falls]], India's eighth-highest (listed as 313 ranking on the World Waterfall Database), located in [[Karnataka]] state, [[India]]
| |
| − | * [[Jurong Falls]] in [[Singapore]] is the tallest artificial waterfall in Asia
| |
| − | * [[Multnomah Falls]]: {{convert|611|ft|m|0}} high 30ft wide
| |
| − | * [[Niagara Falls]] is the most powerful falls in North America
| |
| − | * [[Ramnefjellsfossen]], the world's third-highest at 808 m (2685 ft), at [[Stryn]], Nesdalen, Norway
| |
| − | * [[Rhine Falls]], Europe's largest, located in [[Switzerland]]
| |
| − | * [[Tugela Falls]], the world's second-highest at 947 m (3110 ft), in [[KwaZulu-Natal]] province, Republic of [[South Africa]]
| |
| − | * [[Victoria Falls]], the largest waterfall in the world, over a [[mile]] long and located on the [[Zambezi]] river on the border of [[Zimbabwe]] and [[Zambia]].
| |
| − | * [[Yosemite Falls]], arguably the tallest in [[North America]], located in [[Yosemite National Park]], [[United States]]
| |
| − | * [[Krimmler Falls]], Europe's tallest waterfalls, height: 390 m, located in [[Krimml]], [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | Oluminrin Water Falls at Erin Ijesa, Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria: This is a seven steps waterfalls from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Although, the height of the fall is yet to be determined. It is a tourist attraction in Nigeria.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == See also ==
| |
| − | *[[Stream pool]]
| |
| − | *[[Water feature]]
| |
| − | *[[Tributary]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==External links==
| |
| − | {{commons|waterfall}}
| |
| − | *[http://www.world-waterfalls.com/ World Waterfall Database]
| |
| − | *[http://www.worldwaterfalls.com/ WorldWaterfalls.com - Waterfall images and info, detailed waterfall types page]
| |
| − | *[http://www.iceland.pl/artyk/050930artyk1.html Classification of waterfalls (Polish)]
| |
| − | *[http://www.mapicurious.com/waterfalls GPS locations to waterfalls (mainly in Southeastern United States)]
| |
| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Waterfalls|*]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Ecotourism]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | [[ar:شلال]]
| |
| − | [[zh-min-nan:Chúi-chhiâng]]
| |
| − | [[bg:Водопад]]
| |
| − | [[ca:Cascada]]
| |
| − | [[cs:Vodopád]]
| |
| − | [[da:Vandfald]]
| |
| − | [[de:Wasserfall]]
| |
| − | [[et:Juga]]
| |
| − | [[el:Καταρράκτης]]
| |
| − | [[es:Cascada]]
| |
| − | [[eo:Akvofalo]]
| |
| − | [[eu:Ur-jauzi]]
| |
| − | [[fr:Chute d'eau]]
| |
| − | [[gd:Eas]]
| |
| − | [[gl:Fervenza]]
| |
| − | [[gu:ધોધ]]
| |
| − | [[ko:폭포]]
| |
| − | [[hi:झरना]]
| |
| − | [[id:Air terjun]]
| |
| − | [[iu:ᖁᖅᓗᕐᓂᖅ/quqlurniq]]
| |
| − | [[is:Foss]]
| |
| − | [[it:Cascata]]
| |
| − | [[he:מפל מים]]
| |
| − | [[la:Aqua cadens]]
| |
| − | [[lt:Krioklys]]
| |
| − | [[nl:Waterval]]
| |
| − | [[ja:滝]]
| |
| − | [[no:Foss]]
| |
| − | [[nn:Foss]]
| |
| − | [[pl:Wodospad]]
| |
| − | [[pt:Queda de água]]
| |
| − | [[qu:Phaqcha]]
| |
| − | [[ru:Водопад]]
| |
| − | [[simple:Waterfall]]
| |
| − | [[sk:Vodopád]]
| |
| − | [[sl:Slap]]
| |
| − | [[sr:Водопад]]
| |
| − | [[su:Curug]]
| |
| − | [[fi:Vesiputous]]
| |
| − | [[sv:Vattenfall]]
| |
| − | [[ta:அருவி]]
| |
| − | [[vi:Thác]]
| |
| − | [[chr:ᎠᎹᏍᎧᎦᎯ]]
| |
| − | [[tr:Şelâle]]
| |
| − | [[uk:Водоспад]]
| |
| − | [[ur:آبشار]]
| |
| − | [[zh:瀑布]]
| |
