AY Honors/Waterfalls/Answer Key

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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 used for 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 thrust faults or volcanic action.

Formation

Formation of a waterfall

Some of waterfalls are the result of action of water on the underlying strata. Typically, a stream will flow across an area of formations, and more resistant rock 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 move upstream. Often, the rock strata just below the more resistant shelf will be of a softer type, and will erode out to form a shallow cave-like formation known as a rock shelter (also known as a rock house) under and behind the waterfall.

Streams often 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.

Some water falls have brown water from picking up rust, dirt and clay from the things it passes.

Types of waterfalls

Cascade-style waterfall in Oregon, United States.
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.

Examples of large waterfalls

A partial list of waterfalls is available; the world's largest waterfalls include:

Gallery

External links

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da:Vandfald de:Wasserfall eo:Akvofalo es:Cataratas et:Juga fr:Chute d'eau he:מפל מים it:Cascata ja:滝 nl:Waterval no:Foss nn:Foss pl:Wodospad pt:Cachoeira (cascata) sl:Slap sv:vattenfall