A Presentation By Noah Brown

Waterfalls

Main FeaturesHard Resistant Cap Rock Overhang

Plunge Pool

Curved (Undercut) or Straight Back Wall

Knick Points Downstream

Where Do We Find Waterfalls?Youthful Age Stage/Upper Course

V-Shaped Valleys

Steep Gradients

Slow Flowing Water

Narrow Shallow River Channel

Steep Valley Sides

How Are Waterfalls Formed?Water flows over hard rock, little erosion

occurs but softer rock is eroded easily. Water picks up speed and plucks material

from bed. Whirlpools appear and increase erosion. Waterfall carves deeper into the bed.

Rock below hard rock shelf is soft. Splash back forms a shallow cave-known as a rock shelter.

Overhang collapses and adds material to plunge pool. Material is broken down by attrition and erodes waterfall base by abrasion creating a deep plunge pool.

Over time, waterfall will recede and form a canyon or gorge downstream as it recedes upstream.

Waterfall Formation Diagram

Types of WaterfallsBlock: From wide stream or river.Cascade: Series of rock steps.Cataract: Large, powerful.Chute: Large quantity forced through narrow,

vertical passage.Fan: Spreads horizontally as it falls and remains in

contact with bedrock.Frozen: Has some element of ice.Horsetail: Descending water maintains some

contact with bedrock.Plunge: Falls vertically, losing contact with the

bedrock.Punchbowl: Falls in a constricted form then

spreads out in a wider pool.Segmented: Separate flows of water form as it

descends.Tiered: Series of distinct steps or falls.Multi-step: Series of waterfall, roughly same size

each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Classification of WaterfallsWaterfalls can be grouped into ten classes

based on the average volume of water, which depends on both the waterfall's average flow and its height, using a logarithmic scale.

Victoria Falls and Kaieteur Falls are Class 9 Waterfalls.

Famous Waterfalls

Victoria Falls Niagara Falls

Yosemite Falls

Sutherland Falls

Tugela Falls

Kahiwa Falls

Are There Any Questions?