waterfall
Sign in to savethumb|Dynjandi, a series of waterfalls located in the [[Westfjords (Vestfirðir), Iceland.]] A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several ways, but the most common method of formation is that a river courses over a top layer of resistant bedrock before falling onto softer rock, which erodes faster, leading to an increasingly high fall. Waterfalls have been studied for their impact on species living i
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A waterfall is a place where water in a river or stream flows over a steep vertical drop, sometimes occurring in a series. Waterfalls matter because they shape the landscape and affect the species of plants and animals living in and around them.
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Article
15 sectionsContents
- Definition and terminology
- Formation
- Caprock model
- Ecology
- Types
- Humans and waterfalls
- Research
- Exploration and naming
- Development and tourism
- In culture
- List
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
thumb|Dynjandi, a series of waterfalls located in the [[Westfjords (Vestfirðir), Iceland.]] A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several ways, but the most common method of formation is that a river courses over a top layer of resistant bedrock before falling onto softer rock, which erodes faster, leading to an increasingly high fall. Waterfalls have been studied for their impact on species living in and around them.
Humans have had a distinct relationship with waterfalls since prehistory, travelling to see them, exploring and naming them. They can present formidable barriers to navigation along rivers. Waterfalls are religious sites in many cultures. Since the 18th century, they have received increased attention as tourist destinations, sources of hydropower, andparticularly since the mid-20th centuryas subjects of research.