Waterfalls usually occur in the courses of streams or rivers. A waterfall refers to a place in the course of a river/stream where water flows over a vertical drop. There may only be one vertical drop involved or multiple vertical drops. This feature can also be formed in a place where meltwater drops over an edge of a tabular ice shelf or iceberg. When the drops are happening over a rock, the features are called rock waterfalls.
In most cases, these falls occur in the upper courses of rivers. Upper courses of rivers have channels that are narrower and deeper. The features are formed when a river in its normal course, comes across a resistant bedrock and causes more erosion up the stream than downstream. Whirlpools are then created due to the high speed of the river, causing the water to remove more soil at the edge of the resistant rock. The rock immediately after the resistant rock is usually softer and can be carved easily to cause the drop.
The stream becomes shallower and wider in the area directly above the waterfall as a result of the water flowing over a rock shelf. The area below the drop is gouged by kinetic energy from the water, resulting in a deep end. In many cases, a waterfall is formed over rocks because of erosion processes. As the waterfall continues to form and mature, it creates a horizontal pit parallel to the fall beneath it.
Another method of formation of water-falls is composed of gradual land processes. These processes include soil erosion and movement in the earth surface. Earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes are the main causes of earth movements. The effect is that these gradual processes result in differential land heights in the course of rivers. A waterfall is formed at the point where the differential in height occurs.
There are several different types of waterfalls in existence today. Each type is different from the other in a number of ways. The differences can be very little in some cases. Major types of these features are ledge, plunge, horsetail, cascade, staircase, cataract, Moulin, frozen, catadupa, and segmented waterfalls. Under a ledge waterfall, there is block, classical, and curtain falls. Main types of a horsetail waterfall are slide, chute, ribbon, and fan water-falls.
Waterfalls find several uses in modern times. To begin with, they are used to generate power. Turbines are installed in the waterfall so that the kinetic energy of the water s used to turn them. When the turbines rotate, they produce electrical energy, which can be used in various applications.
In many places around the world, power is generated through this method. The disadvantage of this method of power generation is that, in case the water volume in the river goes down, the power generated can reduce significantly. Countries dependent on this mode of power generation usually ration power to their citizens during dry seasons.
The area directly below the waterfall has water that is moving at a very slow speed. This forms ideal condition for fish to thrive. Therefore, these features create good fishing grounds for the local people.
In most cases, these falls occur in the upper courses of rivers. Upper courses of rivers have channels that are narrower and deeper. The features are formed when a river in its normal course, comes across a resistant bedrock and causes more erosion up the stream than downstream. Whirlpools are then created due to the high speed of the river, causing the water to remove more soil at the edge of the resistant rock. The rock immediately after the resistant rock is usually softer and can be carved easily to cause the drop.
The stream becomes shallower and wider in the area directly above the waterfall as a result of the water flowing over a rock shelf. The area below the drop is gouged by kinetic energy from the water, resulting in a deep end. In many cases, a waterfall is formed over rocks because of erosion processes. As the waterfall continues to form and mature, it creates a horizontal pit parallel to the fall beneath it.
Another method of formation of water-falls is composed of gradual land processes. These processes include soil erosion and movement in the earth surface. Earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes are the main causes of earth movements. The effect is that these gradual processes result in differential land heights in the course of rivers. A waterfall is formed at the point where the differential in height occurs.
There are several different types of waterfalls in existence today. Each type is different from the other in a number of ways. The differences can be very little in some cases. Major types of these features are ledge, plunge, horsetail, cascade, staircase, cataract, Moulin, frozen, catadupa, and segmented waterfalls. Under a ledge waterfall, there is block, classical, and curtain falls. Main types of a horsetail waterfall are slide, chute, ribbon, and fan water-falls.
Waterfalls find several uses in modern times. To begin with, they are used to generate power. Turbines are installed in the waterfall so that the kinetic energy of the water s used to turn them. When the turbines rotate, they produce electrical energy, which can be used in various applications.
In many places around the world, power is generated through this method. The disadvantage of this method of power generation is that, in case the water volume in the river goes down, the power generated can reduce significantly. Countries dependent on this mode of power generation usually ration power to their citizens during dry seasons.
The area directly below the waterfall has water that is moving at a very slow speed. This forms ideal condition for fish to thrive. Therefore, these features create good fishing grounds for the local people.
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