Waterfall facts for kids
A waterfall is a place where water flows over a steep drop. Imagine a river moving along, and suddenly, the ground falls away! The water then rushes down this big step of rock. This usually happens when a river is young and powerful. It carves its way through land where softer rock is found below harder rock. The water wears away the softer rock, creating a ledge for the waterfall. Often, the water lands in a deep valley or gorge below.
Many people find waterfalls amazing and beautiful. The sound of a large waterfall can be very loud, like a powerful roar! Some people even think this sound is like music. Waterfalls are truly one of the most stunning sights in nature.
The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela. Here, the water drops an incredible 979 m (3,212 ft)! That's almost a kilometer straight down.
Contents
How do waterfalls form?
Waterfalls are usually formed in the upper parts of a river. This is where the river flows quickly over different types of rock.
- Harder rock is strong and resists the water's power.
- Softer rock is weaker and wears away more easily.
As the river flows, it erodes (wears away) the softer rock faster than the harder rock. Over time, this creates a step or cliff. The water then plunges over this step, forming the waterfall. The powerful force of the falling water can also create a deep pool at the bottom, called a plunge pool.
Types of waterfalls
Waterfalls come in many shapes and sizes. Here are a few common types:
- Plunge waterfall: The water falls vertically, losing contact with the rock face. Think of a straight drop.
- Horsetail waterfall: The water stays in contact with the rock face as it descends, often fanning out like a horse's tail.
- Cascade waterfall: The water flows over a series of small steps or rocks, creating a tumbling effect.
- Block waterfall: A wide sheet of water falls over a broad ledge. Niagara Falls is a famous example.
- Segmented waterfall: The water splits into multiple streams or segments as it falls.
Famous waterfalls around the world
Many waterfalls are famous for their beauty, size, or unique features.
- Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's tallest. It drops from a flat-topped mountain called an Auyán-tepui.
- Niagara Falls is on the border between the United States and Canada. It's known for its immense power and wide flow.
- Iguaçu Falls is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. It's a massive system of hundreds of individual waterfalls, making it one of the largest in the world.
- Victoria Falls is in southern Africa, on the Zambezi River. It creates a huge cloud of mist that can be seen from miles away.
Images for kids
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Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's tallest waterfall at 979 m (3,212 ft).
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An example of an ephemeral waterfall. This one, when flowing, feeds into the Chagrin River.
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Aerial view of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in southern Africa. The cloud formed by the mist is called cataractagenitus.
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Powerscourt Waterfall is the tallest Waterfall in Ireland.
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Aerial view of Iguazu Falls on the Iguazu River between Brazil and Argentina.
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Aerial view of Niagara Falls in the state of New York, United States, and province of Ontario, Canada.
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Nohkalikai Falls is one of the tallest plunge type waterfalls in India.
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Shaki Waterfall in Armenia, Syunik Province
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Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou province, China, is a block-type waterfall and a cataract.
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Song Khon Waterfall in Loei Province, Thailand is an example of a cascade waterfall.
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In Pamukkale, Turkey is an example of travertine terraces built by flowing water.
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First fall of Elephant Falls in Shillong, India, is an example of a horsetail-punchbowl waterfall.
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See also
