We learn more about the features of Earth - Part 29 Waterfalls - Information and craft for kids
We learned about the Niagra Falls and you know that a waterfall forms where the water falls vertically over rocks where erosion have taken place. Lets learn more about waterfalls in general.
As the river flows, it will carry sediments like little pebbles, rock and sand and this will take away (erode) the soft rock like the limestone. Over time all the soft rock will be removed and the hard rock like granite will stay behind which will form a ledge over which the water will fall.
When the waterfall has formed, it will continue with the erosion. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall will get bigger over time due to erosion.
The plunge pool at the base gets bigger as rushing water and sediment erodes it and the area behind the waterfall is worn away, creating cave-like shelters.
There are other ways in which a waterfall can form and that is when an earthquake takes place or a volcano erupts. This breaks open the ground and creates cliffs over which the water will fall to the bottom.
The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela where the water falls 979 m (3,212 ft). The fall is so long that at warmer times of the year the water turns into mist before it reaches the stream below.
- Name a few uses of rivers?
- Where will you find Angel Falls?
- When will a river become a waterfall?
- How did the river 'build' the cliff over which it can fall?
- What is erosion?
There are many types of waterfalls and some waterfalls can fall into more than one category. A few of them are
- a ledge waterfalls fall vertically over a ledge
- a block waterfall starts with a lot of water
- a cascade waterfall goes over a few different rock and they are safer than most waterfalls
- a cataract waterfall is very large and dangerous
- a chute waterfall will force a huge amount of water through a narrow opening
- frozen waterfalls are found in areas where it is very cold and will freeze for part of the year and mountain climbers will climb to the top of it
- multi-step waterfalls are a few waterfalls that falls together but they each have their own pool at the bottom
See if you can find videos or extra information on different types of waterfalls.
Would you like to make your own model of a waterfall? Have a look at the video for an idea.
