130 Fun Facts About Waterfalls

Facts About Waterfalls: A waterfall is a geological formation created by the flow of water over non-eroding rocks at a sudden drop in elevation. happens Waterfalls can also be man-made, used as decoration in gardens or other natural landscapes.

Sometimes waterfalls are formed in mountains where there is rapid erosion and the flow of water is constantly changing, in such places the falls are not caused by years of erosion but by a relatively sudden geological event, such as a volcanic eruption.

Fun Facts About Waterfalls

The Angle Falls waterfall has a maximum height of 3,212 feet.
The largest waterfall in East Asia is Jiao Lung in Alishan, Taiwan.
Switzerland is home to 72 waterfalls in the valley of Lauterbrunnen.
The Cascata delle Marmore waterfall has a maximum height of 541 feet.
It’s estimated over 30 million people visit Niagara Falls every year.
The tallest man-made waterfall in the world is Cascade Delle Marmore.
Idaho's Shoshone Falls is often referred to as 'Niagara of the West'.
The Dettifoss waterfall is the most powerful waterfall found in Europe.
Many waterfalls around the world are used to generate hydroelectric power.
Many waterfalls around the world are used to generate hydroelectric power.
The waterfall at Inga Falls has a flow rate of 84,540 cubic feet per second.
There is a broad variety of widths and depths that may be found in waterfalls.
The Inga Falls waterfall has a water flow rate of 84,540 cubic feet per second.
One of the widest waterfalls in the world is Victoria Falls in Southern Africa.
The farther downstream a waterfall is located, the more perennial it may become.
Every year, it is expected that more than 30 million people visit Niagara Falls.
There is an underground waterfall in a cave in Tennessee, U.S. called Ruby Falls.
In the valley of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, there are 72 waterfalls to be found.
Located in the Fiordland National Park, Sutherland Falls is a well-known waterfall.

Cool Facts About Waterfalls

A waterfall is a location along a watercourse where water flows over a vertical drop.
The second tallest waterfall in the world Tugela Falls in South Africa, at 3,107 feet.
Yosemite Valley is home to Bridalveil Fall. This waterfall has a sheer drop of 620 feet.
Waterfalls can be a popular tourist destination, like the Niagara Falls in North America.
Do not try to go over a waterfall, you can land on rocks and other items below the surface.
Ruby Falls is an underground waterfall that is found in a cave in Tennessee, United States.
Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
There are many different types of waterfalls, a few examples are plunge, horsetail and cataract.
Waterfalls are beautiful but can be dangerous. Many people every year die trying to go over a water.
The tallest waterfall in the United Kingdom is Eas a' Chual Aluinn, at 660 feet, located in Scotland.
Some waterfalls freeze. Niagara Falls once froze completely, and the water stopped flowing altogether.
The tallest natural waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Canaima National Park, Bolívar, Venezuela.
The waterfall with the largest flow rate in the world is Inga Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bridalveil Fall is found in the Yosemite Valley. This waterfall has a 620-foot vertical plunge to the ground.

Geographical Facts About Waterfalls

The tallest artificial waterfall in the world is Cascata delle Marmore, created by the Ancient Romans in Italy.
Some of the famous waterfalls are Niagara Falls, Cascata delle Marmore, Angel Falls, and Valley of Lauterbrunnen.
Ledge (Classical, Curtain) waterfalls descend vertically over a cliff maintaining partial contact with the bedrock.
South Africa’s Tugela Falls, at 3,107 feet, is the world’s second-tallest waterfall after Victoria Falls in Canada.
Idaho’s Shoshone Falls is frequently referred to as the “Niagara of the West” because of its spectacular waterfalls.
The Eas a’ Chual Aluinn waterfall in Scotland, with a height of 660 feet, is the highest waterfall in the United Kingdom.
Some waterfalls become frozen. At one point, Niagara Falls were totally frozen, and the water stopped flowing completely.
Block (Sheet) waterfalls descend from a wide stream or river, Niagara Falls, in the U.S. and Canada, is a block waterfall.
Koosah Falls is one of three main waterfalls along the McKenzie River in Oregon, and it is located near the town of Koosah.
A waterfall is a place where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops in the course of a stream or river.
It is also possible that a waterfall occurred when water flows over a soft rock bed that is situated above a hard bed of rock.
The Cascata delle Marmore waterfall in Italy, which is the world’s highest manmade waterfall, was built by the Ancient Romans.
The Dietian Falls, which cascade 75 metres over the Guichun River on the border between China and Vietnam, are a sight to behold.

Historical Facts About Waterfalls

It was a lady called Annie Taylor who became the first person to successfully cross Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901.
Waterfalls can be used to generate hydroelectric power, which may then be utilized to power homes and businesses across the world.
A waterfall is an area of a river or stream where the water flows over a steep vertical drop, often landing in a plunge pool below.
Waterfalls can be classified by type. There are many types of waterfalls and it is possible for a waterfall to fit more than one category.
Zimbabwe is home to the Victoria Falls, which is such a strong cascade that it can be heard more than 40 miles away due to its sheer size.
In Austria’s Hohe Tauern National Park, the Krimml Waterfall, with a height of 380 meters, making it the tallest waterfall in Central Europe.
Sometimes, the land formation causes a waterfall. If there is a cliff or ledge naturally, rushing river waters will simply fall over the edge.
The Fang, located in Vail, Colorado, is a frozen waterfall that plunges more than 100 feet or 30 meters. That would be very difficult to climb!
Cascade waterfalls descend over a series of rock steps, they are usually a relatively safe type of waterfall. Monkey Falls, in India is an example.
Cataract waterfalls are large, powerful and often dangerous. A very wide and wild cataract fall is the Iguazu River at the Brazil and Argentina border.
There are several types of waterfalls. Some of them are ledge waterfall, plunge waterfall, cascade, cataract, frozen waterfall, horsetail, moulin, etc.

Amazing Facts About Waterfalls for Kids

Fan waterfalls are like the name suggests, as the water descends it spreads out horizontally. Virgin Falls is a fan waterfall in British Columbia, Canada.
Waterfalls can have a wide range of widths and depths, and this diversity is part of what makes them such a charismatic and interesting natural phenomenon.
They typically appear along the upper part of a watercourse where higher elevations and mountains are found and create the right conditions for a waterfall.
Do not go under the pouring water of a waterfall. Objects like rocks and branches that go over the top of a waterfall can land on you while you’re under it.
Chute waterfalls force a large amount of water through narrow vertical passages at a high pressure. For example, Three Chute Falls, Yosemite National Park, US.
Waterfalls are often created in the upper course of a river when lakes pour into valleys in high mountains, which is where most of the world’s rivers originate.
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is world-renowned for its series of 16 linked, beautiful lakes, caverns, and waterfalls that are joined by a network of trails.
Plunge waterfalls are fast moving with horizontal thrust over the edge causing the water to completely lose contact with the bedrock, e.g. Japan's Hannoki Falls.
Punchbowl waterfalls descend in a constricted form that spreads out into a wide pool at their base. Wailua Falls in Hawaii is an example of a punchbowl waterfall.
Segmented waterfalls form separate flows of water as they descend. The Nigretta Falls in Victoria, Australia, have separate streams that join back up in the pool.
There are different types of waterfalls, with names derived from their shape, drop, or how the water flows. Waterfalls can also be classified as more than one type.

Interesting Facts About Waterfalls

Frozen waterfalls will freeze over for at least part of the year. Mountaineers often test their skills by climbing frozen waterfalls. E.g. The Fang, Vail, Colorado, US.
Venezuela's Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world. Its height is 3,212 feet. In the summer heat the water often turns to a mist before it reaches the bottom.
Waterfalls create habitable regions for liverworts, mosses, etc. The waterfalls also provide shelter for several bird species like white-throated dipper and black swift.
Waterfalls are created by the erosion process. Sediment in water can erode soft bedrock and overtime it will completely erode all the soft bedrock until only harder rocks remain.
A cataract waterfall is a type of waterfall that is extremely powered and moves a large volume of water. An example of a cataract waterfall is Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil.
Iguazu Falls are higher and twice as broad than Niagara Falls, and it is reported that when Eleanor Roosevelt first saw them, she cried, “Poor Niagara!” since they were so much larger.
It is essential to note that erosion, or the wearing away of ground, is a significant factor in the creation of waterfalls. The erosion caused by waterfalls is also a contributing factor.
Other process that form waterfalls include earthquake, landslide, glacier, or volcanoes which can disrupt the land of a stream bed creating cliffs, cracks, faults and other changes in elevation.
Waterfalls often form in the upper stages of a river where it flows over different bands of rock. It erodes soft rock more quickly than hard rock and this may lead to the creation of a waterfall.
As they drop, segmented waterfalls split into distinct streams of water. The Nigretta Falls, located in Victoria, Australia, are comprised of many streams that flow into a pool at the base of the falls.
A plunge waterfall is a type of waterfall that has water that descends vertically and loses contact with the bedrock. An example of a plunge waterfall is Blencoe Falls in Far North, Queensland, Australia.

Shocking Facts About Waterfalls

Waterfalls have a great impact on ecology. They are one of the major factors that determine the distribution of fish and other aquatic organisms. These organisms’ inturn have cascading ecological effects.
A horsetail waterfall is a type of waterfall that has water that descends vertically but maintains a bit of contact with the bedrock. An example of a horsetail waterfall is Shannon Falls in British Columbia, Canada.
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.
Zimbabwe is home to Victoria Falls, which is such a powerful waterfall that it can be heard from more than 40 miles away. Locals refer to Victoria Falls as 'Mosi oa Tunya' which translates to 'the smoke that thunders'.
Waterfalls are often used to generate hydro if possible, as the water flowing over the falls and along a river can provide a natural source for hydro generation. An example of a waterfall used to create power is Niagara Falls.
Angel Falls, located in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, is the highest waterfall on the planet. It stands at a height of 3,212 feet. During the summer heat, the water often evaporates before reaching the bottom of the pool.
Horsetail waterfalls will maintain contact with the bedrock underneath them. The Reichenbach Falls, in Switzerland, is such a waterfall which is famous for being where fictional detective Sherlock Holmes allegedly fell to his death.
Multi-step (Tiered or Staircase) waterfalls are a series of waterfalls falling one after the other each with their own plunge pool. The falling lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park, in Croatia, are an example of multi-step waterfalls.
Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 meters (3,212 ft) and a plunge of 807 meters (2,648 ft). It is so high that at warmer times of the year, the water turns into mist before it reaches the stream below.

Unbelievable Facts About Waterfalls

Waterfall types include ledge waterfalls, block waterfalls, cascade waterfalls, cataract waterfalls, chute waterfalls, fan waterfalls, frozen waterfalls, horsetail waterfalls, multi-step waterfalls, plunge waterfalls, punchbowl waterfalls, and segmented waterfalls.
Niagara Falls, which creates a natural border between Canada and the United States, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are three waterfalls - the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe Falls. These falls are the most powerful in North America.
Waterfalls can be grouped into 10 broad classes based on the average volume of water going over falls. Class 10 waterfalls include Niagara Falls, Khone Falls and Inga Falls. Victoria Falls (Class 9), Gullfoss (Class 8), Angel Falls (Class 7), Yosemite Falls (Class 6), Sutherland Falls (Class 5).
Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The total cumulative height of the waterfall is 32 meters (105 feet) – this is actually split into two waterfalls. The upper waterfall has a drop of 11 meters (36 feet), while the lower waterfall has a drop of 21 meters (69 feet).
Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world include those at Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, Sutherland Falls in New Zealand, Dettifoss Falls in Iceland, Gullfoss Falls in Iceland, Yosemite Falls in California, U.S., Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, Angel Falls in Venezeula, and Iguazu Falls in Brazil/Argentina.
Erosion plays an important part in the formation of waterfalls. As a stream flows, it carries sediment that can erode the soft bed rock (limestone and sandstone) underneath. Eventually this cuts deep enough so that only harder rock, such as granite, remains. Waterfalls develop as the granite forms cliffs and ledges.
The valley of Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland is a deep glacial formed valley that contains 72 waterfalls. The streams flowing from the mountains on either side, reach the rocky verge walls of the valley and cascade over. The most famous of the waterfalls is the Staubbach Falls less than 1 km from Lauterbrunnen village.
The Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore’s Falls) is a man-made waterfall created by the ancient Romans. Its total height is 165 meters (541 feet), making it the tallest man-made waterfall in the world. Of its 3 sections, the top one is the tallest, at 83 meters (272 feet). It is located 7.7 km from Terni, a provincial capital of the Italian region of Umbria.
Ban Gioc – Detian Falls is situated on the border between China and Vietnam. It is, in fact, the fourth largest cross-border falls in the world after Niagara, Victoria and Iguazu. The waterfall drops 30 meters (98 feet). It is separated into three falls by rocks and trees, and the thundering effect of the water hitting the cliffs can be heard from afar.
Yosemite Falls in California is the tallest waterfall in the United States. It is located in Yosemite National Park and has a vertical drop of 739 meters (2425 feet). Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Fall at 440 meters (1,430 feet), middle cascades at 206 meters (675 feet), and Lower Yosemite Fall at 98 meters (320 feet).
Waterfalls themselves also contribute to erosion. Stream velocity increases as it nears a waterfall, increasing the amount of erosion. The movement of water at the top of a waterfall can flatten rocks at the edge. 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.
Iguazu Falls is an extensive series of waterfalls along a 2.7-kilometers (1.7-mile) stretch of escarpment on the Argentina–Brazil border. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along the Iguazu River. The majority of the falls are about 64 meters (210 ft) in height. Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1984, Iguazu Falls is often revered as the world’s most spectacular waterfall.
Kaieteur Falls is located on the Potaro River in the center of Guyana’s rainforest. It is the world’s largest single drop waterfall by the volume of water flowing over it. While many falls have greater height, few have the combination of height and water volume, and Kaieteur is among the most powerful waterfalls in the world with an average flow rate of 663 cubic meters per second (23,400 cubic feet per second).
Victoria Falls is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls is classified as the largest, based on its combined width of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) and height of 108 meters (354 ft), resulting in the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It has been described by CNN as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world.
Horsetail Falls is located in Yosemite National Park in California. It falls off of the east side of El Capitan – the largest exposed granite monolith in the world. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle to illuminate the upper reaches of the waterfall. And when conditions are perfect, Horsetail Fall glows orange and red at sunset. This natural phenomenon is often referred to as the “Firefall“, one of nature’s rarest phenomena.
Because waterfalls are so dramatic and dangerous, thrill-seekers like to perform stunts or events on or around them. People cross waterfalls on tightropes, in canoes, and even in barrels, which provide more protection. Many of these stunts, such as jet-skiing over Niagara Falls, do not go off as planned, and many daredevils have plunged to their deaths. Only two people are known to have survived a plunge from Niagara Falls without any protection. Those two men sustained serious injuries.
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. Niagara Falls is famed both for its beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century. Niagara Falls is the most visited waterfall in the world. It is estimated that around 30 million people visit Niagara Falls each year, with numbers rising all the time.
Some waterfalls freeze. It happens like this: the water in the river/stream that supplies water to the waterfall supercools (when water experiences a temperature less than its freezing point without becoming a solid) when the temperature dips below the freezing point (around -6 degrees Celsius). This results in a gradual slowing down of the flow as water molecules begin to stick to each other and form tiny, solid particles of ‘frazil ice’. Frazil ice, which has an oily appearance when seen on the surface of water, is a cluster of loose, randomly-oriented ice crystals shaped like tiny needles. It usually forms in rivers, lakes, oceans, and other water bodies containing turbulent, open and supercooled water.

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