Looking for waterfall facts? You came to the right place. A waterfall is a section of a stream or river where water rushes over a vertical drop or a succession of sharp drops. The melting of icebergs and ice shelves may result in waterfalls as meltwater flows over the edge of the iceberg.
Enjoy these interesting waterfall facts for kids. Learn fascinating facts about waterfalls, such as where they are located, how are they formed, the various kinds, and how they are used to generate energy, among other things. Let us begin.
Waterfall Facts Worth Knowing Today
1. 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.
2. A waterfall is usually created when water from a river, stream, or other source starts to flow over a rock structure that is harder and more resistant to the force of the falling water.
In this instance, a softer, weaker rock formation situated underneath the resistant rock formation starts to erode as the water continues to flow over it over an extended period of time.
This procedure will leave a firm ledge for the water to begin to freely flow, often into a pool at the foot of the waterfall, after which the waterfall will be complete.
3. 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.
In this situation, the erosion process happens as well, as the water falling on the soft rock erodes part of the soft rock, leaving the hard rock structure to serve as the ledge from which the waterfall may start.
4. The contour of the terrain has a role in the formation of a third kind of waterfall.
The Antrim basalts, which are situated in Northern Ireland, are an example of a land formation that resulted from past volcanic eruptions and are a good example of this kind of land formation.
Cranny Falls, which is a breathtaking waterfall located inside this region, is must-see. The predominant rock type is limestone, which has been worn out by water over many years and now descends nearly vertically into a pool at the bottom.
5. The farther downstream a waterfall is located, the more perennial it may become.
6. There is a broad variety of widths and depths that may be found in waterfalls.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Waterfalls create habitable regions for liverworts, mosses, etc. The waterfalls also provide shelter for several bird species like white-throated dipper and black swift.
10. There are several types of waterfalls. Some of them are ledge waterfall, plunge waterfall, cascade, cataract, frozen waterfall, horsetail, moulin, etc.
Waterfall Facts Worth Knowing Today
11. Some of the famous waterfalls are Niagara Falls, Cascata delle Marmore, Angel Falls, and Valley of Lauterbrunnen.
12. 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.
13. Angel Falls was named after the brave American aviator Jimmy Angel, who made an emergency landing there in 1937 while flying his aircraft. After remaining on the plateau for 33 years, the aircraft was eventually moved to an aviation museum.
Today, visitors to Angel Falls can still see a copy of the plane, which has been put on top of the plateau.
14. In the valley of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, there are 72 waterfalls to be found.
15. Godafoss, which translates as “Waterfall of the Gods,” was given its name around the year 1000, when Iceland was transitioning from pagan to Christian religious beliefs.
During the reign of Thorgeir, Iceland’s leader at the time, sculptures of the pagan gods were thrown into the waterfall, signifying the country’s conversion to Christianity and bestowing the waterfalls with their name. It measures 40 feet in height and 100 feet in width.
16. Niagara Falls, which serves as a natural boundary between Canada and the United States, is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors every year.
The American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls are the three waterfalls that can be found here. It is said that these are the most powerful waterfalls in North America.
17. It was a lady called Annie Taylor who became the first person to successfully cross Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901.
18. Waterfalls can be used to generate hydroelectric power, which may then be utilized to power homes and businesses across the world.
19. 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!
20. The Eas a’ Chual Aluinn waterfall in Scotland, with a height of 660 feet, is the highest waterfall in the United Kingdom.
Waterfall Facts Worth Knowing Today
21. Some waterfalls become frozen. At one point, Niagara Falls were totally frozen, and the water stopped flowing completely.
22. Idaho’s Shoshone Falls is frequently referred to as the “Niagara of the West” because of its spectacular waterfalls.
23. In Austria’s Hohe Tauern National Park, the Krimml Waterfall, with a height of 380 meters, making it the tallest waterfall in Central Europe.
Krimmlr Ache, a glacial stream that serves as the source of the falls, is where the water begins before plummeting over three levels of rock formations to reach the bottom.
24. Koosah Falls is one of three main waterfalls along the McKenzie River in Oregon, and it is located near the town of Koosah.
According to locals, while there has been considerable debate over its actual height, with estimations varying from 54 to 120 feet, the waterfall’s genuine height is believed to be around 64 feet.
In the summer, Koosah Falls seems to be divided into two different parts, but at the height of snow melting in the winter, the water flows smoothly over the 70-foot-wide ledge, giving the waterfall its distinctive look.
25. Every year, it is expected that more than 30 million people visit Niagara Falls.
26. The Cascata delle Marmore waterfall in Italy, which is the world’s highest manmade waterfall, was built by the Ancient Romans.
27. Ruby Falls is an underground waterfall that is found in a cave in Tennessee, United States.
28. 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.
The Victoria Falls are referred to as ‘Mosi oa Tunya’, which means ‘the smoke that thunders’ in the local language.
29. South Africa’s Tugela Falls, at 3,107 feet, is the world’s second-tallest waterfall after Victoria Falls in Canada.
30. Bridalveil Fall is found in the Yosemite Valley. This waterfall has a 620-foot vertical plunge to the ground.
Waterfall Facts Worth Knowing Today
31. 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.
There are two major waterfalls in the park: the Large Waterfall, which is located at the end of the lower lakes, and the Galovac Waterfall, which is located at the end of the upper lakes.
However, it is the formations of numerous smaller waterfalls that run across the succession of lakes via naturally formed mossy cascades that distinguish this park as being so distinctive and lovely.
32. 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.
33. The Dietian Falls, which cascade 75 metres over the Guichun River on the border between China and Vietnam, are a sight to behold.
The quantity of water flowing down the waterfall will vary depending on the time of year, from a full-speed rush in the months of June and July to a gentle splash in the dry months.
34. Located in the Fiordland National Park, Sutherland Falls is a well-known waterfall.
35. The Dettifoss waterfall is the most powerful waterfall found in Europe.
36. The waterfall at Inga Falls has a flow rate of 84,540 cubic feet per second.
37. 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.
Sources: