Gcse geography how is a waterfall formed

Waterfalls, plunge pools and potholes. Waterfalls Formation of a waterfall The river flows over bands of less resistant softer and resistant harder rocks.

The less resistant rock is more quickly worn away due to differential erosion. The river erodes the rocks in three main ways: Hydraulic action — when the sheer force of the water gets into small cracks and breaks down the rock. Corrasion — when the river bed and banks are eroded by the load hitting against them. This process of erosion and deposition create different landforms on the surface of the earth.

Work of a River The running water in the river erodes the landscape. When the river tumbles at steep angle over very hard rocks or down a steep valley side it forms a waterfall Fig. Often, waterfalls form as streams flow from soft rock to hard rock. This happens both laterally as a stream flows across the earth and vertically as the stream drops in a waterfall.

In both cases, the soft rock erodes, leaving a hard ledge over which the stream falls. In terms of the proportions of the two, a canyon is considered larger than a gorge. They are both deep valleys, but a canyon is often wider compared to a gorge.

The term gorge is at times used to describe ravines which are narrower than canyons. Often, gorges are associated with rivers while canyons are not. Skip to content Miscellaneous. February 10, Joe Ford. Table of Contents.