8.1.9

Waterfalls & Gorges

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Waterfalls and Gorges

When a river flows over hard rock that overlays softer rock, a waterfall can form. Gorges are formed when waterfalls retreat over time.

Diagram
Stage 1

Stage 1

  • The less resistant (softer) rock begins to erode because of abrasion and hydraulic action.
  • A step or notch forms in the softer rock, creating a river rapid.
Stage 2

Stage 2

  • Over time, the softer rock gets more eroded. This leaves the hard rock sticking out above the soft rock.
  • The height of the drop increases as the water pounds the less resistant rock at the base. Eventually a waterfall forms.
Diagram
Stage 3 & 4

Stage 3 & 4

  • The less resistant rock starts to be eroded underneath the hard rock. This process is called undercutting.
  • The overhanging harder rock collapses because there is nothing underneath it to support it.
  • The hard rock crumbles into the base and the abrasion between the hard rock and soft rock base creates a plunge pool.
  • Hydraulic action keeps undercutting behind the waterfall.
  • If the process repeats over a long time, a gorge may form.
Diagram
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1

Geography Skills

1.1

Mapping

1.1.1Map Making1.1.2OS Maps1.1.3Grid References1.1.4Contour Lines1.1.5Symbols, Scale and Distance1.1.6Directions on Maps1.1.7Describing Routes1.1.8Map Projections1.1.9Aerial & Satellite Images1.1.10Using Maps to Make Decisions
1.2

Geographical Information Systems

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2

Geology of the UK

2.1

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2.2

Case Study: The Peak District

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3

Geography of the World

3.1

Geography of America & Europe

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4

Development

4.1

Development

4.1.1Classifying Development4.1.2GDP4.1.3Evaluation of GDP4.1.4The Human Development Index4.1.5Population Structure4.1.6Developing Countries4.1.7Emerging Countries4.1.8Developed Countries4.1.9Comparing Development
4.2

Uneven Development

4.2.1Consequences of Uneven Development4.2.2Physical Factors Affecting Development4.2.3Historic Factors Affecting Development4.2.4Human & Social Factors Affecting Development4.2.5Breaking Out of the Poverty Cycle
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Case Study: Democratic Republic of Congo

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Case Study: Nigeria

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5

Weather & Climate

5.1

Weather

5.1.1Weather & Climate5.1.2Components of Weather5.1.3Temperature5.1.4Sunshine, Humidity & Air Pressure5.1.5Cloud Cover5.1.6Precipitation5.1.7Convectional Precipitation5.1.8Frontal Precipitation5.1.9Relief or Orographic Precipitation5.1.10Wind5.1.11Extreme Wind5.1.12Recording the Weather5.1.13Extreme Weather5.1.14Weather Hazards - Statistical Skills
5.2

Climate

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5.3

Tropical Storms

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6.1

Tourism

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7

Natural Resources

7.1

Rocks

7.1.1What are Rocks?7.1.2Types of Rock7.1.3Fuel7.1.4The Rock Cycle - Weathering7.1.5The Rock Cycle - Erosion7.1.6What is Soil?7.1.7Soil Profiles7.1.8Water7.1.9Global Water Demand
7.2

Fossil Fuels

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8

Rivers

8.1

River Processes & Landforms

8.1.1Overview of Rivers8.1.2The Bradshaw Model8.1.3Erosion8.1.4Sediment Transport8.1.5River Deposition8.1.6Landforms8.1.7River Profiles: Long Profiles8.1.8River Profiles: Cross Profiles8.1.9Waterfalls & Gorges8.1.10Interlocking Spurs8.1.11Meanders8.1.12Floodplains8.1.13Levees8.1.14Case Study: River Tees
8.2

Rivers & Flooding

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9

Coasts

9.1

Formation of Coastal Landforms

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9.2

Coast Management

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10

Glaciers

10.1

Overview of Glaciers & How They Work

10.1.1Distribution of Glaciers10.1.2Types of Glaciers10.1.3The Last Ice Age10.1.4Formation & Movement of Glaciers10.1.5Shaping of Landscapes by Glaciers10.1.6Glacial Landforms Created by Erosion10.1.7Glacial Till & Outwash Plain10.1.8Moraines10.1.9Drumlins & Erratics10.1.10End of Topic Tests - Glaciers10.1.11Tourism in Glacial Landscapes10.1.12Strategies for Coping with Tourists10.1.13Case Study - Lake District: Tourism10.1.14Case Study - Lake District: Management
11

Tectonics

11.1

Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

11.1.1The Theory of Plate Tectonics11.1.2The Structure of the Earth11.1.3Tectonic Plates11.1.4Plate Margins11.1.5Tectonics - Statistical Skills
11.2

Volcanoes

11.2.1Volcanoes & Their Products11.2.2The Development of Volcanoes11.2.3Living Near Volcanoes
11.3

Earthquakes

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11.4

Tsunamis

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11.5

Managing the Risk of Volcanoes & Earthquakes

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12

Climate Change

12.1

The Causes & Consequences of Climate Change

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Global Population & Inequality

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Global Populations

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Urbanisation

14.1

Urbanisation

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15

Ecosystems

15.1

The Major Biomes

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Case Study: The Amazon Rainforest

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16

Life in an Emerging Country

16.1

Case Studies

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17

Analysis of Africa

17.1

Africa

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18

Analysis of India

18.1

India - Physical Geography

18.1.1Geographical Location of India18.1.2Physical Geography of India18.1.3India's Climate18.1.4Natural Disasters in India18.1.5Case Study: The Thar Desert18.1.6Case Study: The Thar Desert - Challenges
18.2

India - Human Geography

18.2.1Population Distribution in India18.2.2Urbanisation in India18.2.3The History of India18.2.4Economic Resources in India
19

Analysis of the Middle East

19.1

The Middle East

19.1.1Physical Geography of the Middle East19.1.2Human Geography of the Middle East19.1.3Climate Zones in the Middle East19.1.4Oil & Natural Gas in the Middle East19.1.5Water in the Middle East19.1.6Population of the Middle East19.1.7Development Case Studies: The UAE19.1.8Development Case Studies: Yemen19.1.9Supporting Development in Yemen19.1.10Connection to the UK19.1.11Importance of Oil19.1.12Oil & Tourism in the UAE
20

Analysis of Bangladesh

20.1

Bangladesh Physical Geography

20.1.1Location of Bangladesh20.1.2Climate of Bangladesh20.1.3Rivers in Bangladesh20.1.4Flooding in Bangladesh
20.2

Bangladesh Human Geography

20.2.1Population Structure in Bangladesh20.2.2Urbanisation in Bangladesh20.2.3Bangladesh's Economy20.2.4Energy & Sustainability in Bangladesh
21

Analysis of Russia

21.1

Russia's Physical Geography

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21.2

Russia's Human Geography

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Practice questions on Waterfalls & Gorges

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What forms at the base of waterfalls over time?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What erosional process is predominantly responsible for the formation of plunge pools?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Formation of Waterfalls and GorgesPut in order
  4. 4
    During a geological survey, a team identifies a river flowing over different types of rock. What process leads to the formation of a waterfall when hard rock overlays softer rock?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    A visitor at a national park observes the collapsing edge of a waterfall. Which phenomenon is causing this occurrence?Multiple choice
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River Profiles: Cross Profiles

Interlocking Spurs