List of waterfalls by type
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of waterfalls by type.
- Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.[1]
- Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.[1]
- Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.[1]
- Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.[1]
- Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.[1][2]
- Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.[1][2]
- Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.[1]
- Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.[1]
- Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.[1]
- Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.[1]
Some waterfalls are also distinct in that they do not flow continuously. Ephemeral waterfalls only flow after a rain or a significant snowmelt.[3][4][5]