Waterfall (erosion) - created from Mind Map

cascade of falling water down a vertical drop

develops where a band of soft less resistant rock meets a band of harder more resistant rock (limestone and granite)

underlying softer rock worn away as water drops onto it

the overhang collapses, process of overhanging and collapsing repeats

Torc Waterfall, Killarney, Co. Kerry

waterfalls also created because of glaciation and glacial valleys

in the youthful stage

fastest flow & most power

gravity gives power and speed

result of differential erosion soft rock is eroded faster and a drop develops where the 2 rocks meet

the water approaching the fall quickens as the water in front free falls making hydraulic action more effective

hard rock becomes undercut, unstable and collapses (overhang)

collapsed rock swirls in eddying action and uses abrasion to form and widen a plunge pool

water splashes back on the soft rock eroding by solution creating an overhang

the waterfall retreats upstream

also formed by river rejuvenation

temporary feature become rapids and disappear from landscape

mark point knick point of intersection of old and new river profile

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