Waterfall

:For other senses of this word, see waterfall (disambiguation).

Types of waterfalls

Certain terms describe several common types of waterfalls:

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• Block, where the water descends from a relatively wide stream or river;
• Cascade, where the water descends a series of rock steps;
• Cataract, where the waterfall is large;
• Fan, where the water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock;
• Horsetail, where descending water maintains some contact with bedrock;
• Plunge, where the water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface;
• Punchbowl, where the water descends in a constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool;
• Segmented, where distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends; and
• Tiered, where water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.

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