List of waterfalls by type explained

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]}

Plunge

Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.

Australia

• Blencoe Falls
• Curtis Falls
• Dangar Falls
• Delaneys Falls
• Ellenborough Falls
• Fitzroy Falls
• Hopetoun Falls
• Jim Jim Falls
• Millaa Millaa Falls
• Philosopher Falls
• Purlingbrook Falls
• Queen Mary Falls
• Tolmer Falls
• St Georges Falls
• Wallaman Falls
• Yabba Falls

Bangladesh

• Madhabkunda waterfall

Brazil

• Cachoeira da Fumaça
• Caracol falls

Canada

• Brandywine Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Chute Kabir Kouba
• Grand Falls
• Helmcken Falls
• Horseshoe Falls
• Hunlen Falls
• Kakabeka Falls
• Panther Falls
• Pissing Mare Falls
• Sandy Pond Falls
• Spahats Creek Falls

Costa Rica

• La Fortuna Waterfall
• La Paz Waterfall

Estonia

• Jägala Falls
• Keila Falls
• Valaste Falls

Finland

• Kitsiputous
• Pitsusköngäs

France

• Carbet Falls
• Trou de Fer

Guyana

• Kaieteur Falls

Hungary

• Lillafüred

Iceland

• Öxarárfoss
• Seljalandsfoss
• Skógafoss
• Svartifoss

India

• Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunjee- India's highest waterfalls.
• Jog Falls
• Shivanasamudra Falls

Indonesia

• Sipisopiso
• Coban Wolu Falls
• Coban Rondo Falls
• Kapas Biru Falls
• Penimbungan Falls
• Lembah Anai Falls
• Cimahi Falls
• Matayangu Falls
• Cimarinjung Falls
• Merdai Falls
• Bajing Falls
• Coban Baung Falls
• Coban Pelangi Falls

Japan

• Hannoki Falls
• Kegon Falls
• Nachi Falls
• Shōmyō Falls

Lesotho

• Maletsunyane Falls

Mexico

• Basaseachic Falls
• Piedra Volada

Mongolia

• Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall

Nepal

• Pachal waterfall

New Zealand

• Bridal Veil Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Tutea falls - cataract type waterfall
• Wairere Falls

Norway

• Kjelfossen
• Månafossen
• Mardalsfossen
• Ringedalsfossen or Skykkjedalsfossen
• Rjukan Falls
• Skrikjofossen
• Tyssestrengene
• Vettisfossen

South Africa

• Berlin Falls
• Mac-Mac Falls
• Tugela Falls
• Waterfall Bluff

Sri Lanka

• Laxapana Falls
• Diyaluma falls
• babarakanda falls

Taiwan

• Jiao Lung Waterfall

Uganda

• Sipi Falls

United Kingdom

• Devil's Appendix
• Ffrwd Fawr Waterfall
• Hardraw Force
• Melincourt Falls
• Pistyll Rhaeadr
• Sgwd Henrhyd

United States

• Akaka Falls State Park
• Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)
• Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
• Bridal Veil Falls (Washington)
• Bridalveil Fall (California)
• DeSoto Falls
• Douglas Falls
• Fall Creek Falls
• Feather Falls
• Havasu Falls
• Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls
• High Shoals Falls
• Iris Falls
• Lake Peigneur Drilling Disaster (Louisiana)
• Looking Glass Falls
• McWay Falls
• Minnehaha Falls
• Mooney Falls
• Moore Cove Falls
• Moose Falls
• Noccalula Falls Park
• Ozone Falls
• Palouse Falls
• Pearl Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Raven Cliff Falls
• Ribbon Fall
• Slick Rock Falls
• Snoqualmie Falls
• Taughannock Falls
• Toccoa Falls
• Toketee Falls
• Tower Fall
• Vermillion Falls
• Vernal Fall
• Virgin Falls
• Wailua Falls
• Watson Falls
• Window Falls
• Yahoo Falls
• Yellowstone Falls

Venezuela

• Angel Falls
• Cuquenan Falls

Zambia

• Kalambo Falls

Horsetail

Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.

Australia

• Myrtle Forest Falls
• Seventh Falls
• Silver Falls
• Silverband Falls
• Steavenson Falls

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Skakavac

Bulgaria

• Babsko Praskalo – 54m (177feet)
• Boyana Waterfall – 25m (82feet)
• Goritsa Waterfall – 39m (128feet)
• Karlovsko Praskalo – 30m (100feet)
• Skakavitsa Waterfall – 70m (230feet)
• Vratsa waterfalls
  • Skaklia (ephemeral) – 130m (430feet)
  • Borov Kamak – 63m (207feet)
• Raysko Praskalo – 124.5m (408.5feet), highest waterfall in the Balkans

Canada

• Alfred Creek Falls
• Bergeron Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Cascade Falls
• Cliff Lake Falls
• Crypt Falls
• Francis Falls
• Gold Creek Falls
• James Bruce Falls
• Kingcome Valley Falls
• Lineham Falls
• Michelle Falls
• Middle Cummins Falls
• Montmorency Falls
• Odegaard Falls
• Shannon Falls
• Snowshoe Creek Falls
• Takakkaw Falls
• Upper Geraldine Falls
• Uisge Ban Falls

Iceland

• Glymur
• Háifoss

India

• Jog Falls
• Athirappilly Falls
• Duduma Falls
• Kedumari Falls
• Khandadhar Falls
• Manikyadhara Falls
• Palaruvi Falls
• Rajat Prapat
• Sogal
• Sweet Falls
• Thalaiyar Falls

Ireland

• Powerscourt Waterfall

Lesotho

• Maletsunyane Falls

New Zealand

• Humboldt Falls
• Lady Alice Falls
• Mount Damper Falls
• Wainui Falls

North Macedonia

• Smolare Waterfall

Norway

• Stalheimsfossen
• Vøringfossen
• White Drin Waterfall

Philippines

• Maria Cristina Falls
• Pagsanjan Falls

Slovenia

• Sava Bohinjka

South Africa

• Howick Falls

Sri Lanka

• Aberdeen
• Bambarakanda Falls
• Diyaluma Falls
• Elgin Falls
• Rawan Ella

Switzerland

• Reichenbach Falls
• Staubbach Fall

United Kingdom

• Grey Mare's Tail, Conwy
• River Lyd
• Spout of Garnock

United States

• Alamere Falls
• Anna Ruby Falls
• Cochrans Falls
• Courthouse Falls
• Darwin Falls
• DeSoto Falls
• Dick's Creek Falls
• Dukes Creek
• Fish Creek Falls
• Glassmine Falls
• Hickory Nut Falls
• Hiilawe Waterfall
• Holcomb Creek Falls
• Makahiku Falls
• Minnehaha Falls
• Nevada Fall
• Rainbow Falls
• Silver Strand Falls
• Waihilau Falls

Cataract

A large, powerful waterfall.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Boyoma Falls

Mali

• Gouina Falls

Zambia/Zimbabwe

• Victoria Falls

India

• Chitrakoot Falls
• Gokak Falls
• Kakolat
• Thoovanam Waterfalls
• Tirparappu Waterfalls

Indonesia

• Banangar Falls
• Malela Falls
• Temam Falls
• Riam Merasap Falls

Argentina/Brazil

• Iguaçu Falls

Multi-step

A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Bulgaria

• Popinolashki waterfall – 12m (39feet)

Ghana

• Kintampo waterfalls

Morocco

• Ouzoud Falls

Japan

• Fukuroda Falls

Estonia

• Jägala Falls

Iceland

• Dettifoss
• Goðafoss
• Gullfoss
• Selfoss

Block

Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.

Ethiopia

• Blue Nile Falls

Cambodia

• Ka Choung

China

• Huangguoshu Waterfall

India

• Abbey Falls
• Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls
• Athirappilly Falls
• Teerathgarh Falls

Korea

• Cheonjeyeon Waterfall

Zambia

• Ngonye Falls

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Pliva Waterfall

Iceland

• Faxi
• Þjófafoss

Switzerland

• Rhine Falls

Turkey

• Manavgat Waterfall

United Kingdom

• Aysgarth Falls
• Cotter Force
• Kisdon Force
• Low Force

Canada

• Bow Falls
• Churchill Falls
• Fenelon Falls, Ontario
• Horseshoe Falls
• Niagara Falls
• Overlander Falls
• Wapta Falls

Mexico

• Agua Azul

United States

• American Falls
• Burgess Falls
• Cohoes Falls
• Cumberland Falls
• Hooker Falls
• Niagara Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Saint Anthony Falls
• Shoshone Falls
• Upper Mesa Falls
• Willamette Falls

Australia

• Bridal Veil Falls
• Fernhook Falls
• Millstream Falls

Brazil

• Guaíra Falls

Cascade

Water descends a series of rock steps.

Australia

• Barron Falls
• Bloomfield Falls
• Dinner Falls
• Elabana Falls
• Goomoolahra Falls
• Josephine Falls
• Kearneys Falls
• Lobster Falls
• Stoney Creek Falls
• Surprise Creek Falls
• Tully Falls
• Lady Barron Falls
• Liffey Cascade
• Liffey Falls
• Balaka Falls
• Serpentine Falls

Austria

• Krimmler Wasserfälle

Canada

• Albion Falls
• Alfred Creek Falls
• Angel's Staircase Falls
• Athabasca Falls
• Elbow Falls
• Helen Falls
• Inglis Falls
• Kitchener Creek Falls
• Margaret Falls
• Nymph Falls
• Pokiok Falls
• Sandy Pond Falls
• Sicamous Creek Falls
• Thunder Falls

China

• Hukou Waterfall

Finland

• Hepoköngäs

Germany

• Triberg Waterfalls

Iceland

• Aldeyjarfoss
• Barnafossar
• Ófærufoss

India

• Chunchanakatte Falls
• Courtallam
• Hanumangundi falls
• Irupu Falls
• Jog Falls
• Kiliyur Falls
• Monkey Falls
• Siruvani Waterfalls
• Thusharagiri Falls
• Ullakaarvi
• Vazhachal Falls

Jamaica

• Dunn's River Falls

Laos

• Khone Phapheng Falls

New Zealand

• Āniwaniwa Falls
• Browne Falls
• Huka Falls
• Mōkau Falls
• Purakaunui Falls
• Tarawera Falls

North Macedonia

• Koprišnica Waterfall

Norway

• Kjosfossen
• Steinsdalsfossen

Philippines

• Tinuy-an Falls

Russia

• Kivach waterfall

Sri Lanka

• Baker's Falls
• Bopath Ella Falls
• Ravana Falls
• St. Clairs Falls

South Africa

• Augrabies Falls

United Kingdom

• Catrake Force
• Cenarth Falls
• Conwy Falls
• Falls of Bruar
• High Force
• Swallow Falls

United States

• Batson Creek Falls
• Bechler Falls
• Big Manitou Falls
• Blackwater Falls State Park
• Bridal Veil Falls (DuPont State Forest)
• Burgess Falls
• Cascade Falls
• Connestee Falls
• Corbin Creek Falls
• Crabtree Falls
• Cullasaja Falls
• Cunningham Falls State Park
• Dingmans Falls
• Eastatoe Falls
• Firehole Falls
• Fulmer Falls
• Gibbon Falls
• Gooseberry Falls
• Grand Falls
• Hidden Falls
• Isaqueena Falls
• Kepler Cascades
• Key Falls
• Lewis Falls
• Lower Cascades
• Lucifer Falls
• McGalliard Falls
• Mitchell Falls
• Moravian Falls
• Mystic Falls
• Nugget Falls
• 'Opaeka'a Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Roaring Fork Falls
• Setrock Creek Falls
• Sliding Rock
• Tory's Falls
• Triple Falls
• Turtleback Falls
• Upper Cascades
• Upper Whitewater Falls
• Virginia Cascades
• Walker Falls

Uganda

• Murchison Falls

Venezuela

• Llovizna Falls

Segmented

Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.

Australia

• Florence Falls
• Guide Falls
• Halls Falls
• Horseshoe Falls
• Nigretta Falls
• Pencil Pine Falls
• Russell Falls

Bulgaria

• Etropole Waterfall Varovitets – 15m (49feet)
• Krushuna Falls – 15m (49feet)

Canada

• Black Brook Waterfall
• Cauldron Falls
• Churchill Falls
• Della Falls
• Horseshoe Falls
• Icecap Falls
• Niagara Falls
• Nistowiak Falls
• Twin Falls
• Virginia Falls

Chile

• Laja Falls

China

• Detian – Ban Gioc Falls

Colombia

• Tequendama Falls

Estonia

• Keila Falls

Iceland

• Dettifoss
• Dynjandi
• Hraunfossar

India

• Agaya Gangai
• Athirappilly Falls
• Hogenakkal Falls
• Keoti Falls
• Lushington Falls
• Magod Falls
• Meenmutty Falls
• Sathodi Falls
• Shivanasamudra Falls
• Suruli Falls
• Vattaparai Falls

Iran

• Margoon Waterfall

Japan

• Ryūzu Falls

Namibia

• Ruacana Falls

North Macedonia

• Kolešino Waterfall

Norway

• Rjukandefossen
• Seven Sisters

Thailand

• Umphang Thee Lor Sue Waterfall

Turkey

• Düden Waterfalls

United Kingdom

• Mynach Falls

United States

• Blum Basin Falls
• Burney Falls
• Depot Creek Falls
• Dry Falls
• Elakala falls
• Great Falls
• Three Chute Falls

Tiered

Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.

Australia

• Apsley Falls
• Ebor Falls
• Lesmurdie Falls
• Montezuma Falls
• New Town Falls
• Second Falls
• Tin Mine Falls
• Twin Falls
• Wentworth Falls
• Wollomombi Falls

Belize

• Big Rock Falls

Canada

• Alexander Falls
• Ashlu Falls
• Aviron Bay Falls
• Bow Glacier Falls
• Crescent Falls
• Crooked Falls
• Cummins Falls
• Della Falls
• Fairy Creek Falls
• Flood Falls
• Fossil Falls
• Harmony Falls
• Helmet Falls
• Kerkeslin Falls
• Les Sept Chutes
• Michael Falls
• Moresby Falls
• Murchison Falls
• Nairn Falls
• Peach Creek Falls
• Petain Creek Falls
• Place Creek Falls
• Pyramid Falls
• Rattling Brook Falls
• Sideways Falls
• Silvertip Falls
• Whispering Falls

Czech Republic

• Pančavský vodopád

France

• Gavarnie Falls

Germany

• Röthbachfall

India

• Barkana Falls
• Dudhsagar Falls
• Hebbe Falls
• Kunchikal Falls
• Soochipara Falls

Indonesia

• Parangloe Waterfall
• Tumpak Sewu Waterfalls

Italy

• Cascata delle Marmore
• Cascate del Serio

North Macedonia

• Roštuše Waterfall

Norway

• Langfossen
• Låtefossen
• Ramnefjellsfossen

Peru

• Gocta Cataracts
• Yumbilla falls

Sri Lanka

• Devon Falls
• Dunhinda Falls
• Ramboda Falls

Switzerland

• Engstligen Falls
• Trummelbach Falls

Thailand

• Kaeng Sopha
• Nang Rong

United Kingdom

• Aber Falls
• Aira Force
• Canonteign Falls
• Cautley Spout
• Dolgoch Falls
• Eas a' Chual Aluinn
• Falls of Foyers
• Grey Mare's Tail, Llanrwst, Conwy
• Moss Force
• Pistyll y Llyn
• Scale Force
• Steall Waterfall

United States

• Amicalola Falls State Park
• Berdeen Falls
• Bonita Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Calf Creek Falls
• Chilnualna Falls
• Comet Falls
• Eastatoe Falls
• Kaaterskill Falls
• Kahiwa Falls
• Linville Falls
• Mazama Falls
• Multnomah Falls
• Olo'upena Falls
• Rainy Lake Falls
• Seven Falls
• Silverthread Falls
• Sulphide Creek Falls
• Twister Falls
• Yosemite Falls
• Zapata Falls

Punchbowl

Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.

Australia

• Edith Falls
• Wangi Falls
• Wannon Falls

Bulgaria

• Emen Waterfall

Canada

• Keyhole Falls

Iceland

• Gjáin
• Hjálparfoss

Japan

• Nunobiki Falls

Korea

• Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
• Jeongbang Waterfall

Philippines

• Camaya Falls

United Kingdom

• Janet's Foss

United States

• Metlako Falls
• Punch Bowl Falls

Fan

Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.

Australia

• Dip Falls
• Nelson Falls

Canada

• Chatterbox Falls

Japan

• Yudaki Falls

Mexico

• Cola de Caballo

Philippines

• Tinago Falls

United States

• Falling Waters Falls
• High Falls
• Nugget Falls
• Turner Falls
• Union Falls

Ephemeral

Ephemeral waterfalls flow only after periods of heavy rain or significant snowmelt.

United States

• Horsetail Fall

Bulgaria

• Vrachanska Skaklya (141 m)

See also

• • List of waterfalls
• List of waterfalls by height
• List of waterfalls by flow rate

External links

• World waterfall database

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718115209/http://worldwaterfalls.com/waterfall_types.php What is a Waterfall?
2. Web site: Howstuffworks "How Waterfalls Work" . 2011-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100921080941/http://geography.howstuffworks.com/terms-and-associations/waterfall.htm/printable . 2010-09-21 . dead .
3. https://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-image.maca39887.html https://www.terragalleria.com
4. https://www.kidsdiscover.com/quick-reads/horsetail-falls-one-yosemites-ephemeral-waterfalls/ https://www.kidsdiscover.com
5. https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/waterfall/94/Bird_Rock_Falls https://www.wncwaterfalls