V-shaped valley

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V-shaped valley

                 

Rivers flow through V-shaped valleys in their upper course. V-shaped valleys are usually found in the mountains and hills. They are so called because they often have very steep sides.

V-shaped valleys are formed by. The river carries stones and rocks in its water. The force of the water and the grinding of rocks and stones cut down into the  to carve out a valley. Over time the valley becomes deeper and wider.

Waterfalls

A waterfall is formed where water flows over a cliff or very steep drop in the river's bed. There are two types of waterfall
1. Cataracts are found where there are many rapids in a large river. A large volume of water flows down these rapids.
2. Cascade waterfalls have a small volume of water. A series of falls may form one waterfall.

Formation

Different rates of erosion

Waterfalls are usually found in the upper course of a river in the hills or mountains. The  in Jamaica is the only known waterfall which forms the mouth of a river. Waterfalls form when there is a hard layer of rock covering a soft layer of rock.

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Water flows over hard rock. When it reaches the soft rock, the water starts to erode or wear away the soft rock. Over thousands of years, the soft rock is eroded and the river begins to cut down vertically into the rock. This makes a cliff over which the water can topple. Over time, the cliff becomes steeper and deeper and a waterfall is formed. At the bottom of the waterfall a  is created. Some of the water splashes onto the cliff and makes a large, hollow plunge pool by a process called undercutting.

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